  The short-range properties of the KN interaction are studied within the
meson-exchange model of the Juelich group. Specifically, dynamical explanations
for the phenomenological short-range repulsion, required in this model for
achieving agreement with the empirical KN data, are explored. Evidence is found
that contributions from the exchange of a heavy scalar-isovector meson
(a_0(980)) as well as from genuine quark-gluon exchange processes are needed.
Taking both mechanisms into account a satisfactory description of the KN phase
shifts can be obtained without resorting to phenomenological pieces.
