The Critical Island Studies Consortium (CIS)  is an academic network dedicated to challenging prevailing modes of knowledge production centered around the Northern Hemisphere. It aims to explore the epistemological and ontological underpinnings of emerging knowledge paradigms.
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  Discussions on globalization often center on the expansion of Europe and North America, sidelining other regions and establishing these areas as the “center” while characterizing the rest of the world as the “margin.” However, this perspective is problematic as it neglects the interconnected nature of the global system. To foster a fresh understanding of the environment and nature, it is imperative to move away from this Eurocentric viewpoint and embrace a more planetary outlook. This shift becomes crucial in addressing pressing challenges related to social and environmental crises. Archipelagic thoughts present a potential alternative to the prevalent Eurocentric cosmology of nature, focusing on oceans and islands instead of land and continents. This approach offers the possibility of envisioning and crafting a more sustainable future for our planet.
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  Hence, a planetary perspective is essential for reshaping the image of the environment and fostering a new sense of nature. This transformation requires challenging established norms and adopting new perceptions, a responsibility that academia can fulfill. Until now, the Eurocentric cosmology of nature, rooted in landscape epistemology, has maintained geopolitical privilege over other regions. To counter this predominant nature narrative, an alternative environmental philosophy, such as seascape ontology, must be created. The paradigm shift from land to ocean, from continents to islands, is a crucial aspect of this transformation. Critical island studies emerge as a theoretical domain challenging geopolitical analyses, focusing on the unique characteristics and experiences of islands across interdisciplinary fields like geography, anthropology, sociology, and political science.
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  In contrast, geopolitical studies concentrate on the political and strategic importance of geographical space, exploring how a region’s geography can influence its political and economic relationships with other countries. While there may be some overlap between critical island studies and geopolitical studies, they are distinct disciplines with different emphases and goals. Critical island studies primarily seek to understand the distinctive experiences and challenges of islands, incorporating archipelagic thoughts, while geopolitical studies prioritize the political and strategic implications of geographical space.
 
  The Academy of Mobility Humanities (AMH) of Konkuk University intends to create innovative research platforms to deal with the development of mobility technology, the daily movement of things, and their connected issues. The HK+ Mobility Humanities Institute (MHI), a sub institute of the Academy of Mobility Humanities (AMH), is the leading research institute for Humanities Korea Plus (HK+), supported by the National Research Foundation in 2018. MHI hosts the annual GMHC. The AMH attempts to help to cultivate a better society for humanities-based thinking. In doing so, we aim to become one of the main representative institutes of mobility research internationally, which also fosters new researchers. The AMH continues to evolve as a center from where mobility-focused research engages practical as well as scholarly questions that are planetary in scope.
 
  The Glocal Institute for Japan Studies (GIJS) at Sunchon National University aims to serve as a multidisciplinary knowledge platform that cross-examines global flows and local specificities, exploring cultural migration, regional revitalization, and community sustainability. Leveraging the infrastructure of the university's "Glocal University 30" initiative, the Institute is driven by the faculty of the Department of Japanese Language and Culture, who lead the National Research Foundation's "Humanities and Social Sciences Digital Convergence Talent Nurturing Project." In doing so, it opens new horizons for "glocal humanities" that transcend traditional language and literature studies. The GIJS tracks the dynamics of humanity and space while focusing on convergence research that bridges theory with field-based solutions, such as green infrastructure strategies in response to climate change and social disasters, and the design of empathetic cultural contents. Furthermore, the Institute expands its academic network through robust international partnerships (MOUs) and symposia. Grounded in humanistic reflection, it strives to establish itself as a vital hub for regional and mobility studies—one that is deeply rooted in the local community yet truly resonates globally—while enhancing community values and fostering next-generation researchers.