The Sungkyun Times

By Jin Dal-lae

Editor

hj25ms@skku.edu

By Choi Hye-mi

Staff Reporter

wlslwksl@skku.edu

On September 26th, KSASA (the Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia) was founded in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  The KSASA was composed of vice presidents of national universities and professors majoring in Korean Studies in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.  It is the 4th Korean Studies association abroad after the United States, Europe, and Australia.  The establishment of KSASA shows the growing interest in Korean Studies in Southeast Asia.

Setting in Europe, Rising in Southeast Asia

Last year, the number of universities that have courses in Korean Studies has been decreased from five to three, because Korean Studies was abolished in Newcastle University and Durham University in the U.K.  Moreover, a course in Korean Studies at the Humboldt University in Germany was abolished five years ago, and Tübingen University in Germany can’t employ any professor majors in Korean Studies since the course was cancelled last year.  As previous example shows, Korean Studies in Europe has been reduced.  Professionals concerned point out that the reason is the lack of training professors majoring in Korea Studies and the decreasing investment from the government and companies.

      On the contrary, the Korean Studies in Southeast Asia had not received any serious attention before 2003, except in Vietnam and Taiwan. Nowadays, Korean language courses are quickly placed in the center of academic interest due to so called “Korean fever,” or Hallyu.  On this account, Korean Studies in Southeast Asia have expanded.

Two universities opened Korean language courses (and Korean Studies majors this year. As a consequence, in Vietnam, eight Universities have Korean language courses and Korean Studies majors.  In particular, the number of the students major in Korean Studies in Vietnam National University (VNU) is more than 200 at each campus in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh.  The number of the students majoring in Korean Studies in Vietnam National University (VNU) is more than that of the students majoring in Japanese Studies.  Three textbooks made in collaboration of Seoul National University and VNU are being used in VNU in this semester.

In Thailand, seventeen universities have Korean language courses. Currently there are four universities that have Korean language courses or Korean studies majors in 2005, because two universities opened the Korean Studies major and Korean language courses in 2003.  Chulalongkorn University, which is the royal university of Thailand, will open the Korean Studies major next year and announced that they will found a Korean Studies Center.  The number of the students who attend courses about Korean Studies in the universities in Thailand has increased from 200 in 2000 to 800, 2005.  In addition, the number of the students majoring in Korean Studies increased quickly from 22 to 301.

Korean Studies to correct a distorted image of Korea

Then, what is the meaning of the Korean studies being developed in Southeast Asia nowadays? Here, Korean Studies defines ‘every kind of human cultural/ socio-scientific research about Korea.’  In detail, Korean Studies is to improve particular Korean aspects covering diverse fields as language, history, geography, politics, economics, social, culture, and etc.

          All the scholars who study in Korea unanimously say that that Korean Studies have to be developed in foreign countries.  Lee Gil-sang, professor of dept. of Education in the Academy of Korean Studies in Korea, points out a reason for the abovementioned fact concerning Korean Studies abroad and says, “Area Studies including Korean Studies began imperialistic nations, because they desire to control weak and minor countries, so they must know about them.  So, foreigners, especially Westerners, distorted many parts of the Korean history and image, and many other minor countries’.  Therefore we have to pay more attention to this issue and invest time and effort in Korean Studies to correct the distorted parts of our culture and history.  Also, Yoon Deok-hong, president of the Academy of Korean Studies, says, “Not only economic power but also the level of culture effect enhancing a country’s competitive power.  So, many countries make an effort to secure cultural independence and national identity, while pursuing peaceful cooperation via cultural exchanges.  In other words, succession and recovery of our traditional cultural identity are the foundation for understanding of international culture and our nation’s competitive power.  This is the reason that we should develop Korean Studies abroad.”

           Poor condition of the Korean Studies in Southeast Asia

             Currently, the popular trend of Korean Studies is in vogue in Southeast Asia, because many Southeast Asians love Korean pop culture, namely Hallyu.  But, it is true that the condition of the development of Korean Studies is still very poor.  Lee says, “The obstacles lie in the development of the Korean Studies in Southeast Asia is the shortage of expertise in the field and insufficient funds.  No experts can teach Korean culture and history as well as they teach native languages, for instance Bahasa Indonesia.  Moreover, there are no varieties of books or teaching materials. 

This shows the current condition that our government still limitedly supports Korean studies mainly in the United States and in Europe.  We can draw great effectiveness with small investment in the Korean studies in Southeast Asia.  Therefore, the government should expand its endeavor in supporting Korean Studies in this area.” Lee shows his apprehension about the poor conditions of the development of the Korean Studies in Southeast Asia.

Every component in different social sectors should make an effort to develop Korean Studies abroad.

             Lastly, Lee answers to the question, “What does every component in different social sectors make an effort to develop Korean Studies abroad?” He says, “There is statistical data that proves that the Japanese government uses 100 times more money for the development of Japanese Studies abroad than what the Korean government spends for the development of Korean Studies abroad. Financial support from Korean government to improve the overall situation of the Korean Studies abroad has to be increased. . In addition, participation from companies is urgently needed for the development of Korean studies because they are the first beneficiary of the improvement of the national image.  The academic world should make an effort to translate excellent academic achievements and improvements of Korean Studies through active interchange with overseas-learned societies.”