South Korea has launched a government-backed foundation exclusively devoted to the study of the ancient Goguryo kingdom.

The Goguryo Kingdom History Cultural Foundation aims to counter recent moves by Chinese academics to integrate the ancient kingdom into Chinese history.

Prime Minister Goh Kun was among government officials and academics on hand at the ceremony launching the foundation on Monday.

Goh said the Goguryo issue should not be dealt with emotionally, but in a calm and cool-headed manner based on academic grounds.

The research foundation aims to promote Goguryo's history and culture both at home and abroad to stop the perceived distortion of history, and set straight historical and cultural accounts of the ancient kingdom.

Goguryo ruled much of Korea and Manchuria, now China, until the kingdom fell in the late 7th century.

South Korea views the kingdom as an integral and discrete part of Korean history.