KOREA FOUNDATION

Would you briefly introduce the Institute of Korean Studies at the Free University of Berlin?

The university established the discipline of Korean Studies in 2005, and the masters and PhD programs were established in 2009.
  In 1996, the German government oversaw the merging of Humboldt University in East Berlin and the Free University of Berlin, which resulted in many departments being restructured. The merger resulted in Humboldt University’s Korean Studies department being transferred to the Free University of Berlin, which started recruiting faculty members in 2001. In 2008, I became the first department head. This year marks our tenth graduating class of Korean Studies majors.
  The faculty comprises one tenured professor, one assistant professor, two Korean language lecturers, three full-time researchers and lecturers, five faculty staff members who head various projects and courses, one KF guest professor, and four part-time lecturers.

How popular is Korean Studies with German students at the moment? Also, what distinguishes the Free University of Berlin’s Institute of Korean Studies from the rest?

Korean Studies is currently a branch of East Asian Studies, which includes China and Japan. While German students used to prefer Chinese Studies and Japanese Studies, Korean Studies continues to gain popularity and now attracts nearly as many students as its rival departments. Previously, around 30 to 40 students enrolled in the Korean department every year. Two years ago, however, the number of applicants tripled, and our freshmen class doubled last year. While many universities still don’t have a Korean Studies department, they are increasing their offerings of Korean language courses, an indication that more universities will establish their own Korean Studies departments in the near future.
  The university’s Institutes of Korean Studies is currently investing a lot of effort into expanding and improving its programs in Korean politics, sociology, and culture. Our BA-Plus program, which was introduced in 2012, is offered to exchange students who study for a year at a major Korean university. After finishing the program, students are eligible for our fast-track program, which enables them to earn a master’s in a year.

What career paths are open to the Institute's graduates?

Our graduates go on to a variety of roles including careers in journalism, in the Korean affairs department in Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, with firms that do Korea-related work, and with the branches of Korean firms. Some students even go into PhD programs at Korean universities.

Do you do have any cooperative relations with the KF?

The KF started dispatching professors to our institute in 2003, when we began the process of recruiting department heads, and continued until 2009. Additionally, since 2011 the foundation has held workshops for German teachers in middle and high schools to educate them on Korean politics, economics, society, and culture. In 2014 they started sending librarians to help us organize our Korean Studies data and archives. Some of our grad students have even received scholarships from the KF’s fellowship program for European grad students who major in Korean Studies. Last year, we also co-hosted the “Reunification Seminar for Korean and German University Students” as part of the KF’s special event to nurture friendly relations with Eurasia.

What are your mid-to long-term plans for developing Korean Studies at the Free University of Berlin?

The university’s Institute of Korean Studies currently only has one tenured professor, so we’re working to create more tenured positions. As we continue to accept more applicants every year, we’re working on building our programs to educate and train future faculty and research staff. We also to ensure that Korean Studies continues to receive the attention it deserves internationally within academia.

KF Berlin Office