Korea Studies

Overview

The Korea Studies Program was launched in 2006 in response to a growing demand for intensive study of political, security and economic issues on the Korean Peninsula. In its relatively short history, the program has grown rapidly to become one of the nation’s leading Korea policy studies programs, preparing the next generation of leaders and professionals in the field of Korean affairs.

Employment Outcomes


SAIS graduates are in great demand by employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Economics knowledge, analytical abilities, regional expertise, diplomatic skills, language proficiency and the capacity to apply theory to real-world problems give our students a distinct professional advantage.

Meet Our Students

All Students

In my many conversations with international affairs professionals in my home state of Hawaii, SAIS was frequently mentioned as one of the premier institutions for research and professional studies. And the diverse SAIS community creates a dynamic cultural experience that I feel one cannot get anywhere else and that will ultimately prepare me for success.

Patrick Branco, M.A., Korea Studies
Watch The Story

Career Interests

As a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow, will enter the U.S. Foreign Service

At SAIS
  • Intern, Public Affairs Division, U.S. Embassy, South Korea

The Curriculum


The Korea Studies Program offers a unique interdisciplinary education that aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of Korea’s modern domestic politics, economics and history, as well as its foreign policy relations with the United States and neighboring Asian nations. In addition to taking courses that are offered by Korea Studies, students are required to take classes from other Asian Studies programs to develop an understanding of the strategic environment that two Koreas face in regional and global contexts.

Concentration Requirements

Program Highlights

Research Opportunities

Students in Korea Studies are encouraged to work as research assistants for visiting scholars and staff at the U.S.-Korea Institute (USKI) at SAIS, an independent research institute that sponsors the Korea Studies Program.

U.S.-Korea Institute Events

Tasked with a mission to increase understanding in and about the Korean peninsula through educational offerings, research and public outreach, USKI hosts a variety of Korea-related events, seminars and conferences throughout the year. One of USKI’s monthly events is the USKI Brown Bag Lunch Seminar, which invites leading scholars and practitioners of Korean affairs to share their research interests and career experiences in a casual and intimate setting. All SAIS students are welcome to attend USKI’s public and SAIS community-only events.

Details

Additional Opportunities

Korea Studies Monthly Luncheons
Korea Studies organizes a monthly luncheon that features prominent policymakers, practitioners and scholars of Korean affairs to speak about a wide range of critical issues in the region and share their fields of research and expertise. Open exclusively to the SAIS community, the luncheon is intended to provide a forum for informal and candid exchanges.

Co-Curricular Activities
Every fall semester, Korea Studies offers a course that explores the contemporary political issues in South and North Korea titled, The Two Koreas: Contemporary Research and Record. Students are asked to conduct research and write individual reports on selected issues on Korea affairs. Outstanding reports are published in the annual SAIS U.S.–Korea Yearbook. As an important research training part of the course, students as a class travel to Seoul for 10 days during the Thanksgiving break in November. During the trip, students get a chance to make professional visitations to different sites of interest, and meet with various experts and officials to discuss their research papers.

Korea Studies Fellowships
Every year, the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS offers academic and summer fellowships to competitive students who have demonstrated academic excellence and commitment to Korea studies.

Events and Announcements

Upcoming Events

    There are no events scheduled at this time.

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Upcoming Events

There are no events scheduled at this time.

Announcements

There are no announcements for Korea Studies at this time.

Resources for Korea Studies


Faculty

Contact
Jae-Jung Suh, Director
Angela Choi, Program Coordinator