On January 30, 2026, in honor of longtime Professor of Korean History and Religion, Dr. Don Baker, the Department of Asian Studies held its second Capstone Lecture – a series established to recognize the retirement from teaching of professors of the Department.
Marking his 40-year milestone with the UBC Asian Studies department, Dr. Don Baker discussed the lives of three brothers – a renowned philosopher, a pioneer biologist, and a Catholic Martyr in Chosŏn Korea.
As the door opened for the evening, attendees were welcomed with a display of food and tea. Over 130 guests enjoyed refreshments, connected with colleagues and acquaintances, and greeted Dr. Baker before the lecture began. Dressed in Korean-style attire, Dr. Baker warmly embraced attendees as they approached to congratulate him on his remarkable journey.
The auditorium soon filled with an eager audience awaiting his lecture. Dr. Ross King, a fellow professor of Korean Language and Literature, opened the event alongside the Head of the Asian Studies Department, Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh. Dr. Orbaugh shared a personal anecdote about Dr. Baker, noting how he had contributed to her decision to join UBC and had also encouraged Dr. King. Dedicating the celebration to Dr. Baker, Dr. Orbaugh delivered the land acknowledgement.
Dr. King provided a brief overview of Dr. Baker’s distinguished and extensive professional career. He described Dr. Baker as a prolific writer and lecturer, with five published books, 4 edited volumes, contributions to more than forty book chapters, and over fifty journal articles. He also noted that Dr. Baker was the first Koreanist hired by UBC. He is the only non-Korean recipient of the Tasan prize for research on Tasan, awarded by The Tasan Cultural Foundation in Seoul. He also served as the International Goodwill Ambassador to Canada for the Korean Democracy Foundation from 2022 to 2024.
Following an impressive introduction, Dr. Baker took the stage, joking that he had expected a smaller audience. He then delivered the highly anticipated lecture of the evening. The lecture focused on the three Chŏng brothers, whose diverging life paths offered valuable insights into life in Korea during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The lecture concluded with a round of applause.
During the Q&A session, audience members asked questions about the brothers’ influences on later Catholicism in Korea, their relationship with their parents, their views on religion, and how they were able to afford their intellectual pursuits.
After a lively Q&A, attendees went up to Dr. Baker with bouquets and took photographs to congratulate him on his years of dedication to the Department of Asian Studies. The Korean Cultural Heritage Society presented him with a commemorative gift in appreciation of his contribution and expressed how deeply he would be missed. Finally, Dr. King thanked everyone for attending and for the wonderful lecture.
