Korean Section, School of Modern Languages and Cultures HKU

NEWS & EVENTS

Course opens new Korean path South China Morning Post 1/1/2012

HKU rides popular wave by offering a major this year in a neighbouring culture: http://www.scmp.com

Education Michael Kremmer (familypost@scmp.com) 1/1/2012

In 2005, lunchtime crowds in many local malls were transfixed by events unfolding on large television screens. They weren't watching a world-changing incident but the scenes from a Korean drama, Dae Jang Geum(The Jewel in the Palace), broadcast by TVB (SEHK: 0511)'s Jade channel.

South China Morning Post

The series' popularity is an indicator of the "Korean wave", as the booming interest in South Korean culture across Asia has become known. From pop acts and soap operas to food and fashion, the Korea Creative Content Agency estimates cultural exports may bring in up to US$3.8 billion this year.Spurred by young people's enormous interest in all things Korean, the University of Hong Kong's Arts Faculty is gearing up to be the first to offer a major in Korean studies this year. The idea is to provide undergraduates with a programme that recognises the significant economic and political role that South Korea plays in Asia.
Some students are eager for it to start. "I started listening to K-pop and really liked the look of the people, their clothing and the fast pace of the music," says Jeffery Cheung, a first-year student.
"As my interest grew, I wanted to know more about the lyrics. I started studying Korean [language] on my own, and now I plan to enrol in the new Korean studies major at HKU."
Many senior secondary students may well sign up for the programme if the level of interest shown the university's information day in October is any guide.
"Considering that Korean is not taught in any local schools, I was really surprised at how many secondary students came up to me and started conversations with me in Korean," says Kangsoon Lee, the Korean programme director at HKU. "There is obviously a lot of interest in Korean pop culture among young people in Hong Kong."
Since establishing a Korean language minor in the 2008, Lee and Professor Louise Edwards of the school of modern languages and cultures, along with the support of the Korea Foundation, have developed a Korean studies major that will include courses on literature, history and culture, international relations and language proficiency. By the third and fourth year, their aim is to offer students summertime, six-month and one-year exchange programmes to the top five universities in South Korea.
"Young people are very good at picking up on where change is happening in popular culture and the speed of that change," Edwards says. "They have recognised the changes that have been occurring in Korean culture through their interest and love of Korean music, fashion and television dramas. They know where the development is happening in the Asian region and that there are opportunities there to tap into these developments."
Although some people may view television dramas as superficial, Edwards points out that there is nothing superficial about the rapid development of South Korea or its increasing presence on the international stage.
"Korea has gone through an incredible process of industrialisation and democratisation," she says. "Its government has placed a lot of emphasis on education, nation building and supporting cultural industries. Korea's international profile has increased significantly with Ban Ki-moon's appointment to the position of secretary-general of the United Nations and the country's participation in international peace-keeping efforts and other UN bodies such as the World Health Organisation.
"The country's evolution from a low-end manufacturer to a hi-tech economy has happened in a very short time. It is marketing itself as a hi-tech nation, and when we entered Korean classrooms during our visits to some of their universities, we were amazed at how hi-tech they really are."
Lee says that the Korean studies major will initially cater for students without knowledge of Korean language and provide students with a relaxed but interactive environment in which to enjoy learning the language. In the second year, students will study Korean society and contemporary issues such as the impact of rapid economic development on traditional values and customs, the role of hi-tech industries in transforming South Korea's national identity and its relationship with North Korea.
In the third and fourth years, students will be expected to debate these contemporary issues. Over the next two or three years, the university plans to develop language-immersion opportunities for more students that will serve to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Korean culture. To do this, it will tap into its business links with the Korea Foundation.
"We plan to offer a course in Korean popular culture, which will focus on the business side of the `Korean wave' phenomenon as it has developed into a global product. Through our company relationships, we feel we can learn a lot more about commercial engagement," says Edwards.
The medium-term plan also includes establishing research-based master's and PhD programmes so that students such as Lavina Luk can further develop their academic studies.
The final-year BA student signed up for the Korean studies minor and participated in an exchange programme during the summer to get to know more about the daily lives of South Koreans and immerse herself in the language. She now hopes to complete a master's in Korean studies.

港大與韓國梨花女大合辦網絡課程	港韓兩大網上跨境上課
Wen Wei Po 17/10/2011	Headline 17/10/2011

港韓兩大網上跨境上課

Sing Tao Daily 17/10/2011

HKU Press Release

The University of Hong Kong 17/10/2011

HKU Communications and Public Affairs Office Press Release
HKU students link up via internet with Ewha Womans University students for new Korean Studies courses

This year, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has offered new Korean Studies courses jointly with Ewha Womans University (Ewha) in Seoul. The two universities jointly offer two special credit-bearing courses taught by professors from both HKU and Ewha. Lectures are broadcast to the classrooms of the two universities live through internet. Students and Professors in Hong Kong and Seoul can interact in real time with one another via video-link.
The two courses currently operating are “Understanding World Heritage in Korea”and “International Development and Cooperation in Korea”. The lectures are conducted in English. Through internet live broadcast, professor and students in two places are able to see each other and have interaction.
To enhance students’ learning experience, apart from attending lectures conducted by professors in both places, students from the two universities are divided into groups and will work together and submit proposals. They can exchange contacts and communicate via internet. In the “International Development and Cooperation in Korea” course, students are involved in a project entitled “Famine 24”. In this project, students will dedicate one day for “Famine 24” and in that particular day, they will spend no more than USD$1.25 (approx. HK$10), to experience extreme poverty life. Students in two universities will then exchange their views and findings and they need to submit individual paper.
Students from the courses with outstanding performances will have the chance to study in Korea in the summer of 2012, with a scholarship offered by the Korea Foundation.
The enrolment number of Korean Studies in HKU has showed an increasing trend since the University introduced a Korean language minor in 2008. The enrolment number doubled from 80 students in 2009-10 to 150 students last year. A Korean Studies major is planned to be introduced from next year under the four-year curriculum by the Faculty of Arts.

"韩国学讲堂"与十五所海外大学连线

友好的问候声来自隔着大海的两所大学. 本月6日下午2时, 一边是梨花女子大学ECC B144号视频教室, 另一边则是有着1小时时差的香港大学. 负责”对韩国世界文化遗产的理解”课程的Kim Yeong-hun教授(国际研究生院韩国系)在讲课前向对方问好, 香港大学路易斯∙爱德华兹教授回礼.
6日, 在梨花女子大学. 学生们正在听Kim Yeong-hun教授关于韩国世界文化遗产的英语讲课. 在大型电子黑板右侧设置的电视中, 出现了也在同步听课的香港大学学生. 朝鲜日报记者摄影.

在该教室内有很多外国留学生. 在50名听课学生中, 外国留学生有24人. 他们来自美国, 中国, 日本, 法国, 新加坡, 芬兰等国家, 他们和韩国学生一起听英语讲课. 在教室前的电视中, 还出现了香港大学10名学生分坐两排正在听课的画面. 电视中还出现了Kim Yeong-hun教授的授课场景. 讲课才刚刚开始. Kim Yeong-hun教授提问来听课的理由. 来自芬兰的心理学一年级学生举手回答说: “韩国虽然是小国, 但有很多文化遗产, 因此印象深刻. 远程视频授课也很有趣. ”国文系二年级生朴某说: “我出生于釜山, 希望进一步了解首尔的文化遗产. ”在香港那边也有一位男学生拿着麦克风回答说: “我是来自日本的交换生. 在韩国生活过两年, 因此比较关心韩国. 更重要的是, 曾与梨花女子大学学生交往. ” 让两边的学生都爆笑不已. 讲课内容是对韩国的概述. Kim Yeong-hun教授在触摸显示屏上播放韩半岛的地图后, 用手指着地图对韩国地理, 韩国人和韩国语的特征进行了介绍. 虽然在讲课过程中出现了音箱放出杂音和电视画面不稳定等现象, 但并未出现太大的问题. 此次授课倒像是同在一栋建筑物内的两个班级在同时听讲.

正在通过远程视频听课的香港大学教授和学生. 照片: 香港大学提供.

在教室前后设置的摄像头配备了传感器, 可自动对准讲课教授, 并调整距离. 学生要提问时, 可以按一下桌上的按钮, 此时摄像头就会自动对准相关学生. 黑板上所写的内容也会实时传送到香港教室内. Kim Yeong-hun教授在授课即将结束时说: “授课相关资料已经上传到校内网站, 可自行参考.”
当天授课是韩国国际交流财团(KF)从本学期开始正式实施的“全球化网络学校”(KF Global e-school). 该活动以互联网为基础, 利用“远程视频连线”的方式, 与首尔主课堂连结的海外大学可以听取有关讲课; 海外大学和韩国大学联手, 可以学分互认. 海外对韩国学的需求剧增, 但教师短缺, 因此才有了这种方式.
该项目从今年春季开始启动试点运行, 现有首尔大学, 高丽大学, 成均馆大学, 梨花女子大学, 淑明女子大学, 中央大学, 韩国外国语大学等7所韩国大学和日本早稲田大学, 南京大学, 北京外国语大学, 台湾国立政治大学, 河內国立外国语大学(越南), 朱拉隆功大学(泰国), 科威特大学(科威特), 高等经济大学(俄罗斯)等8个国家和地区的15所大学参与其中.
日本早稲田大学听首尔大学的“韩国社会文化和社会变化”课程, 中国南京大学听高丽大学的“韩国的经济政策”课程, 越南河內国立外国语大学听中央大学的“韩国政治经济模式”课程等. 上次, 梨花女子大学用同一种方式向香港大学传达了“韩国传统音乐”, 当时音乐系学生还展示了伽倻琴, 玄琴, 奚琴, 牙筝等韩国的传统乐器, 并进行演奏. 两地学生还一起敲打着桌子, 学习了小段打击节奏.
韩国国际交流财团表示: “这种授课方式从时差不大的亚洲和中东地区开始实施, 本学期有600多名学生以这种方式听课. 明年将推广至北美, 欧洲和中南美.”
朝鲜日报中文网 chn.chosun.com

Professor Louise Edward and Professor Victor Teo Visited Korea funded by Korea Foundation in August 2011

Korea Foundation invited Professor Louise Edward, Professor Vitor Teo and Korean Programme Director Lee Kangsoon to Korea to have meetings for lunching “KF Global e-school” program with Ewha Womans University.

Talk by Seok-Hoon YOU (Korea University)

Abstract:
Target and goal of language teaching, in general, has been limited to an education of learners from beginning to intermediate levels or so, and halted there without any further serious challenge to higher levels. Not a significant effort has been made in the field in any language so far to overcome the limit by pushing the learners to highest level within limited time period in an institutional setting.

Purpose of this lecture is to demonstrate and share an interim result of a prototypical language and culture education curriculum. This curriculum is to teach a group of students of Korean language and culture with an intermediate level proficiency so that they reach ‘general professional proficiency’ (3 or 3+ in ILR scale) in speaking, reading, listening and culture within limited time span. The curriculum is based on a pedagogical principle so-called TBLT (Task-Based Language Teaching). Under this pedagogical principle, students are guided to participate in and accomplish a set of tasks. The learning process is very closely monitored and supervised. Despite many limitations and drawbacks, this new curriculum turns out to be successful in the following terms:
1. The first institutional effort to push learners to 'general professional proficiency' within limited time period
2. Custom-made curriculum for individual learners
3. Doing language rather than learning it

Speaker
Prof. Seok-Hoon YOU received his PhD from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in Linguistics. He is currently Director of the Research Institute for Language and Information at Korea University, Seoul, Korea. Prior to coming to Korea University in 1998, he taught at Harvard University in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the University of Hawaii in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. His research interests include cognitive functional linguistics, practical applied linguistics, and language acquisition and pedagogy.

Poster: http://www.hku.hk/korean/news/images/20110418.pdf

Festival of Lights

In November 2010, Korean programme held Festival of Lights with Thai Programme and Swedish Programme in Global Lounge.

Lotus Lantern Festival in Korea
The lighting of a lotus-shaped lantern in Buddhism traditionally symbolizes a display of religious devotion to performing good deeds and lighting up the dark parts of the world that are filled with agony. Throughout the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, this practice has developed and been preserved in many forms of public performances such as the lotus lantern service (a national-level Buddhist memorial service) and the lotus lantern parade. The modern-day Lotus Lantern Festival is designed to bring multiracial, multicultural crowds together through an array of festive programs.

Lotus Lantern festival is held around Buddha’s birthday in Korea with the exhibition of traditional lanterns at Temple and the lantern parade, the highlight of the lantern festival, will feature more than 100,000 massive, illuminated lotus flowers, stupas, elephants, dragons and other types of lanterns swaying along the entire length of Jongno Street. The wonderful sight of so many lanterns will leave all onlookers, both Buddhist believers and non-believers, with memories to cherish.

Study Mission to South Korea 「強基礎、建品牌」赴南韓考察團

In May 2010, The School of Modem Languages and Cultures at the University of Hong Kong organized a study mission to South Korea in association with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) (http://www.hkpc.org/). The aim of the mission is to provide local Hong Kong companies with an opportunity to update and broaden their knowledge of quality assurance, design innovation and, in particular, brand management. Through benchmarking, discussion and experience sharing with the management of selected Korean companies, the mission's participants will gain increased insight into how they can further develop their business in these areas. The Delegation visited the most powerful Korean leading companies such as Hyundai Card, POSCO, Hyundai Heavy Industries LG Electronics, KDHC and Samsung D’light with our two HKU Students as a translator, who are minoring Korean in SMLC.

International Conference on Korean Language Education in Asia

On October, 20-21, 2008, this one and a half-day conference will deal with the broader methodological issues related to Korean language education around the world, and specifically in Asia. Particular emphasis will be given to examining the challenges faced by teachers of the Korean language in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea itself. It is also hoped that the conference will provide the platform for a book, provisionally titled: Korean Language Education in Asia. Website: http://www.hku.hk/korean/klea

Korean News Chanel, YTN on "International Conference on Korean Language Education in Asia"

New Minor in Korean

With effect from the 2008/2009 academic year, the School of Modern Languages and Cultures is offering undergraduate students the opportunity to minor in Korean. The Minor in Korean aims to provide students with a good command of the Korean language, with equal emphasis on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, as well as insight into Korean culture and society.

In order to minor in Korean, students will have to complete a total of 24 credits in their second and third years of study:

YEAR II Korean II - Part 1 (6 credits) and Korean II - Part 2 (6 credits)

YEAR III Korean III - Part 1 (6 credits) and Korean III - Part 2 (6 credits)

The following courses will be offered as pre-requisites:

YEAR I Korean I - Part 1 (6 credits) and Korean I - Part 2 (6 credits)

The following course will be offered as an elective:

YEAR II/III Introduction to Korean Culture and Society (6 credits)

The Minor in Korean has been recommended for inclusion in the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies Programme in Language and Communication.

As part of their studies, students who have completed Korean I (Part 1 and Part 2) will be encouraged to visit Korea and attend summer courses in Korean. The University of Hong Kong partners with a number of leading universities in Korea through the Office of International Student Exchange’s HKU Worldwide Exchange Programme. Kumho Asiana Scholarships, Yonsei KLI Scholarship and Kyung Hee U Korean Scholarships will be awarded to students with an outstanding performance.

Talk on Korean Cinema by Professor Leung Ping-kwan

On March 17, 2008, Professor Leung Ping-kwan, Director of the Centre for Humanities Research at Lingnan University, gave a talk entitled: "Lee Chang-dong and the Cinema of Critical Reflection".

The talk offered an in depth exploration of the films of one of Korea’s leading directors, Lee Chang-dong, including “Green Fish” (1997), “Peppermint Candy” (1999), “Oasis” (2002), and his most recent feature, “Secret Sunshine” (2007), for which Jeon Do-yeon won the Award for Best Actress at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Professor Leung discussed how Lee Chang-dong uses film to ponder historical and geographical spaces, collective and individual memories, as well as national, cultural and religious identities in contemporary Korean society.

Talk by the Consul-General of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Tong-youn Seok

On January 31, 2008, the Consul-General of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Tong-youn Seok, gave a talk entitled: “Rising China and Korea-China Relations: What Next?”

The Consul-General shared his insights on the challenges to and the way forward of the Korea-China relations in the rise of China's role in international politics and economy. Synopsis of the lecture can be found at
http://www.hku.hk/liaison/Korea-China_January08.pdf

New Korean Public Course

Effective January 2008, a new course entitled “Korean for Beginners” is available to members of the public. This 120-hour course is for complete beginners who are interested in learning the Korean language and gaining a basic understanding of Korean culture. For further information, please visit the School’s public course website: http://www.hku.hk/language/home/public/intro.htm

From Kowloon City to the World

This Project, first developed in 2006 as a joint initiative between the School of Modern Languages and Cultures and the Hong Kong Education Bureau, aims to introduce different languages and cultures to secondary and primary school students and teachers in the city. Four talks were held in September and October 2007, including one given by Ms. Hyewon Kang Kim on Korean Culture & Society on October 26. Korean was also featured at the “From Kowloon City to the World” Carnival which took place on February 24, 2008 at the New Asia Middle School in Kowloon City.

Korean News Chanel, Y TN news on "From Kowloon City to the World" Project

Korean Programme Launch

On October 4, 2007, the School of Modern Languages and Cultures held a reception and press conference to mark the launch of the new Korean programme. Speakers included Dr. Marie-Paule Ha, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dr. Dixon Wong, Acting Head of the School, as well as the Consul-General of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Tong-youn Seok. The reception was also attended by Mr. Howard Kang, Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Ms. Hyewon Kang Kim was introduced as the Programme Coordinator in Korean. Korean is the tenth language to be offered for study at the School.

Video clip from YTN featuring Ms. Kang Kim