It holds an international academic conference once a year (June) and issues the Journal of East-Asian Urban History (JEUH) Twice a year (June, December). The East-Asian Society for Urban History Todays the majority of people are residing in cities. For example, in Gumi city (South Korea) of the 19th century only 2% of the total locals resided, but the percent o f the urban population rapidly increased to 70% and above for the last 200 years. In Asia, though the progress of urban is ation has be en relatively slow, more than half of the total population is expected to live in urban areas with in 10 years. It is an undeniable fact that cities become the space and culture of paramount importance for everyday life. Thus, the necessity of urban studiesis growing significantly. The urbanisation accelerates due to the trend of globalisation. As the international circulation and exchange are being promoted in various fields such as finance, trade, culture, information and etc., cities function as core factors in terms of size and quality. Especially the cities that are located at network nodes of the circulation and exchange are strengthening their influence by concentrating their human and material resource and by expanding their sizes to reach metropolises. Many more cities are facing issues because the intercity competition and hierarchy are intensifying. It is worth noting that the trend of globalisation functions as an external factor to define the cities. However, the cities are not biased by the trend but also variously influenced by different internal factors of historical experiences and geopolitical conditions. That is the main reason why we should view futures of the cities in different perspectives. The diversity and dynamics of the cities are hardly comprehended with macro narratives or theories, and for that micro studies on many cities in various regions are essentially required. It is necessary to renew and integrate the urban studies based on the outcomes of analysing their historical experiences and regional characteristics. East-Asia is the fastest developing region where shows rapid urbanisation. Its cities, compared to the European cities, have had different histories and cultures. It is well known that in the pre-modern era the East-Asian region was under the relatively independent world order, and after that in the modern era it experienced distorted histories under the western imperialism. Despite the fact, current studies on the East-Asian urban history does not reflect the historical experiences and regional characteristics in their research approaches and methodologies, but still depend on research outcomes and accumulations the western scholarships. Thus, the East-Asian researchers of urban history should endeavour more to reflect their experiences and characteristics in their own point of view. It is encouraging that the number of researchers and institutions of urban history increasingly significant. At this moment in time the works that shares and exchanges their research and informative outcomes and that complies them in a universal research methodology and perspective are of paramount importance. For the reasons above we suggest the establishment of the East-Asian Society of Urban History where the researchers and institutions of Korea, China and Japan shall productively participate and discuss together. Founding Organisations The Korean Society for Urban History
Society of Urban and Territorial History
Shanghai Association of History We welcome all the East-Asian societies, institutions and departments of Urban History.