Korea, Republic of (ROK) - Organizations



Clan and county associations are a conspicuous aspect of Korean social life. A traditional type of organization with a primarily economic function is the kye, a mutual loan association formed to provide funds for a specific and typically short-term purpose, such as to defray the expenses of a wedding or funeral. The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation comprises millions of farmers who work in cooperatives.

There are a number of cultural and arts organizations including the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Foundation, and the National Academy of the Arts. Organizations for advancement and research in science include the Korean Medical Association and National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea.

National youth organizations include Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of Korea, Free Asian Youth Alliance, Korea Young Buddhists Federation, Korean 4-H, Korean Student Christian Federation, Korean World University Service, YMCA/YWCA, Seoul Association for Youth Service, and the Young Christian Workers of Korea. There are several sports associations throughout the country. Among the most notable are the base offices of the International Judo Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation.

National organizations for women include the Korean Association of University Women, Korean Institute for Women and Politics, and the Korean Women's Institute. International organizations with active chapters within the country include Amnesty International and the Red Cross.

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