As global dynamics shift toward a heightened role for Asia, the Korean Studies program at Emory is experiencing a wave of growth and development.
Juliette Apkarian, associate professor and chair of the Russian and East Asian Languages and Cultures (REALC) department, announced plans for development within the program.
As of now, Korean Studies does not house its own department but is instead a program within REALC. Coursework in Korean Studies currently satisfies major and minor requirements for the East Asian Studies and International Studies programs.
Apkarian said the REALC department is developing a degree minor in Korean Studies. A proposal will be submitted to the curriculum committee this year, and Apkarian said she hopes to see the degree offered next year.
The study abroad programs in Korea are also expanding as the department works with a wider range of universities. In addition, the program is launching a teaching-assistant fellowship between Emory and Yonsei University, a private research university in Seoul, South Korea.
Sociologist Sun-Chul Kim has been appointed as assistant professor of modern Korean society and culture in Emory’s REALC department. This appointment is the second full-time position created in the Korean Studies program. Dr. Bumyong Choi, a specialist in Korean language and linguistics, was appointed the first regular faculty member of the Korean Studies program in July 2011.
Interdisciplinary initiatives are also in place. The Korean Studies program plans to partner with the Candler School of Theology and the Emory School of Law as well as the women’s studies department. In addition, the Halle Institute for Global Learning is finalizing plans to host “Korea 2020: Technology, Commerce, and Policy,” an interdisciplinary conference this spring among students, faculty and the community.
Apkarian cites the heightened attention to Korean pop culture, film and global economy as well as North Korean politics in explaining the increased demand for courses in Korean Studies.
She also noted that students don’t necessarily have to pursue a degree in East Asian Studies to benefit from the culture and society of Korea.
Emory Goizueta junior Joyce Li is one such student. She is currently studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea through a semester exchange program between Emory and Yonsei University. Instead of majoring in East Asian Studies, Li has an interest in marketing.
She said, however, that she still finds coursework in Korean Studies to be valuable.
“Korea is influencing the world with its dynamic culture, strong economic power and democratic environment. A lot of college students in America are listening to K-pop music like Gangnam Style, using Samsung electronic products and getting involved in various Korea related organizations. The investment in Korean Studies will allow all Emory students to connect themselves to innovative ideas from South Korea,” wrote Li in an email to the Wheel.
Apkarian is optimistic about the future of Korean Studies at Emory.
“This is a very exciting time for us. We are approaching Korean Studies in a very dynamic and interconnecting way so it isn’t an isolated discipline, but one that really engages a broad range of students and faculty in a number of ways,” she said.
– Harmeet Kaur
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