Korean Language Program | Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations

Mission Statement

Welcome to the University of Chicago Korean Program! The Korean language, spoken by an estimated 75 million people on the Korean Peninsula, is becoming an increasingly valued language due to the country’s growing economic presence and cultural influences in food, popular music, and film in this globalized world. The University of Chicago Korean Program is committed to Korean language and cultural education to achieve the following goals:

We help students improve their Korean proficiency to meet their individual needs and purposes.
We enhance students' cultural understanding and intercultural competence as global citizens.
We prepare students to function successfully in academic or professional fields related to Korean Studies.
We encourage students to connect with Korean people and the community.

Cultural Events and Activities

Visit the UChicago Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/uchicagokorean

Modern Poetry Calligraphy Writing Contest
Information Session: Study Korean in Seoul and the United States
Korean Lunch Box Event
Midwest Korean Speech Contest

Academic Recognition at UChicago

Global Honors

If you find yourself engaged with languages and cultures at and beyond UChicago, and would like official university recognition for that engagement, consider working toward earning Global Honors, a new College initiative. Students in the College can earn points toward Global Honors for activities like research assistantships, job internships, study abroad, and other experiences that require the use of another language. Once you reach the required number of points, you will receive official recognition at Convocation and on your UChicago transcript. Learn more here.

New EALC Language Minor

Students in other fields of study may complete a minor in EALC. There are two options for a minor in EALC: a content-focused minor and a language-focused minor. Both minors require a total of seven courses chosen in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. For the content-focused minor, up to three of these courses may be in an East Asian language. For the language-focused minor, one content course and six language courses are required; at least three of the language courses must be taken at the second-year level or above. For both minors, language courses do not need to be in the same language, and both literary and modern language courses can count. Credit by petition may not be used for the language courses. Courses in the minor must be taken for quality grades, and more than half of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers. Learn more here.

Korean Language Programs in Seoul and the U.S.

Seoul: Yonsei University Exchange Program

The College’s program at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, affords qualified Chicago students an opportunity to study at one of the oldest and most prestigious comprehensive universities in South Korea. Learn more here.

Yonsei University Korean Language Institute 연세대 한국어학당

Seoul National University Language Education Institute 서울대학교 언어교육원

Sungkyunkwan University Korean Language Center 성균관대학교 한국어학당

Sogang University Korean Language Education Center 서강대학교 한국어 교육원

Ewha Womans University Language Center 이화여자대학교 언어교육원

Middlebury Language School

Scholarships and Grants

UChicago Foreign Language Acquisition Grant (FLAG)

The FLAG Program offers awards of $5,000 to defray the costs of intermediate or advanced language study abroad during summer. Learn more here.

UChicago Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Summer &Academic Year Fellowships

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship competition is open to graduate students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who are enrolled in or applying to a full-time program that combines modern foreign language training with international or area studies. Learn more here.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

The CLS program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world. Learn more here.

Boren Awards

The Boren Awards fund the intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. undergraduate or graduate students. Learn more here.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Learn more here.