Column
Korean studies in Italy: state of the art and future developments
Giuseppina De Nicola
Professor, Sapienza University of Rome
In recent years, the Korean culture and language have aroused significant interest in Italy. The growing interest in Korean cinema and the popularity of K-pop, especially among young people, have certainly contributed to it. Aside art, Korean cuisine, literature and traditions have stimulated this revived the appeal the Korea has on Italians. Consequently, many periodic exhibitions in important galleries and museums of paintings and artifacts are often being put on display in Italy. Events concerning the spread of Korean cuisine through television channels are increasingly planned and attract many people. Magazines targeting young people, like Cioè, have dedicated special publications to the most popular K-bands.
The interest in this country also seems to expand regarding the publications of Korean novels and poems. In the 1990s, only two pioneering publishing houses would launch some works by famous Korean authors (Giunti and ObarraO); by contrast, other companies, such as Bompiani, Einaudi, Piemme, NeriPozza, Baldini Castoldi, Sperling & Kupfler, etc. have recently published and continue to publish Korean works. The publications are not limited only to literature but also to history, culture, politics and economics.
This "Renaissance" of Korean culture in Italy has also been encouraged by the growth of Korean studies in various universities in Italy. A chronological list of universities with established Korean studies course is provided below.
- Address: Università Orientale, P.za Domenico Maggiore 1, 80134 Napoli
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 1960 (1st Professor Park Sun jae)
- Affiliated Dep.: Asian, African and Mediterranean Studies.
- Affiliated Course: Asian and African languages and Cultures.
1) Courses and Degrees
L'Orientale currently offers BA, MA courses in Korean Studies. Students can also enroll in doctoral courses in Korean. Since 2018, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students attending Korean language courses, (180 first-year students enrolled in 2018-19)
- BA course (Duration: 3 years)
The courses offered are Korean language and Korean classic and modern literature. The subjects taught in these courses are compulsory for students graduating in Korean, while students majoring in other course (Japanese, Chinese, etc.) can choose them as minor. Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an optional subject by students who enroll in Political Sciences and Compared Literature and Languages Courses.
- MA course (Duration: 2 years)
The courses offered are Korean language and Korean classic and modern literature. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization). Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an elective subject by students enrolled in Political Sciences and Compared Literature and Languages Courses. The PhD in Korean Studies has been established, but there are no students enrolled at the moment.
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 3
- 1 Associate Prof. Maurizio Riotto, MPh in Korean Archeology at Sapienza University of Rome, Research fellow at Seoul National University, (m.riotto@unior.it)
- 1 Associate Prof. Andrea De Benedittis PhD in Korean ancient history and art at Sapienza University of Rome, Research Fellow at Korea University, (Coordinator of the Korean Language and Literature course adebenedittis@unior.it )
- 1 Language Instructor
3) Library
The Library of the L'Orientale contains a total of 3,800 texts, including periodicals, books and multimedia materials.
4) Events and Activities
- Over the last two years, the University has hosted various conferences and workshops such as: An overseas translation workshop, in cooperation with KLTI
- A Symposium on Classics, titled In Search of Spirits and Heroes: A Journey into Classic Korean Literature, sponsored by KLTI,
- Seminars on: Translating from Korean, Chinese characters in Korean language, LGBT Cinema and Literature in South Korea
5) Publications
- Andrea De Benedittis: Korean Italian Dictionary, Introduction to Korean Culture, Korean Language 1, Korean Language 2, Korean Language 3, Goguryeo wall paintings, Handbook for learning Chinese Characters in Korean, etc.
- Maurizio Riotto: History of Korean Literature, Korean History, several classic novel translations, different articles in academic journals, etc.
6) Exchange programs
Currently L'Orientale has established exchange programs with Sungkyun kwan University and Inha University.
7) Plans for future developments
Given the high number of students and the interest in Korean studies in Naples, the University is willing to increase the number of subjects to be taught and the number of professors to be appointed in the future. An e-learning course in Korean History will be activated in the next academic year.The language instructor is normally appointed on one-year contract basis, but in the future one or two permanent positions are to be called. The University also hopes to have students enrolling in their PhD courses and post doc research activities; the university is working to reach these targets. It also intends to increase the number of texts in its library. It has also started talks for future agreements with other Korean universities such as: Hankuk University of Foreign studies, Busan University of Foreign studies, etc..
- Address: Università Cà Foscari Palazzo Vendramin, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 Venezia
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 1997 (1st Professor Han Sung chul)
- Affiliated Dep.: Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean Africa
1) Courses and Degrees
Cà Foscari University currently has a BA Degree in Korean Studies. Favoring its student's international mobility as a tool for developing knowledge, scientific, cultural and personal growth is among the Department's primary objectives. The Korean course can offer the best tools to learn the language, which is internationally certified, thus making this degree in Korean Studies an asset on the professional market.
- BA course (Duration: 3 years)
The offered courses are Korean language, Korean classic and modern literature, history, history of Korean language, history of philosophy and religions, art. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization).
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 8
- 1 Associate Prof. Vincenza D'Urso, PhD in Korean Studies, at University of Hamburg, (Coordinator of the Korean Language and Literature curriculum)
- 1 Assistant Prof. Kang Soon haeng, PhD in Italian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
- 2 Language Instructors
- 3 Adjunct Professors
- 1 Visiting Professor
3) Events and Activities
Cà Foscari University has recently hosted various workshops and events such as:
- Special lectures by Prof. Alexander Fedotoff on:
(1) White Color Animals in Korean and Altaic Myths and Legends
(2) The Three-Legged Crow in Korea, China and Japan
- Seminars on:
(1) New Women of Modern Korea: Dreaming, Challenging and Remembering (by Dr. Lee Hyojin)
(2) Hallyu and the changes in Korean media (by Prof. Lee Hun Yul)
Many other events are programmed, especially on literature; novel authors and poets were invited to take part in these events.
In December 2012 the first King Sejong Institute Venice was established at Cà Foscari. Enrolled students attended Korean language courses for six months or for a full academic year. Thanks to the Sejong Institute, many cultural activities were also organized: laboratories on Korean dance and music, cultural events and workshops on cultural issues where the protagonists were students and teachers coming from various King Sejong Institute of the world. Unfortunately, the Institute has been recently closed.
Cà Foscari University offers the possibility to obtain the Topik certificate on Korean language proficiency.
4) Publications
Most of the publications by the faculty members have been produced by Professor D'Urso, due to her extensive experience as a translator of novels and poems. Her recent translations are:
(1) A ready-made life and other stories - Ch'ae Mansik
(2) La regola del quadro (Paramŭi hwawŏn), by Lee Jung Myung (Yi Chongmyŏng), vol. 1
5) Exchange programs
Cà Foscari University maintains numerous scientific and cultural cooperation agreements with universities and other non-European institutions, with the aim of developing joint study, research and training activities and encouraging the mobility of students, researchers and teachers. Some of these agreements allow its students to carry out an exchange program in the foreign partner university. It is possible to complete a period of study abroad also according to a formula commonly called Visiting Students and with the recognition of educational credits obtained abroad. Cà Foscari has signed exchange programs with many Korean Universities, including Chung-Ang University, Dongguk University, Ehwa University, Sogang University.
6) Future development plans
Given the high number of students and subjects taught, the University is willing to increase the number of its full-time faculty positions.
- Web site: http://en.uniroma1.it/, https://web.uniroma1.it/diso/en
- Address: Scalo S. Lorenzo RM 21, Edificio Marco Polo, Circonvallazione Tiburtina 4, 00185, Rome.
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 2000 (1st Professor Antonetta Bruno)
- Affiliated Dep.: Italian Institute of Oriental Studies
- Affiliated Course: Oriental Languages and Civilization
1) Korean studies Courses and Degrees
Since 2010, the degree course in Oriental Studies has been limited to a restricted number of places offered. Therefore, students must take an entrance test whose call is published on the Sapienza website. At the time of enrollment students find themselves having to choose their first oriental language among Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hindi and Persian, and they will major in one of them. Furthermore, students can choose another language, which will be considered their second, or minor graduating subject. They can choose among one of the languages above, but they can also add Tibetan, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hebrew and Bengali.
Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
- Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
- Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
The offered courses are Korean language, modern and contemporary literature, political and social history of modern and contemporary Japan and Korea, Korean visual arts in east Asian context, History of Korean language. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization). Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an elective subject by students enrolled in other departments and faculties of Sapienza.
- PhD in Korean Studies (Duration: 3 years)
Sapienza University is the only Italian institution that has had or currently has Phd students in Korean Studies.
Phd students since 2012
Andrea De Benedittis graduated in 2012
Marylou Emberti graduated in 2016
Giovanni Volpe is currently a PhD candidate
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 7
3) Library
The Library of Sapienza contains a total of around 9000 texts including periodicals, books and multimedia materials. On 16 October 2018, Do Jonghwan, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and Stefano Asperti, Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, inaugurated the Korean Room "Window of Korea", located on the first floor of the Department Library of Orient Studies-BISO directed by Fabio Stassi. In the hall, created thanks to the support and funds of the National Library of the Republic of Korea, approximately three thousand texts ranging from literature to history and art and K-pop, are currently available. We also have a section of the library dedicated to Asian cinema containing around 300 Korean films.
4) Events and Activities
International workshops and conferences on Korean Studies have taken place over the last two years.
- We hosted special lectures, such as:
(1) South Korea: an insight into its growth story and current challenges with Dr. Sanjay Sharma
(2) The Machine of Knowledge with Prof. Song Young Bin
(3) Letters in Hangeul of the Joseon Period with Prof. Hwang Munhwan
(4) Secret of Korea's development from Historical approach with Prof. Park Taegyun
(5) Experimental and sorrowful narrative with the writer Baek Min seok
- International conferences:
3rd conference on One Asia Community in Europe: Migration in in Asia:
The 15th Korean Studies Graduate Students Conference in Europe (Sept. 2019). The event that takes place every year in a different European university aims to provide students, graduate students and researchers from all over the world with the possibility to compare and share their research. The event is organized by a committee of PhD students and researchers from European universities and it is sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies. (Organizer: Giovanni Volpe)
The Italian Institute of Oriental Studies at Sapienza University of Rome hosted the 29th biennial AKSE Conference in 2019. The Association for Korean Studies in Europe, founded in 1977, is the main scholarly society for Korean Studies in greater Europe. Its objectives are to stimulate and coordinate academic Korean studies in all countries of Europe, and to contribute to the spread of knowledge of Korea among a wider public. The biennial AKSE conferences provide an opportunity for European scholars of Korean studies to gather and exchange research results. Hosting the membership meeting, they are the most important event of the association as such. AKSE conferences are also a way for European scholars to communicate with the global academic community. (Organizer: Giuseppina De Nicola)
5) Publications
The Korean studies at Sapienza include a peer-reviewed Korean studies Journal "Collana di studi coreani (한국학자료) published by Aracne press. So far two volumes have been published:
(1) Korea: Multimedia K-pop. Edited by Antonetta Bruno
(2) A look at Contemporary Korea. Essays on art, language, food, politics and family. Edited by Giuseppina De Nicola
The Degree Course in Korean studies at Sapienza has been granted the Seed Program of Korean studies by the AKS (2016-2018) for 3 years. The project aimed to foster research and support the publication of books in Italian on different subjects regarding Korea. Some of them are:
(1) Antropologia del cibo in Corea del Sud(Antonetta Bruno)
(2) Sistema familiare e società in Corea. Dall'antichità ad oggi (Giuseppina De Nicola)
(3) Archeologia e arte della Corea antica (Filippo Salviati and Andrea De Benedittis)
Other recent publications are: New edition of Korean language for Italians (3 volumes) (Antonetta Bruno, Giovanni Volpe and Chung Somin). Korean-Italian Dictionary (Antonetta Bruno, Kim Oenjoung and Jung Imsuk), Translation by Antonetta Bruno of Ou Yadam.
6) Exchange programs
Sapienza has signed several exchange agreements for students and scholars with Korean universities, including Seoul National University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Busan University of foreign studies, Hanyang University, Kyunghee University, etc. In 2016 a Double Degree Program for MA students was established between Sapienza and Hanyang University. Accordingly, our students attend the first year at Sapienza and the second year in Korea. So far it is the only Institution in Italy which offers this program for MA course.
7) Future development plans
Strategic objectives:
- Enhancing manpower by creating more full-time positions and increasing the number of PhD candidates
- Creating infrastructures through Korean Studies Research Centers
- Increasing the awareness about Korean in the Italian society and expanding courses on Korean Studies.
- Increasing the visibility of Korean Studies at the University of Rome La Sapienza within the international context: strengthening academic exchanges with other institutions that offer courses in Korean Studies through exchange programs (e.g. Erasmus Program), seminars and conferences.
Research objectives:
- Training the young generation scholars in Korean Studies, fostering research skills via more research-oriented programs
- Supporting research teams focused on specific topics through seminars, workshops and publications
- Sharing and disseminating research results via annual international workshops and conferences and extensive publication
- Affiliated Course: Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication
- Faculty Member: 1, Contract Professor Dr. Imsuk Jung, PhD in Linguistics and Italian language teaching Last summer, the Korea Foundation sponsored their 1st International summer school program.
The National University of Milan established a series of one-semester courses on the Introduction of Korean language and culture, which students could take as minor.
- Affiliated Course: Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication.
The interest in this country also seems to expand regarding the publications of Korean novels and poems. In the 1990s, only two pioneering publishing houses would launch some works by famous Korean authors (Giunti and ObarraO); by contrast, other companies, such as Bompiani, Einaudi, Piemme, NeriPozza, Baldini Castoldi, Sperling & Kupfler, etc. have recently published and continue to publish Korean works. The publications are not limited only to literature but also to history, culture, politics and economics.
This "Renaissance" of Korean culture in Italy has also been encouraged by the growth of Korean studies in various universities in Italy. A chronological list of universities with established Korean studies course is provided below.
1. University of Naples L'ORIENTALE
- Web site: www.unior.it- Address: Università Orientale, P.za Domenico Maggiore 1, 80134 Napoli
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 1960 (1st Professor Park Sun jae)
- Affiliated Dep.: Asian, African and Mediterranean Studies.
- Affiliated Course: Asian and African languages and Cultures.
1) Courses and Degrees
L'Orientale currently offers BA, MA courses in Korean Studies. Students can also enroll in doctoral courses in Korean. Since 2018, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students attending Korean language courses, (180 first-year students enrolled in 2018-19)
- BA course (Duration: 3 years)
The courses offered are Korean language and Korean classic and modern literature. The subjects taught in these courses are compulsory for students graduating in Korean, while students majoring in other course (Japanese, Chinese, etc.) can choose them as minor. Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an optional subject by students who enroll in Political Sciences and Compared Literature and Languages Courses.
- MA course (Duration: 2 years)
The courses offered are Korean language and Korean classic and modern literature. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization). Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an elective subject by students enrolled in Political Sciences and Compared Literature and Languages Courses. The PhD in Korean Studies has been established, but there are no students enrolled at the moment.
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 3
- 1 Associate Prof. Maurizio Riotto, MPh in Korean Archeology at Sapienza University of Rome, Research fellow at Seoul National University, (m.riotto@unior.it)
- 1 Associate Prof. Andrea De Benedittis PhD in Korean ancient history and art at Sapienza University of Rome, Research Fellow at Korea University, (Coordinator of the Korean Language and Literature course adebenedittis@unior.it )
- 1 Language Instructor
3) Library
The Library of the L'Orientale contains a total of 3,800 texts, including periodicals, books and multimedia materials.
4) Events and Activities
- Over the last two years, the University has hosted various conferences and workshops such as: An overseas translation workshop, in cooperation with KLTI
- A Symposium on Classics, titled In Search of Spirits and Heroes: A Journey into Classic Korean Literature, sponsored by KLTI,
- Seminars on: Translating from Korean, Chinese characters in Korean language, LGBT Cinema and Literature in South Korea
5) Publications
- Andrea De Benedittis: Korean Italian Dictionary, Introduction to Korean Culture, Korean Language 1, Korean Language 2, Korean Language 3, Goguryeo wall paintings, Handbook for learning Chinese Characters in Korean, etc.
- Maurizio Riotto: History of Korean Literature, Korean History, several classic novel translations, different articles in academic journals, etc.
6) Exchange programs
Currently L'Orientale has established exchange programs with Sungkyun kwan University and Inha University.
7) Plans for future developments
Given the high number of students and the interest in Korean studies in Naples, the University is willing to increase the number of subjects to be taught and the number of professors to be appointed in the future. An e-learning course in Korean History will be activated in the next academic year.The language instructor is normally appointed on one-year contract basis, but in the future one or two permanent positions are to be called. The University also hopes to have students enrolling in their PhD courses and post doc research activities; the university is working to reach these targets. It also intends to increase the number of texts in its library. It has also started talks for future agreements with other Korean universities such as: Hankuk University of Foreign studies, Busan University of Foreign studies, etc..
2.Cà Foscari University of Venice
- Web site: https://www.unive.it- Address: Università Cà Foscari Palazzo Vendramin, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 Venezia
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 1997 (1st Professor Han Sung chul)
- Affiliated Dep.: Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranean Africa
1) Courses and Degrees
Cà Foscari University currently has a BA Degree in Korean Studies. Favoring its student's international mobility as a tool for developing knowledge, scientific, cultural and personal growth is among the Department's primary objectives. The Korean course can offer the best tools to learn the language, which is internationally certified, thus making this degree in Korean Studies an asset on the professional market.
- BA course (Duration: 3 years)
The offered courses are Korean language, Korean classic and modern literature, history, history of Korean language, history of philosophy and religions, art. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization).
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 8
- 1 Associate Prof. Vincenza D'Urso, PhD in Korean Studies, at University of Hamburg, (Coordinator of the Korean Language and Literature curriculum)
- 1 Assistant Prof. Kang Soon haeng, PhD in Italian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
- 2 Language Instructors
- 3 Adjunct Professors
- 1 Visiting Professor
3) Events and Activities
Cà Foscari University has recently hosted various workshops and events such as:
- Special lectures by Prof. Alexander Fedotoff on:
(1) White Color Animals in Korean and Altaic Myths and Legends
(2) The Three-Legged Crow in Korea, China and Japan
- Seminars on:
(1) New Women of Modern Korea: Dreaming, Challenging and Remembering (by Dr. Lee Hyojin)
(2) Hallyu and the changes in Korean media (by Prof. Lee Hun Yul)
Many other events are programmed, especially on literature; novel authors and poets were invited to take part in these events.
In December 2012 the first King Sejong Institute Venice was established at Cà Foscari. Enrolled students attended Korean language courses for six months or for a full academic year. Thanks to the Sejong Institute, many cultural activities were also organized: laboratories on Korean dance and music, cultural events and workshops on cultural issues where the protagonists were students and teachers coming from various King Sejong Institute of the world. Unfortunately, the Institute has been recently closed.
Cà Foscari University offers the possibility to obtain the Topik certificate on Korean language proficiency.
4) Publications
Most of the publications by the faculty members have been produced by Professor D'Urso, due to her extensive experience as a translator of novels and poems. Her recent translations are:
(1) A ready-made life and other stories - Ch'ae Mansik
(2) La regola del quadro (Paramŭi hwawŏn), by Lee Jung Myung (Yi Chongmyŏng), vol. 1
5) Exchange programs
Cà Foscari University maintains numerous scientific and cultural cooperation agreements with universities and other non-European institutions, with the aim of developing joint study, research and training activities and encouraging the mobility of students, researchers and teachers. Some of these agreements allow its students to carry out an exchange program in the foreign partner university. It is possible to complete a period of study abroad also according to a formula commonly called Visiting Students and with the recognition of educational credits obtained abroad. Cà Foscari has signed exchange programs with many Korean Universities, including Chung-Ang University, Dongguk University, Ehwa University, Sogang University.
6) Future development plans
Given the high number of students and subjects taught, the University is willing to increase the number of its full-time faculty positions.
3. Sapienza University of Rome
Sapienza University, which was founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII in Rome, is one of the oldest universities in the world and a top performer in international university rankings. The future of Sapienza is firmly rooted in its rich past and the academic and research excellence of its community. Sapienza's mission is to enhance the development of a knowledge society by promoting research, education, and international cooperation. The 115,000 students enrolled at Sapienza can choose from over 250 degree programs (Bachelors, Masters and PhDs) and 200 specialization courses. Sapienza has 11 Faculties, 63 Departments, and various research centers.- Web site: http://en.uniroma1.it/, https://web.uniroma1.it/diso/en
- Address: Scalo S. Lorenzo RM 21, Edificio Marco Polo, Circonvallazione Tiburtina 4, 00185, Rome.
- Course name: Korean language and literature
- Founding Year: 2000 (1st Professor Antonetta Bruno)
- Affiliated Dep.: Italian Institute of Oriental Studies
- Affiliated Course: Oriental Languages and Civilization
1) Korean studies Courses and Degrees
Since 2010, the degree course in Oriental Studies has been limited to a restricted number of places offered. Therefore, students must take an entrance test whose call is published on the Sapienza website. At the time of enrollment students find themselves having to choose their first oriental language among Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hindi and Persian, and they will major in one of them. Furthermore, students can choose another language, which will be considered their second, or minor graduating subject. They can choose among one of the languages above, but they can also add Tibetan, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hebrew and Bengali.
Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
- Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
- Sapienza University provides a complete educational path for undergraduate and graduate students (BA, MA, and PhD) who want to major in Korean studies. Over the years, the Korean Studies course has been increasing both in terms of students and faculty members.
The offered courses are Korean language, modern and contemporary literature, political and social history of modern and contemporary Japan and Korea, Korean visual arts in east Asian context, History of Korean language. The subjects are compulsory for students graduating in Korean and can be elective for students of other curricula (Japanese, Chinese, etc. as a second language specialization). Lately, Korean language can also be chosen as an elective subject by students enrolled in other departments and faculties of Sapienza.
- PhD in Korean Studies (Duration: 3 years)
Sapienza University is the only Italian institution that has had or currently has Phd students in Korean Studies.
Phd students since 2012
Andrea De Benedittis graduated in 2012
Marylou Emberti graduated in 2016
Giovanni Volpe is currently a PhD candidate
2) Faculty members
Faculty members: 7
3) Library
The Library of Sapienza contains a total of around 9000 texts including periodicals, books and multimedia materials. On 16 October 2018, Do Jonghwan, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and Stefano Asperti, Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, inaugurated the Korean Room "Window of Korea", located on the first floor of the Department Library of Orient Studies-BISO directed by Fabio Stassi. In the hall, created thanks to the support and funds of the National Library of the Republic of Korea, approximately three thousand texts ranging from literature to history and art and K-pop, are currently available. We also have a section of the library dedicated to Asian cinema containing around 300 Korean films.
4) Events and Activities
International workshops and conferences on Korean Studies have taken place over the last two years.
- We hosted special lectures, such as:
(1) South Korea: an insight into its growth story and current challenges with Dr. Sanjay Sharma
(2) The Machine of Knowledge with Prof. Song Young Bin
(3) Letters in Hangeul of the Joseon Period with Prof. Hwang Munhwan
(4) Secret of Korea's development from Historical approach with Prof. Park Taegyun
(5) Experimental and sorrowful narrative with the writer Baek Min seok
- International conferences:
3rd conference on One Asia Community in Europe: Migration in in Asia:
The 15th Korean Studies Graduate Students Conference in Europe (Sept. 2019). The event that takes place every year in a different European university aims to provide students, graduate students and researchers from all over the world with the possibility to compare and share their research. The event is organized by a committee of PhD students and researchers from European universities and it is sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies. (Organizer: Giovanni Volpe)
The Italian Institute of Oriental Studies at Sapienza University of Rome hosted the 29th biennial AKSE Conference in 2019. The Association for Korean Studies in Europe, founded in 1977, is the main scholarly society for Korean Studies in greater Europe. Its objectives are to stimulate and coordinate academic Korean studies in all countries of Europe, and to contribute to the spread of knowledge of Korea among a wider public. The biennial AKSE conferences provide an opportunity for European scholars of Korean studies to gather and exchange research results. Hosting the membership meeting, they are the most important event of the association as such. AKSE conferences are also a way for European scholars to communicate with the global academic community. (Organizer: Giuseppina De Nicola)
5) Publications
The Korean studies at Sapienza include a peer-reviewed Korean studies Journal "Collana di studi coreani (한국학자료) published by Aracne press. So far two volumes have been published:
(1) Korea: Multimedia K-pop. Edited by Antonetta Bruno
(2) A look at Contemporary Korea. Essays on art, language, food, politics and family. Edited by Giuseppina De Nicola
The Degree Course in Korean studies at Sapienza has been granted the Seed Program of Korean studies by the AKS (2016-2018) for 3 years. The project aimed to foster research and support the publication of books in Italian on different subjects regarding Korea. Some of them are:
(1) Antropologia del cibo in Corea del Sud(Antonetta Bruno)
(2) Sistema familiare e società in Corea. Dall'antichità ad oggi (Giuseppina De Nicola)
(3) Archeologia e arte della Corea antica (Filippo Salviati and Andrea De Benedittis)
Other recent publications are: New edition of Korean language for Italians (3 volumes) (Antonetta Bruno, Giovanni Volpe and Chung Somin). Korean-Italian Dictionary (Antonetta Bruno, Kim Oenjoung and Jung Imsuk), Translation by Antonetta Bruno of Ou Yadam.
6) Exchange programs
Sapienza has signed several exchange agreements for students and scholars with Korean universities, including Seoul National University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Busan University of foreign studies, Hanyang University, Kyunghee University, etc. In 2016 a Double Degree Program for MA students was established between Sapienza and Hanyang University. Accordingly, our students attend the first year at Sapienza and the second year in Korea. So far it is the only Institution in Italy which offers this program for MA course.
7) Future development plans
Strategic objectives:
- Enhancing manpower by creating more full-time positions and increasing the number of PhD candidates
- Creating infrastructures through Korean Studies Research Centers
- Increasing the awareness about Korean in the Italian society and expanding courses on Korean Studies.
- Increasing the visibility of Korean Studies at the University of Rome La Sapienza within the international context: strengthening academic exchanges with other institutions that offer courses in Korean Studies through exchange programs (e.g. Erasmus Program), seminars and conferences.
Research objectives:
- Training the young generation scholars in Korean Studies, fostering research skills via more research-oriented programs
- Supporting research teams focused on specific topics through seminars, workshops and publications
- Sharing and disseminating research results via annual international workshops and conferences and extensive publication
4. Other Universities
The University of Siena for Foreigners established a BA course in the Korean language in 2017.- Affiliated Course: Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication
- Faculty Member: 1, Contract Professor Dr. Imsuk Jung, PhD in Linguistics and Italian language teaching Last summer, the Korea Foundation sponsored their 1st International summer school program.
The National University of Milan established a series of one-semester courses on the Introduction of Korean language and culture, which students could take as minor.
- Affiliated Course: Language Mediation and Intercultural Communication.
