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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

South Korean flag displayed in a street.

Facts & figures

Modern Languages

#1 in NSW
2021 QS World University Rankings

Department of Korean Studies

Immersed in the language and culture of Korea

Established in 1991, we are one of the first and longest standing Korean departments in the country.

Utilising the specialist knowledge of our academic staff, we have maintained distinctive strengths in teaching and research in history, culture and society, media and communication, language and linguistics and Korean values and thought.

We provide students with a broad foundation in Korea-related fields, encompassing not only language skills but also a range of units such as Korean history, linguistics, culture and society, translation and interpretation, and media and communications.

Our study offering

Korean Studies

Korea is a dynamic nation at the epicentre of Northeast Asia. Korean Studies provides a broad foundation in Korean language as well as history, linguistics, culture and society and media and communication. Equip yourself with crucial language skills and an in-depth knowledge of this intriguing nation.

Undergraduate

*Available as a major and minor within the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.  

Research

Our research

Our strengths in research cover the following areas:

Korean culture and society
Korean media and communication
Korean language and linguistics
Korean history and politics
human rights and international relations
gender studies

Learn more: Languages and cultures research

Exchange

Our advanced exchange programs provide life-changing experiences in Korea where students exercise their language skills and develop an understanding of cultural intricacies first hand.

Partner institutions

Korea University, Seoul
Seoul National University
Yonsei University, Seoul

Learn more: Study abroad and student exchange

Our people

Academic staff

Key academic contacts

Undergraduate coursework: su-kyoung.hwang@sydney.edu.au
Honours: benoit.berthelier@sydney.edu.au
Postgraduate research: ki-sung.kwak@sydney.edu.au
Exchange: benoit.berthelier@sydney.edu.au

Honorary affiliate

Dr Duk-Soo Park

Events

See our school's calendar for a full listing of upcoming events.

Korean Studies

Find out more about the major

Languages at Sydney event

Get a taste of Korean with us

Department Chair

Associate Professor Ki-Sung Kwak

View Associate Professor Ki-Sung Kwak's academic profile

Contact

Phone

1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia)
+61 2 8627 1444 (outside Australia)

Email

slc.enquiries@sydney.edu.au

Address

School of Languages and Cultures, Room 506, Brennan MacCallum Building A18, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

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Current students

Study information, prizes, scholarships and opportunities

Student portal (Canvas)

Featured news

Stained glass window in the Great Hall

Celebrating student success in languages and cultures

The School of Languages and Cultures hosted its 2021 Awards Ceremony to recognise 136 students for their outstanding performance in the academic years of 2019 and 2020.

16 December 2020

Bird's eye view of the University's Quadrangle and surrounding buildings on campus

Recognising high-achieving students in language and culture studies

The School of Languages and Cultures congratulates 75 students who have received scholarships and prizes in 2020.

11 November 2020

Abstract world map with colourful pins sticking out

How languages help you stand out from the crowd

From law to tech, public health to environmental policy, catch up with some of our language graduates who are making an impact across various fields in Australia and beyond.

09 September 2020

Collage of eight language students from the University of Sydney

Learning languages at Sydney

At the University of Sydney, we teach languages through cultures. From extracurricular enrichment to scholarship support, our students share some highlights and key opportunities from their language learning experience.

University of Sydney's Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence

Learning languages opens our minds

Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence, recently graduated with a Diploma of Languages (Korean Studies) at the very university he leads.

Colourful assortment of world flags with poles stuck into a sun-lit concrete bluish-grey wall

How studying languages can expand your world

In this interconnected era, cross-cultural and multilingual skills are integral to navigating the world around us. We talk with two of our former students who are making their mark through languages.

03 October 2019

Sydney rises again in arts and humanities rankings

The University of Sydney has risen to 41st in the world and second in Australia for arts and humanities in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by subject.

Lily of the Nile or African lily plant (Agapanthus) flowers in front of The Quadrangle at the University of Sydney

Five minutes with Yixu Lu

In the lead up to the University's first multilingual conference on world literature, we speak with Professor Yixu Lu, convenor of the World Literatures and Global South Conference, about the cultural and linguistic diversity of international literary works.