KOREA FOUNDATION

My name is Dr. Huntae Kim, and I am a KF visiting professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Latvia. Over the past few years, institutions of higher learning in many parts of the world have started Korean language and Korean culture programs or established Korean studies as a major, and this tendency is also evident in Europe. While some European universities have promoted Korean studies from a minor to a major, others have markedly expanded the size of their Korean studies major. As a result, the number of students majoring in Korean studies has exceeded that of those majoring in Chinese studies or Japanese studies at some schools. Also increasing are universities conferring doctoral degrees in Korean studies, not to mention the same happening for master’s degree programs. This demonstrates that many institutions are responding positively to Korea’s enhanced global status and the growing number of young people in their areas who have developed a keen interest in Korean language and culture, largely due to the wave of Korean popular culture known as Hallyu. Even more encouraging is the fact that this phenomenon has been observed not only among young people but increasingly among the general public. It is no longer unusual to see people come to Sejong Hakdang and Korean Cultural Centers and stand in long queues early in the morning to apply for Korean language and Korean culture classes.

Latvia is no exception to this trend, even though it is a very small country of less than two million people. In the case of the University of Latvia, where I work, Korean studies was established as a major in 2014, and just over 50 students have enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate courses every year since. This year, however, the number of incoming students increased remarkably, and more than 70 students are currently majoring in Korean studies. Additionally, over 200 secondary school students, college students, and adults are studying Korean language and Korean culture at the Sejong Hakdang location in the Latvian capital of Riga. If the current trend continues around the world, Koreans’ wish for what you may call the globalization of Korean culture, as well as the globalization of the Korean language, may be realized.

However, there are certainly many conditions that must be met to build a foundation for the continuation of this wave. One is the need to let local experts at overseas universities and colleges lead Korean studies education and its maintenance and development as a major subject. The significance of local Korean studies experts is validated by their roles. First, they publicize and speak for Korea in their local communities. Second, they are pivotal in maintaining and developing Korean studies in the areas where they work. Third, they can be essential in introducing and spreading Korean culture in their areas. The Korean studies experts I am talking about are PhD-level scholars who have majored in Korean studies at institutions of higher learning for years. In Europe, Korean studies majors may only be called experts when they have at least eight years of study and work experience in the field under their belt, including their undergraduate education. Circumstances may vary by region and school, but the shortage of local Korean studies experts is certain. Accordingly, positive attention and uninterrupted support should be directed to the education of Korean studies experts at overseas universities and colleges that teach the subject as a major. As the Korean saying goes, education is a plan that spans 100 years; fostering qualified experts requires significant energy, time, and investment.

I have taught many students at several overseas institutions for over a decade and some of them are now studying in Korea to receive their master’s or doctoral degrees in Korean studies. Some have also begun teaching at universities with preliminary qualifications as Korean studies experts. I sincerely hope to see qualified local Korean studies experts take active roles in many more schools all around the globe.

Department of Asian Studies, University of LatviaKF Visiting Professor Huntae Kim

Huntae KimUniversity of LatviaKorean StudiesKF Visiting Professor