Peking Univ. Renews Commitment to Korean Language Education
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
China's Peking University has chosen Wang Dan, a member of its Asian language faculty, to lead a new department specializing in Korean, Yonhap News Agency reported, Wednesday.
``As a young scholar, I am humbled by the significant entitlements of my new position. I want to make a contribution to nurturing a new generation of pro-Korean students who have a deep understanding of Korea,'' Wang told Yonhap. The 38-year-old female scholar is to head the Department of Korean (Chosun) Language and Culture starting this semester.
``My first priority will be placed on enhancing the quality and level of education provided by my department. Our curriculum will emphasize not just Korean language, but culture, history and inter-Korean relations,'' Wang said.
Korean has been included in the university's Asian language curriculum since 1945. However, in recognition of the increasing demand for Korean studies, the university has decided to open a department this semester. Besides Korean, Japanese is the only other Asian language that has its own department at the university.
Currently, nine Korean scholars are teaching there. Some 14 to 16 Korean freshmen enter the school each year.
The creation of a Korea-specific department within China's most respected educational institution is significant, especially in light of Korea's recent focus on remaking its image abroad.
``The founding of a Korean department is long overdue, considering the increasing importance China attaches to Korea and its language. Korean studies finally has a position in our school befitting its status and history,'' Wang noted.
Creating a Korean department had been a long-time wish of professors of Korean studies in China, added Wang.
To mark the occasion, the Korean Embassy in Beijing announced earlier in the week that it will hold an academic conference in May in conjunction with the university.
A native of Heilungchiang, Wang is fluent in both the South and North Korean dialects. After getting her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Korean language from Peking University, she studied at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University and received a PhD from Seoul National University.