By Lee Hyo-sik
Seoul National University (SNU) has decided to establish a Japanese studies department next year for the first time in its history.
Since its foundation in 1946, the school has not offered an academic course related to Japan, in consideration of the widespread anti-Japanese sentiment here as a result of Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.
SNU said Friday that deans of its colleges held a meeting concerning the 2012 curriculum a day earlier and decided to set up a new undergraduate studies department, named the Department of East Asian Language and Civilization Studies. It said a board of trustees’ meeting will make the final decision on the issue.
The envisioned academic unit will cover a comprehensive study of the languages, literature and culture of two countries and two regions _ Japan, India and Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
In 2012, it is expected to enroll 10 students, five each for Japanese and Southeast Asian majors. From 2013, 20 students will be recruited annually, five each for four majors. The school plans to assign around 13 professors and part-time lecturers to the new department.
``Even though SNU lacks in knowledge about Japan and the Middle East, it has been unable to set up related departments and offer study programs due to non-academic considerations,” an SNU official said. “The school’s latest decision is quite meaningful in that we will finally be able to offer a Japanese major for the first time in the school’s history.’’
The official said students will learn mostly about language and literature next year. ``We will add culture, history, philosophy and other aspects to the curriculum later.’’
SNU has not offered a Japanese study program for almost five decades by taking the widespread animosity held by many Koreans against Japan into account. But many state and private universities have been teaching Japanese language, literature and history.
In the early 2000s, the school tried to set up an undergraduate Japanese studies program but failed to do so as many professors and students strongly opposed the move. In 2004, the school was only able to establish the Institute for Japanese Studies for research purposes only.
Similarly, Japan’s University of Tokyo opened the Center for Contemporary Korean Studies in 2010 but has not offered any academic courses on Korea. But many state and private schools in the world’s third largest economy offer classes on Korean language, literature and culture.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr