Beginning with new student admission this November, the Department of Korean Studies has been affiliated with the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). ?n pace with restructuring departments into places where they fit well, and with the objective of making Korean studies more suited to the needs of the future, the Department of Korean Studies has made this change,?says Professor Kim Young-hoon (Korean Studies).
Prior to this change, most of the courses in Korean Studies were taught in Korean, but now more courses will be provided in English than before. This change seeks to open more opportunities to foreign or Korean students whose access to Korean Studies was limited because of a language barrier. ?here are a lot more international students applying to Korean Studies than ever before,?says Hwang Sun-young (Teaching Assistant, Korean Studies).
With the Department of Korean Studies being a part of the GSIS, the courses will be more intensive and internships programs in Korea and abroad in fields dealing with Korean Studies will be available. These changes show that Korean Studies at Ewha is moving on to strengthen its identity.
Here are some Korean Studies programs at universities in Korea:
Seoul National University ?Established in 1998, the Korean Studies of Seoul National University? GSIS has courses on Korean History, Korean Literature, Business & Management in Korea, and Fieldwork in Korean Studies. Eighty percent of the courses are conducted in Korean.
Hanyang University, Korea University, and Yonsei University share a similar program ?Established in 2001, 1995, and 1998 respectively, the Korean Studies programs are targeted at international students. They?e multi-disciplinary programs that allow students to obtain a deep understanding of Korea? past, present and future. Provided are courses such as Korean Politics & Economy, Conducting Business in Korea, Korean History, Korean Culture, and the North Korean System. Courses are taught in English.
There are also Korean Studies programs abroad.
Harvard University? Korea Institute was established in 1981 as part of a center for East Asian Research and it became autonomous in 1993. Its program provides history courses on traditional and modern Korea.
The National University of Mongolia? Department of Korean Studies was established in 1991. It has two majors: Korean Language Education & Translation and Korean Translation & Area Studies.
Ewha? Department of Korean Studies was the first in Korea and established in 1982. It is divided into two majors, Korean Culture and Korean Language Education. Courses include Korean Folk Art, Religion, and Korean History.
Programs of each Korean Studies department at universities vary because of different focus and goals of each university. Ewha? Department of Korean Studies is on the verge of change and seems to be embracing globalization. ?ith Korea? position changing in international society, interest in Korean Studies is rising. Thus, it is important to move along with this change and develop Korean Studies more systematically,?says Professor Kim.