The study of Silla-- an area long unduly neglected comparatively in the history of the nation, is expected to emerge as a new focus of attention with the launch of the 1st International Symposium on Silla Studies held in Gyeongju last week. Scholars and experts on Silla history and culture gathered for the occasion from the United States, Australia, China, Japan and of course Korea to make presentations and discussions. One of the most difficult part in organizing the conference was translating the presentation papers from and into Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese on highly specialized topics of history, culture, medicine, Buddhism, sculpture, etc. The symposium was attended more than expected highly attentive participants including not only from the academia but local citizens and voluntary interpreters of historical sites of the area, reflecting the unique local environment of the area.