Stanford University opemsp Korean studies program

Director Shin Gi-wook

Stanford University campus

By Shim Jae-yun

Stanford University of the United States recently set up a Korean studies course for American high school students.

The “Sejong Scholar Program” will be provided free of charge and in English.

It will cover Korea’s history, culture, religion, arts, politics and relations with the United States. The university said 60 students applied for the program from across the U.S. and 27 were selected through deliberation on their academic records, recommendations and essays.

The university’s Asia Pacific Research Center is initiating the program with assistance from the Korea Foundation. Noted Korean studies scholars are taking part in the program, including center director Shin Gi-wook; associate director David Straub; Charles Armstrong, director of the Korean Studies Center at Colombia University; and Michael Robinson, a professor at Indiana University.

Japan has been conducting a similar program for the last 10 years.

Those who undergo the program may get credits from the university, which has also published textbooks on Korean studies for sale to some 50,000 high schools in the U.S.

“Though there has been growing criticism over the inappropriate education on Korea in middle and high schools in the U.S., little effort has been made to correct the situation,” said Shin.

He expressed hope the new program will help deepen understanding of Korea among U.S. high school students.

Another center official said the participants in the program have been showing interest in Korean culture, such as K-pop and K-drama.

“Riding on the ever growing popularity of hallyu (the Korean wave) around the globe, an increasing number of educational institutes have begun to show interest in the setup of Korean studies programs. We are seeking to further promote the program according to the results of the current one,” the official added.