Column

As a leading public research university in the northeastern United States, Binghamton University (State University of New York) is an educational institution dedicated to pursuing both diversity and scholarly depth. In particular, the Korean Studies BA and MA programs offered by the university’s Asian and Asian American Studies Department offer a comprehensive look at Korea’s past and future through a systematic curriculum.

The degree program helps students understand Korea through a critical and in-depth perspective through classes covering diverse fields such as literature, culture, history, and politics. The program provides a solid foundation for students with diverse backgrounds and motivations, from those seeking to learn the Korean language or who have an interest in Korea due to K-pop or K-dramas, to those seeking to explore their Korean roots and identity.

Furthermore, the campus’s Center for Korean Studies, as a scholarly institution established to increase the understanding of Korea, promotes interdisciplinary research on Korean history, culture, society, and language. The center spreads Korean Studies knowledge by holding regular scholarly conferences, guest lectures, and cultural events.

At the center of Korean Studies is Korean language education. The Korean Language Program at Binghamton University consists of six levels of language classes from elementary to advanced, also providing classes on topics such as “Korean Film and K-Healing Literature,” “Business Korean,” and “Debates on Social Issues” to meet students’ diverse interests and career goals. By combining scholarly depth and practicality, this curriculum serves to maintain and enhance students’ motivation and engagement toward learning.

The dynamism of the Korean Language Program was displayed via the “K-Fest: Korea Day 2024” event, which was held on the campus on April 12, 2024. Held with the support from the AKS Korean Studies Grant Program, this meaningful event went beyond a simple cultural occasion to show how Korean Studies can spread to become a part of daily campus life by introducing diverse and lively Korean culture across the campus.

The festival recreated a Korean street where attendees could collect stamps in their “Korea Experience Passport” by participating in the various activities. The diverse programs, such as a hanbok-wearing experience, a K-pop dance workshop, a taekwondo demonstration, and a hangeul name-writing experience, were organized and carried out by student clubs. A variety of Korean food, such as kimchi fried rice, chicken bulgogi, stir-fried glass noodles (japchae), were also offered, showing the charm of Korean food culture. A drawing for prizes, including K-pop and K-beauty goods, added to the excitement.

In particular, the hanbok-wearing experience was even more popular than expected. The traditional clothing and accessories provided an opportunity for students of diverse cultural backgrounds to visually experience Korea’s beauty. The student helpers directly explained how to put on the hanbok and fasten the ribbons, thus naturally conveying the cultural context.

This event, made possible through the passion of the students, the dedication of the faculty, and the support of AKS, went beyond a simple cultural experience to serve as an impetus for raising awareness of Korean Studies and expanding its educational reach. In fact, after the event, the number of students who applied for Korean language classes and chose the Korean Studies major increased, while the collaboration between the department and the local community was further strengthened.

The 2024 K-Fest can be considered a symbolic demonstration of both the educational potential and cultural reach of Korean language programs. Through the development of educational curricula that align with temporal and social trends, the Korean Language Program at Binghamton University will continue to raise Korea’s international profile and broaden the proper understanding of Korean culture going forward.