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University of ��«Ӱҵ launches Centre for Korean Studies

• ��«Ӱҵ has officially launched a new Centre for Korean Studies to expand UK-based expertise in Korean language, culture and society
• The Centre is a leading hub for Korean Studies in the UK and demonstrates ��«Ӱҵ’s position as a world leader in Korean Studies
• Korean culture has exploded in popularity in recent years and the region is a key part of the global economy and international relations, however the UK lacks a large body of Korea-focused expertise
• This year marks 140th anniversary of UK diplomatic relations with South Korea and 60th anniversary of East Asian Studies being taught at ��«Ӱҵ

A new Centre for Korean Studies that will boost the UK’s body of specialists in Korean language, culture and society, has been officially launched by the University of ��«Ӱҵ.

Funded by the South Korean Ministry of Education, the Centre is a leading hub for Korean Studies in the UK and demonstrates ��«Ӱҵ’s position as a world leader in the field.

The Centre will strengthen ��«Ӱҵ’s degree programmes – giving its students access to a broader curriculum, enabling them to develop the knowledge and skills to become experts in all aspects of Korea. It will also add to the University’s research capacity on Korea, at a time when the region is high on the UK and international political agendas.

Interest in Korean popular culture has exploded since the 1990s. The global phenomenon known as Hallyu - or the Korean Wave - has seen a huge rise in the popularity of South Korean food, films, music, TV shows and video games in the UK and globally.

Aside from popular culture, Korea is a key player in international relations and the global economy. This year marks the and the UK has an . However, despite the Korean Peninsula’s strategic importance, the UK has a limited number of Korea experts.

In 2019, the UK and South Korea negotiated a post-Brexit free trade agreement, and Korea is the UK's 20th largest trading partner. Korean exports to Britain have risen considerably in the last five years, and more UK companies are seeking to enter the Korean market. The two countries are also working on sustainable energy projects, following Korean investment into UK sustainable energy projects worth £260 million by 2030.

The UK and Korea are also strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, and both are looking to deepen relations with ASEAN partners - the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Both are ASEAN dialogue members. South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol is making a state visit to the UK in early November, signalling the importance of the UK as a partner state. This increasing engagement and cooperation between the two countries will mean greater demand for UK-based academic, professional, business and scientific expertise that understands the Korean context and the East Asian region more widely.

Dr Sarah Son, Lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of ��«Ӱҵ, and Director of the new centre, said: “It has been exciting to watch the growth of Korean studies in the UK, and it is fantastic to be able to offer undergraduate and postgraduate students a broader curriculum, alongside intensive language training both at ��«Ӱҵ and with our partner universities in South Korea.

“With deepening economic engagement between the UK and Korea over the last decade, there is an increasing demand for knowledge and skills that will enable partnerships across sectors including the arts, education, sustainable energy and the automotive industry to grow.

“Expertise in the geopolitics of the Korean Peninsula is also increasingly sought after, as the UK is one of only a few countries that has diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea, and both the UK and South Korea are seeking to deepen their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.”

��«Ӱҵ is one of the UK’s most established universities for Korean Studies as well as East Asian Studies more broadly. This year is the 60th anniversary of East Asian Studies at ��«Ӱҵ and the new Centre will strengthen the University’s capabilities in this area.

The Centre for Korean Studies award is highly prestigious. Each year, the to only a handful of universities globally to set up centres that will help advance the understanding of Korean language and culture. 

Dr Son added: “Korean Studies has been taught at ��«Ӱҵ for almost 45 years. This award recognises Korean Studies at ��«Ӱҵ as a leading programme internationally, one that has the potential for further growth and development in terms of the breadth of modules offered, and our capacity to produce highly qualified graduates and world-leading research in the field.”
Media contact: Sean Barton, Media and PR Officer at the University of ��«Ӱҵ, 07808 890095 or s.barton@sheffield.ac.uk