Column
Research and Educational Trends of Korean Studies in Taiwan - focusing on the Department of Korean Language Literature at University
Taiwan has maintained friendly relations with the Republic of Korea for a long period of time, sharing not only historically but also politically and economically distinctive characteristics with active research and education of Korean studies. In Taiwan, the education and research of Korean studies have been led by National University of Governance and Chinese Culture University with already established department of Korean studies. As National University of Kaohsiung in the southern region later joined the group, more active education and research of Korean studies began. This paper examines the current status of the education of Korean studies focusing on department of Korean studies by looking into the distribution of curriculum for the 2020 academic year at Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance, and National University of Kaohsiung. In addition, the status of the research of Korean studies is examined based on the establishment of Korean studies research center at the three universities, organization of international symposium for Korean studies or research results. Based on this, the paper then suggests future tasks. To summarize the results, it is confirmed that the curriculum of the three universities related to the education of Korean studies in the 2020 academic year mainly focuses on practical language education and cultural education needed for the language. In fact, professors at the three universities in Taiwan are lecturing on Korean culture and society for Korean studies that are beyond their specialized fields. In addition, Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance, and National University of Kaohsiung opened research centers for Korean studies with support from the Academy of Korean Studies and Korea Foundation and held international symposiums on various topics related to Korean studies. It was found that their results and achievements were published in "The Journal of Korean Studies" of Chinese Culture University, "The Education and Research of Korean Culture" of National University of Governance, and "The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University" of Kaohsiung University, etc.
역사적으로는 물론, 정치 경제적으로도 한국과 특수성을 공유하는 대만은 한국과 오랜 기간 우호 관계를 유지하고 있었고, 한국학 연구와 교육이 활발하게 진행된 곳이다. 대만에서 한국학 교육 및 한국학 연구의 역사는 1956년 국립정치대학(이하 '정치대') 동방어문학과에서 한국어조를 시작으로 한국어교육을 실시한 이래, 1963년 중국문화대학 (이하 '문화대')에 이어, 2008년 한류의 영향으로 한국학의 중요성에 대한 인식이 새롭게 부각되면서 학과 건설이 이루 어진 남부 국립가오슝대학 (이하 '가오슝대') 동아시아학과에 한국어조 등 한국학 관련학과가 개설되면서 대만 내 한국어 교육 및 한국학 연구의 기틀을 마련해 왔다.
Taiwan, which shares characteristics with Korea not only historically but also politically and economically, maintained friendly relations with Korea for a long time. It has also been active in conducting research and education for Korean studies. The history of Korean studies education and research in Taiwan began in 1956 when the Department of Eastern Language Literature at National University of Governance started Korean language education at its Korean Language Section. In 1963, the Chinese Culture University followed suit. In 2008 when the importance of Korean studies emerged due to the influence of the Korean wave, the National University of Kaohsiung opened a Korean language section in its Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. The universities have laid the foundation for Korean language education and research in Taiwan.
Prior to the 1980s, the only educational and research institutes engaged in Korean studies in Taiwan were Chinese Culture University and National University of Governance. At the time, Taiwan had active exchanges with Korea when the Cold War was shaping the world order, with academic interest placed mainly in politics, diplomacy, and ideological aspects. Since the severance of formal diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea and Taiwan have gone through many ups and downs. However, with positive changes such as the impact of Hallyu and the economic ripple effect of the development of the IT industry, the public's interest in the Korean language has surged in Taiwan, leading to a dramatic increase in the educational institutions of Korean studies in the country to meet the growing demand for the language education. For example, 520 Taiwanese took the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in 2005 when it was launched in the country. The number rose to 741 in 2007 and then skyrocketed to 10,406 in 2018.
In addition to the existing three universities with Korean language majors, such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, many universities have opened a Korean language course as a liberal arts course or an elective course. Even in high schools, the status of the Korean language as a second foreign language has risen: The number of high school students taking Korean language classes more than doubled between 2013 and 2017 from 3,110 to 6,806. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Education in 2021, 272 high schools in Taiwan taught 13 foreign languages as second languages and that 201 high schools, or 74%, offered Korean language courses for a total of 5,796 students. Korean has emerged as the second most popular second language in Taiwan after Japanese. In addition, Korean language-related courses are being offered at university-affiliated institutions, social education institutions, and a number of private foreign language institutes, big and small. On top of that, universities began to set up Korean Studies Research Center dealing with Korean studies as a discipline, laying a solid foundation for Korean studies in the country.
Articles have been published on the current status, tasks, and prospects of Korean studies-related education and research in Taiwan. Scholars who have made major research achievements recently include Jeungchonebu (2021), Kim Yun-tae (2020), Song Hyeon-ho (2016), Kuo Chiu-wen (2014, 2016, 2018), Xu Yi-ling (2016), and Lee Ha-na (2020), who have made a general presentation of the current status and characteristics of Korean studies in Taiwan, in addition to those who have presented the general status and characteristics of the Korean language education in Taiwan, such as Yang In-jong (2005), Lien Kong Tsai and Park Byeong-seon (2007), Kuo Chiu-Wen (2008), Chen Qing-zhi (2012, 2017), Wang Ching-tung (2015), Park Byeong-seon (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), Kim Seon-hyo (2017), Chung Chang-jhih (2018), Yu Yeon-hwan(2019), Son Jeong-Il (2020), Lee Hyeon-Ju (2020).Jeungcheonbu (2021), Kim Yun-tae (2020), Yu Yeon-hwan (2019), Song Hyeon-ho (2016), and Kuo Chiu-Wen (2014, 2016, 2018) have made particularly outstanding achievements.
The concept of Korean studies has been discussed by multiple scholars, including Kim Kyeong-il, Park Eee-moon, Han Yong-u, and Yun Yeo-tak. Apart from Kim Kyeong-il who published "System of Knowledge about Korea," Park Eee-moon also said that Korean studies include not only language and literature but also "the entirety of humanities and social sciences related to Korea" ranging from politics to economy, history, society, art, and science. In addition, Han Yeong-woo also viewed the humanities and social sciences as an integrated research system, and approached Korean studies with a relatively broad concept, claiming that 'culture´ must include not just language but politics, economy, society, history, literature, and religion as well. Meanwhile, Yun Yeo-tak viewed Korean studies as Korean language education and research abroad while considering it the study and education of Korea's language, literature, history, politics, economy, culture, and society at home. In sum, 'Korean studies' can be defined as a broad field of study that explores all the knowledge related to Korea.
In Taiwan, courses at the Department of Korean Language Literature in three universities such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University can be said to have laid the most important foundation for Korean studies. Unfortunately, existing Korean studies have revealed very little of the three universities' research achievements in Korean studies. Therefore, while fully accepting the existing research results, this paper would like to shed light on the Department of Korean Language Literature at the three universities in Taiwan and examine the establishment and operation of the Korean studies departments there along with the prospects and tasks of Korean studies in Taiwan. To figure out the current status of Korean studies education and research in Taiwan, the author has accessed the websites of each university in Taiwan for a complete survey and updated information on the schools' operational status.
1) Status of Education in the Department of Korean Language Literature
First, Chinese Culture University is a private university with a history of nearly 60 years, which opened the Korean Language Section under the Department of Eastern Language Literature in 1963. This department shares history with the establishment of Chinese Culture University under the active support of Dr. Chang Chi-yun, the founder of the university, who had served as the country's Minister of Education as well. The university promoted the Korean Language Section to the Department of Korean Language Literature in 1994, opened Graduate Institute of Korean Language and Literature in 2000, and established the Korean Studies Research Center in May 2014. The school has built the academic framework of Korean Studies for decades. Currently, there are a total of ten full-time faculty members (7 Taiwanese, 3 Korean); by major, three studied Korean classics, two Korean modern Also, the ten faulty members include one professor, six associate professors, and three assistant professors. In addition, the school has three adjunct professors and five adjunct instructors (2 Taiwanese, 3 Korean). Thus, Culture University is staffed by a total of 18 academics. The university has formed sisterhood ties with 45 universities in Korea to conduct academic exchange and exchange student programs. With five of them, Culture University is also operating dual degree programs. Most notably, while the number of university admissions is rapidly decreasing due to a decline in the school-age population followed by the recent low birth rate and aging population, the school's Department of Korean Language Literature succeeded in obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education and doubling its undergraduate students from 53 to 105 in 2020. Currently, about 500 students are studying Korean language and literature at the university, including 105 undergraduate and 10 graduate majors and far more minors and double majors. Furthermore, the Department of Korean Language Literature affiliated with the Graduate School of Foreign Languages not only launched an interdisciplinary, mandatory curriculum in consideration of the characteristics of the university's 13 colleges in 2020. With the integration of the Graduate School of International Studies and the Graduate School of Foreign Languages, the department is planning to expand its interdisciplinary credit exchanges to the Department of Tourism Management and the Department of Business Administration. All these changes are a positive outcome of a sharp surge in demand for Korean studies in Taiwan due to the influence of the Korean Wave.
Next, National University of Governance is the first university to provide Korean language education in Taiwan owing to the interest of Taiwan's national policy in 1956 followed by a diplomatic demand in line with the growing importance of Korea to Taiwan. In other words, the university opened the Korean Language Section under the Department of Eastern Language Literature to nurture Korea specialists who can promote Taiwan's national and social development diplomatically. In 2004, the university promoted the section to the Department of Korean Language Literature. In 2012, it launched a graduate program. The school has been accumulating its competence of Korean studies for a long time. Currently, the department has a total of nine full-time faculty members (5 Taiwanese, 4 Koreans). By major, six studied Korean linguistics, one Korean classical literature, and another one Korean cultural studies. The nine faculty members include two professors, two associate professors, and five assistant professors. The department also has one adjunct professor and six instructors. The university has sisterhood ties with more than 38 universities in Korea. The number of admissions is 29 for undergraduate courses and nine for graduate courses. Approximately 450 students, including minors and double majors from other departments, are taking Korean studies-related courses at National University of Governance. In 2016, the university established 'Education Center of Korean Culture' with support from the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) as part of its Core University Program for Korean Studies. The center has been active in fostering Korean language teachers ever since.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung University's Korean Language Section, established in 2008, started as part of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature including Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean sections. Compared to the aforementioned two universities, Culture University and National University of Governance, the Korean studies at Kaohsiung University have a relatively short history. As the importance of Korean studies emerged due to the influence of the Korean Wave, this national university opened a Korean studies-related section in southern Taiwan to nurture outstanding talents with the necessary knowledge of Korean studies as well as international perspectives in the region. It created an opportunity to lay the foundation for Korean studies education, which had been concentrated in Taipei, in southern Taiwan. In 2017, the school launched a graduate program and has produced master's graduates for three years so far.
Currently, there are a total of three full-time faculty members (1 Taiwanese and 2 Koreans), including two linguistics and one political science majors. The professor of Taiwanese nationality majored in Korean. Two adjunct lecturers (1 Taiwanese and 1 Korean) are working at the organization too. Kaohsiung University has 14 undergraduate admissions and 10 graduate admissions for Korean studies, as part of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. Around 100 students are taking courses related to Korean studies. Despite its short 13-year history, Kaohsiung University has succeeded in internationalization. Currently, it has sisterhood ties with more than 34 universities in Korea. In addition to its regular Korean Studies courses, the university is actively operating domestic and foreign corporate internship courses while conducting several research projects related to Korean Studies with support from the Academy of Korean Studies.
2) Current Status of Curriculum in the Department of Korean Language Literature at Universities
① Undergraduate schools
Currently, according to the policy of the Ministry of Education, the curriculum for the Korean Language and Literature majors in Taiwan consists of joint compulsory courses, compulsory major courses, and elective major courses. The total number of credits required for graduation is 128. As for graduation qualifications, National University of Governance requires TOPIK level 5 or level 4 and qualifications in other foreign language proficiency tests. Culture University and Kaohsiung University require TOPIK level 4 but are planning to upgrade it to level 5 or higher from the fall semester of 2020.
The following is a summary of the current status of the Korean language courses offered in the first and second semesters of the 2020 academic year based on the data from the official websites of the three universities such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University. Let's take a look at the status of major courses offered by the three universities.
First, Chinese Culture University reorganized the department curriculums and shifted a number of required major courses to elective courses in the 2017 academic year. The university's major courses of the 2020 academic year reflect the results of the departmental reorganization. The number of courses, number of hours, and the proportions of the courses in each area for the 2020 academic year of the university's Department of Korean Language Literature can be summed up as follows: Compulsory courses related to Korean language education are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes from 1st year to 3rd year. Of the 16 courses, 15 excluding 'Language and Culture' account for 82.1% with 92 hours, indicating that focus are placed excessively on the Korean language education. There are a total of 27 elective major courses at the undergraduate level, where the focus is placed on the Korean language education, too, although Korean literature courses are also offered. In detail, 18 courses of 'Korean' with 38 hours account for 67.9%, two 'Korean Literature' courses account for 7.1%, and seven 'Korean Studies' courses account for 25% with 14 class hours. Unlike National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, Culture University shows a significant difference in the number of class hours compared to the number of courses. That is because Culture University offers two-credit courses at both undergraduate and graduate programs whereas National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University mostly offer three-credit major courses. In terms of the number of courses, Culture College offers a total of 44 as opposed to 23 and 26 offered by National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, respectively. In terms of class hours, however, the difference is not so distinct: 112 hours at Culture University, 90 hours at National University of Governance, and 94 hours at Kaohsiung University. In terms of the difference between the number of class hours and the number of courses for majors, Culture University has 14 hours, which are 18 hours and seven hours short of the figures of National University of Governance (32 hours) and Kaohsiung University (21 hours).
Next, let's look at National University of Governance's number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions. Focus is also placed on the Korean language education at the school, with a significantly higher proportion of Korean studies courses than in Culture University, though. The total number of courses is 23 with 90 class hours, with 11 compulsory Korean language major courses with 58 class hours accounting for 64.4% in hours. From 1st year to 3rd year, courses are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. For the 4th year majors, only one subject, 'Korean Translation,' is offered as a compulsory course in contrast to Culture University that offers 'Korean Translation' as a required major subject in the second year and a practical 'Korean Interpretation and Translation' course in the fourth year. Among the 12 elective majors, Korean studies education takes up a total of 11 subjects with 32 class hours, accounting for 88.9% of the total. The only exception is 'Everyday Korean.' In other words, Korean studies education in National University of Governance is in such an important position that it accounts for one-third of the total. However, the university does not offer any literature class. Specifically, the university's courses cover Korea's politics, economy, culture and history, with a focus placed on modern Korean politics and society as seen in its courses entitled 'Korean Society and Culture,' which is sponsored by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 'Korean Politics and Diplomacy,' 'Korean Modern History,' 'Film Criticism of the Korean Transitional Justice,' 'North Korean Studies,' 'Korean Politics and 'Democratization,' and 'Introduction to Korean Culture.'
Next, let's sum up Kaohsiung University's number of courses, class hours, and their proportions in each academic area. Focus is placed on Korean language at the university as well, with 18 Korean language courses with 73 class hours accounting for 77.7% of a total of 23 courses with 94 class hours. Of a total of 14 courses, 13 compulsory majors with 50 class hours account for 89.3%, except for the 'Korean Studies course.' While the Korean language education accounts for 40% with 5 courses and 14 class hours, Korean studies education represent 60% with 8 subjects and 21 class hours. At Kaohsiung University, Korean studies education accounts for 22.3% of the total education. The university also offers no literature education, though. In detail, the university's courses cover Korean politics, culture, history, among others, while emphasis is placed on modern and contemporary Korean studies including Korean politics, Korean culture, Korean history, and North Korean studies. Notably, the university opened a graduate course in 2017 while the school only has three full-time professors and two adjunct professors in the Korean studies-related field, and thus 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students are allowed to take graduate courses related to Korean grammar or Korean language education. This is a big difference between Culture University and National University of Governance.
To sum up the current status of Korean studies education at Taiwan's three universities with majors in Korean studies, the ratio of Korean culture and history is 58%, larger than 42% of Korean politics and economy, of all the Korean studies-related courses. Individually, the ratio of Korean culture and history is four out of seven courses at Culture University, eight out of 11 courses at National University of Governance, and six out of seven at Kaohsiung University. That is because professors at these three universities, most of who majored in Korean language and Korean literature education, offer lectures on Korean culture and history.
② Graduate schools
Let's sum up the curriculum of the graduate schools at the three universities such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University. First, Culture University whose graduate courses were launched in 2000 has produced graduates for the 18th year thus far. The current curriculum requires a total of 30 credits, the same as National University of Governance, while Kaohsiung University's graduate school requires a total of 24 credits, 6 credits less than those universities. The universities also show a difference in compulsory major courses. While Culture University has three compulsory courses, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University have 2.5 courses and two courses, respectively. Culture University's three compulsory graduate courses include a thesis research method and thesis writing class, a Korean language class, and a Korean literature class. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, the university's graduate school has 13 compulsory courses with 26 class hours, except for 'Korean Literature Studies' with two class hours, with Korean Language Education and Research accounting for 42.9% with 12 hours for six courses and Korean Studies accounting for 50% with 14 hours for 7 courses. Comparison of the number of courses and class hours of the graduate courses in the three universities shows a big difference in the number of courses as National University of Governance offers seven courses with 21 class hours and Kaohsiung University offers five courses with 15 class hours. The reason is that Culture University can open more diverse courses since each of its courses offers 2 credits. As a result, Culture University offers lectures in various fields such as Korean politics and economy, culture and history, modern Korean literature, and Korean yeonhaengrok (Korean envoys' travel records to China).
Next, National University of Governance has produced graduates for the 8th year so far since the establishment of graduate courses in 2012. As graduation requirements, students must pass level 6 of the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) and participate in academic conferences or seminars at least four times. The school's three compulsory major courses include research on Korean linguistics, research methods and writing, and research on Korean literature (either classical or modern literature). The graduate school offers seven elective courses.
Notably, unlike Culture University, National University of Governance's graduate courses are centered on Korean Studies. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, the university's graduate school has 13 compulsory courses with 26 class hours, except for 'Korean Literature Studies' with two class hours, with Korean Language Education and Research taking 42.9% with 12 hours for six courses and Korean Studies accounting for 50% with 14 hours for seven courses. The current curriculum deals with Korean economy, culture, and Korean literature in part. Lectures on Korean economy are offered by external faculty members.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung University's graduate school has produced graduates for the third year since its master's program was established in 2017. The graduate school offers two compulsory major courses such as research methodology and thesis writing, and thesis introduction and discussion, in addition to a total of six elective courses. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, six compulsory major courses with 18 class hours consist of 'Korean Studies Research' and 'Korean education and research,' each of which accounts for 50% with three courses and nine class hours, respectively. However, literature class is yet to open. Specifically, focus is placed on Korean politics, culture, and North Korean studies largely because the department's professors majored in political science or North Korean studies.
The following is a summary of the current status of Korean studies education in Taiwan focusing on only Korean studies-related subjects, excluding Korean language and Korean literature, based on the curriculums of the graduate schools of Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, which are running the Department of Korean Studies as mentioned above.
Thematically, the list indicates that courses are not limited to Korean language education, but include Korea's politics, economy, and social issues. Korean culture and history account for 59% of all Korean studies courses while Korea's politics and economy account for 41%, a phenomenon similar to that of their undergraduate schools. Meanwhile, Culture University's graduate school offers seven courses composed of four courses related to Korean studies and three courses related to Korean culture and history. National University of Governance is concentrated excessively on Korean culture and history with three out of four courses dealing with the particular topics. Kaohsiung University offers two courses related to Korea's politics out of a total of three courses, indicating that the graduate schools' faculty members are political majors.
In fact, the three universities in Taiwan all offer lectures on Korean culture and society as well, irrespective of the majors of their faculty members, because the topics are easier to teach than Korea's politics or economy that require professional knowledge. Currently, Kaohsiung University has its own faculty teach all the courses related to Korean studies education. Culture University invites professors from other departments or outside experts to teach Korea's politics while its faculty members teach Korea's economy. At Culture University, the department's faculty is expanding their second major, a result of the university's consistent recommendation to do so over the years. However, National University of Governance depends on visiting professors and external professors for its courses on Korea's politics and economy.
So far, we have looked at the general characteristics of the courses related to Korean studies education in the undergraduate and graduate schools of Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University that are leading Korean studies education in Taiwan as of 2020. As shown above, the representative higher-educational institutions in Taiwan such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, all focus on a curriculum related to Korean language and Korean culture. Although a couple of Korean literature courses are opened, their curriculum is focused on practical language and associated cultural education. As such, the universities are offering courses designed to teach various language skills, such as Korean conversation, reading, writing, listening, Korean interpretation and translation, by level, along with necessary grammar courses. Such a change has been brought about by the dramatically growing number of courses related to Korean studies following active exchanges between the two countries under the influence of the Korean Wave. What is noteworthy is that Culture University's graduate school offers subjects on the history of pre-modern Korea-China exchanges; National University of Governance offers contemporary economy courses; and Kaohsiung University offers courses related to North Korean studies in addition to contemporary South Korean politics.
1) Current Status of Korean Studies Research Centers in the Departments of Korean Language and Literature at Universities
Although Korean studies education at universities began in Taiwan in 1956, Culture University launched the Korean Studies Research Center in 2014, National University of Governance opened the Korean Cultural Education Center in 2016, and Kaohsiung University inaugurated the Korea Research Center in 2017, initiating Korean studies research in the country in a significant way. The craze for Korean language education started in Taiwan in the 2000s due to the influence of Hallyu as well as Korea's industrial development. In the 2010s, universities responded to the trend through the establishment of Centers for Korean Studies.
The establishment of the centers in Taiwan since the 2010s has been possible because of the active support of Korea's various institutions tasked with the promotion of Korean studies. For example, various projects sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Foundation, and the Korean Studies Promotion Service have contributed to the promotion of Korean studies research in Taiwan. Culture University and National University of Governance actively promote education and research on Korean studies in Taiwan through the Core University Program for Korean Studies supported by the Academy of Korean Studies while Kaohsiung University is actively carrying out various types of projects with support for research in specific fields of Korean studies. In addition, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is also providing lecture support to Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University. It was such support from Korea that enabled the three Taiwanese universities to establish Korean Studies Research Center. The main support for Korean Studies Research Centers at the three universities has been made through the Academy of Korean Studies as follows.
2) Academic Conferences on Korean Studies at Departments of Korean Language and Literature in Universities
Currently, research on Korean studies in Taiwan is developing through Korean academic conferences dealing with various topics including Korean language, literature, politics, economy, history, and culture, such as those organized annually by Departments of Korean Language and Literature and Centers for Korean Studies of the three universities including Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University. Examples include the Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies, Korean Cultural Education Conference, and International Conference of Kaohsiung University's Center for Korean Studies.
Academic research on Korean studies in Taiwan sponsored by organizations promoting Korean studies such as the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation can be visually confirmed through various Korean studies conferences hosted by the three universities. From 2010 to 2017, Culture University held the annual Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies. In June 2021, it successfully held the 9th Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies. In accordance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the 9th international conference was held online. The Dean of the Department of Korean Language Literature gave an opening address followed by keynote speeches in three subdivisions such as Korean linguistics, Korean literature, and Korean studies. The event originally scheduled to be held in the Academic Conference Room of Culture University was changed into an online conference due to COVID-19. As it was its first online academic conference, Culture University experienced multiple technical difficulties. The 9th academic conference was divided into three divisions such as 'language education,' 'literature' and 'social science.' The large-scale academic conference featured 27 presentations followed by the scholars' panel discussions. The conference dealt with a variety of topics in the disciplines of humanities and society including linguistics, literature and history.
Also, on June 21, the Department of Korean Language Literature of Culture University held the '2021 Academic Conference on Taiwan's Next Generation Korean Studies' with assistance from the Academy of Korean Studies' International Support for Korean Studies. '2021 Academic Conference on Taiwan's Next Generation Korean Studies' was divided into three divisions such as 'Korean linguistics/Korean language education,' 'Korean literature' and 'Korean social sciences.' A total of 27 papers were presented by Taiwan's promising next-generation researchers.
National University of Governance hosted 'the 1st Korean Cultural Education Conference' with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies in September 2015. In 2017, the university held two international academic conferences with the themes of 'Development of Korean Studies in Taiwan and Establishment of a Network for Educators of Korean Language in East Asia' and 'The Current Status and Development Plan for Overseas Korean Studies Experts,' respectively. In January 2019, the university's Center for Korean Culture and Education and the Korean Studies Society of the Republic of China co-hosted the 26th international conference under the theme of 'Revitalization and Expansion of Korean Studies in Taiwan.' Kaohsiung University that has been working hard to develop its Korean studies since May 2017 with support from the Academy of Korean Studies held its 6th International Conference on Korean studies, together with its Korean Studies Research Center, in March 2021, under the theme of 'the Current Status of Korea and Constructing and Seeking Out Korean Studies Reflecting the Characteristics of Taiwan.'
3) Research Trends in Academic Journals/Thesis Collections Related to Korean Studies at Universities
As academic conferences on Korean studies on various topics have been held at Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, the universities' research centers have published the conference presentations as periodicals every year or as collections of research articles on an irregular basis. Representative examples include 'The Journal of Korean Studies' at Culture University, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' at National University of Governance and 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University" of Kaohsiung University.
Among them, 'The Journal of Korean Studies' was published six times from 2012 to 2018 featuring a total of 76 papers. Rather than an academic journal, it is a collection of papers published on an irregular basis by researchers of Korean studies. The papers dealt with not only Korean studies but also various East Asian topics in the fields of languages, literature, culture, history, politics, economy and social studies.
Next, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' includes research on Korean studies in the fields of literature, history, and culture with a focus on Korean linguistics and Korean language education. It also features some critiques. Lastly, 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University' published by Kaohsiung University is a collection of papers mainly about Korean politics and international relations although it deals with the Korean language, literature, history, society, and culture as well.
Kaohsiung University has the advantage of having its own faculty members teach all the relevant subjects, but as their majors are limited to languages or political science, the university does not offer any course related to Korean literature or economy. Culture University invites professors from other departments or external professors to provide lectures on Korean politics. National University of Governance is having courses of Korean politics and economy taught by visiting professors and external professors. In order to overcome the limitations, each university is expected to hire majors of Korean politics, economy, or history who are fluent in Korean as its full-time faculty members, in addition to those who majored in language and literature.
Meanwhile, Korean studies in Taiwan are being led chiefly by Culture University and National University of Governance, with Kaohsiung University expanding the horizon. Most notably, the three universities such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University have all successfully opened their Korean studies research centers with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation tasked with the promotion of Korean studies globally. They have also held international academic conferences addressing various topics related to Korean studies. The universities' research centers have published the results of the conferences as annual periodicals or irregular collections of research papers. Outstanding examples include 'The Journal of Korean Studies' at Culture University, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' at National University of Governance and 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University'.
Hopefully, Taiwan's Korean studies research achievements, which have been made largely by Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, will continue to grow going forward.
1. Preface
The purpose of this study is to briefly outline the 60-year history of Korean studies research in Taiwan and to examine the current status of Korean studies education and research in the country. In particular, this study is aimed at suggesting the direction of Korean studies education and research in Taiwan by reviewing Korean studies-related subjects being offered by three universities with the Department of Korean Language Literature along with the achievements made by the Korean Studies Research Center at the schools including the characteristics of those accomplishments.역사적으로는 물론, 정치 경제적으로도 한국과 특수성을 공유하는 대만은 한국과 오랜 기간 우호 관계를 유지하고 있었고, 한국학 연구와 교육이 활발하게 진행된 곳이다. 대만에서 한국학 교육 및 한국학 연구의 역사는 1956년 국립정치대학(이하 '정치대') 동방어문학과에서 한국어조를 시작으로 한국어교육을 실시한 이래, 1963년 중국문화대학 (이하 '문화대')에 이어, 2008년 한류의 영향으로 한국학의 중요성에 대한 인식이 새롭게 부각되면서 학과 건설이 이루 어진 남부 국립가오슝대학 (이하 '가오슝대') 동아시아학과에 한국어조 등 한국학 관련학과가 개설되면서 대만 내 한국어 교육 및 한국학 연구의 기틀을 마련해 왔다.
Taiwan, which shares characteristics with Korea not only historically but also politically and economically, maintained friendly relations with Korea for a long time. It has also been active in conducting research and education for Korean studies. The history of Korean studies education and research in Taiwan began in 1956 when the Department of Eastern Language Literature at National University of Governance started Korean language education at its Korean Language Section. In 1963, the Chinese Culture University followed suit. In 2008 when the importance of Korean studies emerged due to the influence of the Korean wave, the National University of Kaohsiung opened a Korean language section in its Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. The universities have laid the foundation for Korean language education and research in Taiwan.
Prior to the 1980s, the only educational and research institutes engaged in Korean studies in Taiwan were Chinese Culture University and National University of Governance. At the time, Taiwan had active exchanges with Korea when the Cold War was shaping the world order, with academic interest placed mainly in politics, diplomacy, and ideological aspects. Since the severance of formal diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea and Taiwan have gone through many ups and downs. However, with positive changes such as the impact of Hallyu and the economic ripple effect of the development of the IT industry, the public's interest in the Korean language has surged in Taiwan, leading to a dramatic increase in the educational institutions of Korean studies in the country to meet the growing demand for the language education. For example, 520 Taiwanese took the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in 2005 when it was launched in the country. The number rose to 741 in 2007 and then skyrocketed to 10,406 in 2018.
In addition to the existing three universities with Korean language majors, such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, many universities have opened a Korean language course as a liberal arts course or an elective course. Even in high schools, the status of the Korean language as a second foreign language has risen: The number of high school students taking Korean language classes more than doubled between 2013 and 2017 from 3,110 to 6,806. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Education in 2021, 272 high schools in Taiwan taught 13 foreign languages as second languages and that 201 high schools, or 74%, offered Korean language courses for a total of 5,796 students. Korean has emerged as the second most popular second language in Taiwan after Japanese. In addition, Korean language-related courses are being offered at university-affiliated institutions, social education institutions, and a number of private foreign language institutes, big and small. On top of that, universities began to set up Korean Studies Research Center dealing with Korean studies as a discipline, laying a solid foundation for Korean studies in the country.
Articles have been published on the current status, tasks, and prospects of Korean studies-related education and research in Taiwan. Scholars who have made major research achievements recently include Jeungchonebu (2021), Kim Yun-tae (2020), Song Hyeon-ho (2016), Kuo Chiu-wen (2014, 2016, 2018), Xu Yi-ling (2016), and Lee Ha-na (2020), who have made a general presentation of the current status and characteristics of Korean studies in Taiwan, in addition to those who have presented the general status and characteristics of the Korean language education in Taiwan, such as Yang In-jong (2005), Lien Kong Tsai and Park Byeong-seon (2007), Kuo Chiu-Wen (2008), Chen Qing-zhi (2012, 2017), Wang Ching-tung (2015), Park Byeong-seon (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), Kim Seon-hyo (2017), Chung Chang-jhih (2018), Yu Yeon-hwan(2019), Son Jeong-Il (2020), Lee Hyeon-Ju (2020).Jeungcheonbu (2021), Kim Yun-tae (2020), Yu Yeon-hwan (2019), Song Hyeon-ho (2016), and Kuo Chiu-Wen (2014, 2016, 2018) have made particularly outstanding achievements.
The concept of Korean studies has been discussed by multiple scholars, including Kim Kyeong-il, Park Eee-moon, Han Yong-u, and Yun Yeo-tak. Apart from Kim Kyeong-il who published "System of Knowledge about Korea," Park Eee-moon also said that Korean studies include not only language and literature but also "the entirety of humanities and social sciences related to Korea" ranging from politics to economy, history, society, art, and science. In addition, Han Yeong-woo also viewed the humanities and social sciences as an integrated research system, and approached Korean studies with a relatively broad concept, claiming that 'culture´ must include not just language but politics, economy, society, history, literature, and religion as well. Meanwhile, Yun Yeo-tak viewed Korean studies as Korean language education and research abroad while considering it the study and education of Korea's language, literature, history, politics, economy, culture, and society at home. In sum, 'Korean studies' can be defined as a broad field of study that explores all the knowledge related to Korea.
In Taiwan, courses at the Department of Korean Language Literature in three universities such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University can be said to have laid the most important foundation for Korean studies. Unfortunately, existing Korean studies have revealed very little of the three universities' research achievements in Korean studies. Therefore, while fully accepting the existing research results, this paper would like to shed light on the Department of Korean Language Literature at the three universities in Taiwan and examine the establishment and operation of the Korean studies departments there along with the prospects and tasks of Korean studies in Taiwan. To figure out the current status of Korean studies education and research in Taiwan, the author has accessed the websites of each university in Taiwan for a complete survey and updated information on the schools' operational status.
2. Current Status of Korean Studies Education in Taiwan
As mentioned earlier, National University of Governance opened the country's first Korean studies department in 1956. In 1963 and 2008, Chinese Culture University and Kaohsiung University, respectively, began to accumulate long-term competence in education and research related to Korean studies. Among them, National University of Governance and Chinese Culture University with a relatively long history opened Korean studies-related departments before 2000 due to Taiwan's national policy followed by the country's diplomatic and economic needs whereas Kaohsiung University launched its Korean studies-related department in southern Taiwan in 2008 because of a strong demand for the department in the southern part of Taiwan in line with the expanding cultural exchanges and economic relations with Korea due to the influence of the Korean Wave in the 2000s.1) Status of Education in the Department of Korean Language Literature
First, Chinese Culture University is a private university with a history of nearly 60 years, which opened the Korean Language Section under the Department of Eastern Language Literature in 1963. This department shares history with the establishment of Chinese Culture University under the active support of Dr. Chang Chi-yun, the founder of the university, who had served as the country's Minister of Education as well. The university promoted the Korean Language Section to the Department of Korean Language Literature in 1994, opened Graduate Institute of Korean Language and Literature in 2000, and established the Korean Studies Research Center in May 2014. The school has built the academic framework of Korean Studies for decades. Currently, there are a total of ten full-time faculty members (7 Taiwanese, 3 Korean); by major, three studied Korean classics, two Korean modern Also, the ten faulty members include one professor, six associate professors, and three assistant professors. In addition, the school has three adjunct professors and five adjunct instructors (2 Taiwanese, 3 Korean). Thus, Culture University is staffed by a total of 18 academics. The university has formed sisterhood ties with 45 universities in Korea to conduct academic exchange and exchange student programs. With five of them, Culture University is also operating dual degree programs. Most notably, while the number of university admissions is rapidly decreasing due to a decline in the school-age population followed by the recent low birth rate and aging population, the school's Department of Korean Language Literature succeeded in obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education and doubling its undergraduate students from 53 to 105 in 2020. Currently, about 500 students are studying Korean language and literature at the university, including 105 undergraduate and 10 graduate majors and far more minors and double majors. Furthermore, the Department of Korean Language Literature affiliated with the Graduate School of Foreign Languages not only launched an interdisciplinary, mandatory curriculum in consideration of the characteristics of the university's 13 colleges in 2020. With the integration of the Graduate School of International Studies and the Graduate School of Foreign Languages, the department is planning to expand its interdisciplinary credit exchanges to the Department of Tourism Management and the Department of Business Administration. All these changes are a positive outcome of a sharp surge in demand for Korean studies in Taiwan due to the influence of the Korean Wave.
Next, National University of Governance is the first university to provide Korean language education in Taiwan owing to the interest of Taiwan's national policy in 1956 followed by a diplomatic demand in line with the growing importance of Korea to Taiwan. In other words, the university opened the Korean Language Section under the Department of Eastern Language Literature to nurture Korea specialists who can promote Taiwan's national and social development diplomatically. In 2004, the university promoted the section to the Department of Korean Language Literature. In 2012, it launched a graduate program. The school has been accumulating its competence of Korean studies for a long time. Currently, the department has a total of nine full-time faculty members (5 Taiwanese, 4 Koreans). By major, six studied Korean linguistics, one Korean classical literature, and another one Korean cultural studies. The nine faculty members include two professors, two associate professors, and five assistant professors. The department also has one adjunct professor and six instructors. The university has sisterhood ties with more than 38 universities in Korea. The number of admissions is 29 for undergraduate courses and nine for graduate courses. Approximately 450 students, including minors and double majors from other departments, are taking Korean studies-related courses at National University of Governance. In 2016, the university established 'Education Center of Korean Culture' with support from the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) as part of its Core University Program for Korean Studies. The center has been active in fostering Korean language teachers ever since.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung University's Korean Language Section, established in 2008, started as part of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature including Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean sections. Compared to the aforementioned two universities, Culture University and National University of Governance, the Korean studies at Kaohsiung University have a relatively short history. As the importance of Korean studies emerged due to the influence of the Korean Wave, this national university opened a Korean studies-related section in southern Taiwan to nurture outstanding talents with the necessary knowledge of Korean studies as well as international perspectives in the region. It created an opportunity to lay the foundation for Korean studies education, which had been concentrated in Taipei, in southern Taiwan. In 2017, the school launched a graduate program and has produced master's graduates for three years so far.
Currently, there are a total of three full-time faculty members (1 Taiwanese and 2 Koreans), including two linguistics and one political science majors. The professor of Taiwanese nationality majored in Korean. Two adjunct lecturers (1 Taiwanese and 1 Korean) are working at the organization too. Kaohsiung University has 14 undergraduate admissions and 10 graduate admissions for Korean studies, as part of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. Around 100 students are taking courses related to Korean studies. Despite its short 13-year history, Kaohsiung University has succeeded in internationalization. Currently, it has sisterhood ties with more than 34 universities in Korea. In addition to its regular Korean Studies courses, the university is actively operating domestic and foreign corporate internship courses while conducting several research projects related to Korean Studies with support from the Academy of Korean Studies.
2) Current Status of Curriculum in the Department of Korean Language Literature at Universities
① Undergraduate schools
Currently, according to the policy of the Ministry of Education, the curriculum for the Korean Language and Literature majors in Taiwan consists of joint compulsory courses, compulsory major courses, and elective major courses. The total number of credits required for graduation is 128. As for graduation qualifications, National University of Governance requires TOPIK level 5 or level 4 and qualifications in other foreign language proficiency tests. Culture University and Kaohsiung University require TOPIK level 4 but are planning to upgrade it to level 5 or higher from the fall semester of 2020.
The following is a summary of the current status of the Korean language courses offered in the first and second semesters of the 2020 academic year based on the data from the official websites of the three universities such as Chinese Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University. Let's take a look at the status of major courses offered by the three universities.
First, Chinese Culture University reorganized the department curriculums and shifted a number of required major courses to elective courses in the 2017 academic year. The university's major courses of the 2020 academic year reflect the results of the departmental reorganization. The number of courses, number of hours, and the proportions of the courses in each area for the 2020 academic year of the university's Department of Korean Language Literature can be summed up as follows: Compulsory courses related to Korean language education are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes from 1st year to 3rd year. Of the 16 courses, 15 excluding 'Language and Culture' account for 82.1% with 92 hours, indicating that focus are placed excessively on the Korean language education. There are a total of 27 elective major courses at the undergraduate level, where the focus is placed on the Korean language education, too, although Korean literature courses are also offered. In detail, 18 courses of 'Korean' with 38 hours account for 67.9%, two 'Korean Literature' courses account for 7.1%, and seven 'Korean Studies' courses account for 25% with 14 class hours. Unlike National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, Culture University shows a significant difference in the number of class hours compared to the number of courses. That is because Culture University offers two-credit courses at both undergraduate and graduate programs whereas National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University mostly offer three-credit major courses. In terms of the number of courses, Culture College offers a total of 44 as opposed to 23 and 26 offered by National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, respectively. In terms of class hours, however, the difference is not so distinct: 112 hours at Culture University, 90 hours at National University of Governance, and 94 hours at Kaohsiung University. In terms of the difference between the number of class hours and the number of courses for majors, Culture University has 14 hours, which are 18 hours and seven hours short of the figures of National University of Governance (32 hours) and Kaohsiung University (21 hours).
Next, let's look at National University of Governance's number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions. Focus is also placed on the Korean language education at the school, with a significantly higher proportion of Korean studies courses than in Culture University, though. The total number of courses is 23 with 90 class hours, with 11 compulsory Korean language major courses with 58 class hours accounting for 64.4% in hours. From 1st year to 3rd year, courses are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. For the 4th year majors, only one subject, 'Korean Translation,' is offered as a compulsory course in contrast to Culture University that offers 'Korean Translation' as a required major subject in the second year and a practical 'Korean Interpretation and Translation' course in the fourth year. Among the 12 elective majors, Korean studies education takes up a total of 11 subjects with 32 class hours, accounting for 88.9% of the total. The only exception is 'Everyday Korean.' In other words, Korean studies education in National University of Governance is in such an important position that it accounts for one-third of the total. However, the university does not offer any literature class. Specifically, the university's courses cover Korea's politics, economy, culture and history, with a focus placed on modern Korean politics and society as seen in its courses entitled 'Korean Society and Culture,' which is sponsored by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 'Korean Politics and Diplomacy,' 'Korean Modern History,' 'Film Criticism of the Korean Transitional Justice,' 'North Korean Studies,' 'Korean Politics and 'Democratization,' and 'Introduction to Korean Culture.'
Next, let's sum up Kaohsiung University's number of courses, class hours, and their proportions in each academic area. Focus is placed on Korean language at the university as well, with 18 Korean language courses with 73 class hours accounting for 77.7% of a total of 23 courses with 94 class hours. Of a total of 14 courses, 13 compulsory majors with 50 class hours account for 89.3%, except for the 'Korean Studies course.' While the Korean language education accounts for 40% with 5 courses and 14 class hours, Korean studies education represent 60% with 8 subjects and 21 class hours. At Kaohsiung University, Korean studies education accounts for 22.3% of the total education. The university also offers no literature education, though. In detail, the university's courses cover Korean politics, culture, history, among others, while emphasis is placed on modern and contemporary Korean studies including Korean politics, Korean culture, Korean history, and North Korean studies. Notably, the university opened a graduate course in 2017 while the school only has three full-time professors and two adjunct professors in the Korean studies-related field, and thus 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students are allowed to take graduate courses related to Korean grammar or Korean language education. This is a big difference between Culture University and National University of Governance.
To sum up the current status of Korean studies education at Taiwan's three universities with majors in Korean studies, the ratio of Korean culture and history is 58%, larger than 42% of Korean politics and economy, of all the Korean studies-related courses. Individually, the ratio of Korean culture and history is four out of seven courses at Culture University, eight out of 11 courses at National University of Governance, and six out of seven at Kaohsiung University. That is because professors at these three universities, most of who majored in Korean language and Korean literature education, offer lectures on Korean culture and history.
② Graduate schools
Let's sum up the curriculum of the graduate schools at the three universities such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University. First, Culture University whose graduate courses were launched in 2000 has produced graduates for the 18th year thus far. The current curriculum requires a total of 30 credits, the same as National University of Governance, while Kaohsiung University's graduate school requires a total of 24 credits, 6 credits less than those universities. The universities also show a difference in compulsory major courses. While Culture University has three compulsory courses, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University have 2.5 courses and two courses, respectively. Culture University's three compulsory graduate courses include a thesis research method and thesis writing class, a Korean language class, and a Korean literature class. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, the university's graduate school has 13 compulsory courses with 26 class hours, except for 'Korean Literature Studies' with two class hours, with Korean Language Education and Research accounting for 42.9% with 12 hours for six courses and Korean Studies accounting for 50% with 14 hours for 7 courses. Comparison of the number of courses and class hours of the graduate courses in the three universities shows a big difference in the number of courses as National University of Governance offers seven courses with 21 class hours and Kaohsiung University offers five courses with 15 class hours. The reason is that Culture University can open more diverse courses since each of its courses offers 2 credits. As a result, Culture University offers lectures in various fields such as Korean politics and economy, culture and history, modern Korean literature, and Korean yeonhaengrok (Korean envoys' travel records to China).
Next, National University of Governance has produced graduates for the 8th year so far since the establishment of graduate courses in 2012. As graduation requirements, students must pass level 6 of the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) and participate in academic conferences or seminars at least four times. The school's three compulsory major courses include research on Korean linguistics, research methods and writing, and research on Korean literature (either classical or modern literature). The graduate school offers seven elective courses.
Notably, unlike Culture University, National University of Governance's graduate courses are centered on Korean Studies. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, the university's graduate school has 13 compulsory courses with 26 class hours, except for 'Korean Literature Studies' with two class hours, with Korean Language Education and Research taking 42.9% with 12 hours for six courses and Korean Studies accounting for 50% with 14 hours for seven courses. The current curriculum deals with Korean economy, culture, and Korean literature in part. Lectures on Korean economy are offered by external faculty members.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung University's graduate school has produced graduates for the third year since its master's program was established in 2017. The graduate school offers two compulsory major courses such as research methodology and thesis writing, and thesis introduction and discussion, in addition to a total of six elective courses. In terms of the number of courses, the number of class hours, and their proportions, six compulsory major courses with 18 class hours consist of 'Korean Studies Research' and 'Korean education and research,' each of which accounts for 50% with three courses and nine class hours, respectively. However, literature class is yet to open. Specifically, focus is placed on Korean politics, culture, and North Korean studies largely because the department's professors majored in political science or North Korean studies.
The following is a summary of the current status of Korean studies education in Taiwan focusing on only Korean studies-related subjects, excluding Korean language and Korean literature, based on the curriculums of the graduate schools of Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, which are running the Department of Korean Studies as mentioned above.
Thematically, the list indicates that courses are not limited to Korean language education, but include Korea's politics, economy, and social issues. Korean culture and history account for 59% of all Korean studies courses while Korea's politics and economy account for 41%, a phenomenon similar to that of their undergraduate schools. Meanwhile, Culture University's graduate school offers seven courses composed of four courses related to Korean studies and three courses related to Korean culture and history. National University of Governance is concentrated excessively on Korean culture and history with three out of four courses dealing with the particular topics. Kaohsiung University offers two courses related to Korea's politics out of a total of three courses, indicating that the graduate schools' faculty members are political majors.
In fact, the three universities in Taiwan all offer lectures on Korean culture and society as well, irrespective of the majors of their faculty members, because the topics are easier to teach than Korea's politics or economy that require professional knowledge. Currently, Kaohsiung University has its own faculty teach all the courses related to Korean studies education. Culture University invites professors from other departments or outside experts to teach Korea's politics while its faculty members teach Korea's economy. At Culture University, the department's faculty is expanding their second major, a result of the university's consistent recommendation to do so over the years. However, National University of Governance depends on visiting professors and external professors for its courses on Korea's politics and economy.
So far, we have looked at the general characteristics of the courses related to Korean studies education in the undergraduate and graduate schools of Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University that are leading Korean studies education in Taiwan as of 2020. As shown above, the representative higher-educational institutions in Taiwan such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University, all focus on a curriculum related to Korean language and Korean culture. Although a couple of Korean literature courses are opened, their curriculum is focused on practical language and associated cultural education. As such, the universities are offering courses designed to teach various language skills, such as Korean conversation, reading, writing, listening, Korean interpretation and translation, by level, along with necessary grammar courses. Such a change has been brought about by the dramatically growing number of courses related to Korean studies following active exchanges between the two countries under the influence of the Korean Wave. What is noteworthy is that Culture University's graduate school offers subjects on the history of pre-modern Korea-China exchanges; National University of Governance offers contemporary economy courses; and Kaohsiung University offers courses related to North Korean studies in addition to contemporary South Korean politics.
3. Status of Korean Studies Research in Taiwan
Korean studies education and research in Taiwan began in the late 1950s from the perspective of national policy in response to political and diplomatic needs. Since the 2000s, their focus has shifted to practical and cultural aspects due to the influence of the Korean Wave. Currently, research related to Korean studies in Taiwan is being conducted mainly by universities with majors of Korean studies: Culture University and National University of Governance have played a central role in leading Korean studies in Taiwan, with Kaohsiung University, among others, expanding the scope. Therefore, as we did in the previous chapter to look at the current status of Korean studies education in Taiwan, we will examine the current status of Korean studies research in Taiwan concentrating on Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University in this chapter as well. We will briefly review the Korean Studies Research Centers of the three universities, the current status of academic conferences on Korean Studies, and the trends in Korean studies in Taiwan as are indicated in Korean studies journals.1) Current Status of Korean Studies Research Centers in the Departments of Korean Language and Literature at Universities
Although Korean studies education at universities began in Taiwan in 1956, Culture University launched the Korean Studies Research Center in 2014, National University of Governance opened the Korean Cultural Education Center in 2016, and Kaohsiung University inaugurated the Korea Research Center in 2017, initiating Korean studies research in the country in a significant way. The craze for Korean language education started in Taiwan in the 2000s due to the influence of Hallyu as well as Korea's industrial development. In the 2010s, universities responded to the trend through the establishment of Centers for Korean Studies.
The establishment of the centers in Taiwan since the 2010s has been possible because of the active support of Korea's various institutions tasked with the promotion of Korean studies. For example, various projects sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Foundation, and the Korean Studies Promotion Service have contributed to the promotion of Korean studies research in Taiwan. Culture University and National University of Governance actively promote education and research on Korean studies in Taiwan through the Core University Program for Korean Studies supported by the Academy of Korean Studies while Kaohsiung University is actively carrying out various types of projects with support for research in specific fields of Korean studies. In addition, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is also providing lecture support to Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University. It was such support from Korea that enabled the three Taiwanese universities to establish Korean Studies Research Center. The main support for Korean Studies Research Centers at the three universities has been made through the Academy of Korean Studies as follows.
2) Academic Conferences on Korean Studies at Departments of Korean Language and Literature in Universities
Currently, research on Korean studies in Taiwan is developing through Korean academic conferences dealing with various topics including Korean language, literature, politics, economy, history, and culture, such as those organized annually by Departments of Korean Language and Literature and Centers for Korean Studies of the three universities including Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University. Examples include the Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies, Korean Cultural Education Conference, and International Conference of Kaohsiung University's Center for Korean Studies.
Academic research on Korean studies in Taiwan sponsored by organizations promoting Korean studies such as the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation can be visually confirmed through various Korean studies conferences hosted by the three universities. From 2010 to 2017, Culture University held the annual Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies. In June 2021, it successfully held the 9th Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies. In accordance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the 9th international conference was held online. The Dean of the Department of Korean Language Literature gave an opening address followed by keynote speeches in three subdivisions such as Korean linguistics, Korean literature, and Korean studies. The event originally scheduled to be held in the Academic Conference Room of Culture University was changed into an online conference due to COVID-19. As it was its first online academic conference, Culture University experienced multiple technical difficulties. The 9th academic conference was divided into three divisions such as 'language education,' 'literature' and 'social science.' The large-scale academic conference featured 27 presentations followed by the scholars' panel discussions. The conference dealt with a variety of topics in the disciplines of humanities and society including linguistics, literature and history.
Also, on June 21, the Department of Korean Language Literature of Culture University held the '2021 Academic Conference on Taiwan's Next Generation Korean Studies' with assistance from the Academy of Korean Studies' International Support for Korean Studies. '2021 Academic Conference on Taiwan's Next Generation Korean Studies' was divided into three divisions such as 'Korean linguistics/Korean language education,' 'Korean literature' and 'Korean social sciences.' A total of 27 papers were presented by Taiwan's promising next-generation researchers.
National University of Governance hosted 'the 1st Korean Cultural Education Conference' with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies in September 2015. In 2017, the university held two international academic conferences with the themes of 'Development of Korean Studies in Taiwan and Establishment of a Network for Educators of Korean Language in East Asia' and 'The Current Status and Development Plan for Overseas Korean Studies Experts,' respectively. In January 2019, the university's Center for Korean Culture and Education and the Korean Studies Society of the Republic of China co-hosted the 26th international conference under the theme of 'Revitalization and Expansion of Korean Studies in Taiwan.' Kaohsiung University that has been working hard to develop its Korean studies since May 2017 with support from the Academy of Korean Studies held its 6th International Conference on Korean studies, together with its Korean Studies Research Center, in March 2021, under the theme of 'the Current Status of Korea and Constructing and Seeking Out Korean Studies Reflecting the Characteristics of Taiwan.'
3) Research Trends in Academic Journals/Thesis Collections Related to Korean Studies at Universities
As academic conferences on Korean studies on various topics have been held at Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, the universities' research centers have published the conference presentations as periodicals every year or as collections of research articles on an irregular basis. Representative examples include 'The Journal of Korean Studies' at Culture University, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' at National University of Governance and 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University" of Kaohsiung University.
Among them, 'The Journal of Korean Studies' was published six times from 2012 to 2018 featuring a total of 76 papers. Rather than an academic journal, it is a collection of papers published on an irregular basis by researchers of Korean studies. The papers dealt with not only Korean studies but also various East Asian topics in the fields of languages, literature, culture, history, politics, economy and social studies.
Next, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' includes research on Korean studies in the fields of literature, history, and culture with a focus on Korean linguistics and Korean language education. It also features some critiques. Lastly, 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University' published by Kaohsiung University is a collection of papers mainly about Korean politics and international relations although it deals with the Korean language, literature, history, society, and culture as well.
4. Conclusion
We have looked at the current status of Korean studies education in the undergraduate and graduate schools of three universities with departments of Korean studies in Taiwan, such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University. We have confirmed from the courses related to Korean studies education in the three schools for the 2020 academic year that focus is placed on practical language education and cultural education necessary for it. This change has been brought about by the soaring number of courses related to Korean Studies as active exchanges have been made between the two countries under the influence of the Korean Wave. It has turned out true that the three universities in Taiwan have their faculty members teach Korean culture and society irrespective of the members' majors.Kaohsiung University has the advantage of having its own faculty members teach all the relevant subjects, but as their majors are limited to languages or political science, the university does not offer any course related to Korean literature or economy. Culture University invites professors from other departments or external professors to provide lectures on Korean politics. National University of Governance is having courses of Korean politics and economy taught by visiting professors and external professors. In order to overcome the limitations, each university is expected to hire majors of Korean politics, economy, or history who are fluent in Korean as its full-time faculty members, in addition to those who majored in language and literature.
Meanwhile, Korean studies in Taiwan are being led chiefly by Culture University and National University of Governance, with Kaohsiung University expanding the horizon. Most notably, the three universities such as Culture University, National University of Governance and Kaohsiung University have all successfully opened their Korean studies research centers with the support of the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation tasked with the promotion of Korean studies globally. They have also held international academic conferences addressing various topics related to Korean studies. The universities' research centers have published the results of the conferences as annual periodicals or irregular collections of research papers. Outstanding examples include 'The Journal of Korean Studies' at Culture University, 'The Education and Research of Korean Culture' at National University of Governance and 'The Journal of Korean Studies of Kaohsiung University'.
Hopefully, Taiwan's Korean studies research achievements, which have been made largely by Culture University, National University of Governance, and Kaohsiung University, will continue to grow going forward.
