Korean Job Discussion Forums

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

Is anyone currently doing or has anyone completed a PhD in International Studies/Relations in Korea? I've been giving it some thought and would appreciate any relevant and helpful advice/feedback that you could give me.

I'd be interested to hear where you are/were studying, what your overall experience is/was like, and any other useful information you could furnish me with. Were you able to receive any kind of funding? Do/Did you work part-time during your studies?

Which Korean University has the best IR program on offer?

If you'd rather keep the details private, then by all means feel free to send me a private message.

Thanks.

newb · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Location: Korea

dongjak · Joined: 30 Oct 2010

The GSIAS programs at Korean universities are typically conducted in English. Some have a Korean language requirement, others do not. So it is not necessary to learn the Korean language, although if you are studying in a Korean university it does look better for future job prospects to know the language and to communicate better with your classmates who have entered the program (I don't know how) with a low level of English ability.

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

Bumping.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

It's doable. Just met a guy who did his Ph.D. in N. Korean studies over here (not in Seoul, though). He has a great job with the US government here in Seoul.

Straight up international studies? Might be better off going to a western university, or at least over to HK or Singapore where they have more exposure and English is a native language. IF you were just talking about doing an MA, then, sure, why not here. Some great programs.

Think there are some members on Dave's who have done or are doing their Ph.D.s over here, though I'm not sure in what. I did mine back in the U.S. so can't help you too much. I've had foreign Ph.D. students in my classes here, though, for what it's worth (from Singapore, France, Philippines...).

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 4:50 am Post subject:

I know a woman who did her PhD in Korea and focused on Korean studies. She is working for the Canadian Government (Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT)). She was posted in Seoul for a few years, then worked in Ottawa. Now she splits her time between Ottawa and Asia.

We met through an inter-departmental project. She loved her studies in Korea for what it is worth.

I will echo what Pragic said however, for straight up In't studies, you miht be better off checking out PhD programs in Sing or HK.

wanderer · Joined: 25 May 2003

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 3:41 am Post subject:

wanderer · Joined: 25 May 2003

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:57 am Post subject:

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:09 am Post subject:

You mean doing a PhD at a Korean University Adventurer?

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:19 am Post subject:

Well then...knowing Korean would be a huge advantage considering a lot (all?) of your content classes would likely be in Korean! Some K-unis do offer english language content courses however but I could not tell you in any detail which ones.

As for funding, I was mostly talking about someone doing their PhD in a Canadian or US University and doing their PhD thesis (field work) in Korea if that is relevant. In such situations, unless things have changed, there are a lot of opportunities for funding.

Sorry if this does not help you out adventurer!

coralreefer_1 · Joined: 19 Jan 2009

As Patrick mentions, Korean ability is a huge plus. With that said however, unless the course studies are something specifically focused on Korea (Korean Literature for example), while the courses themselves may be lectured in Korean much if not all of the actual material would be in English.

I mean nearly every respectable scholarly journal is published in English, and much of the research one would do in just about any field in Korea would likely draw on the articles of such journals, or at the very least reference such articles which can be looked at for further reading.

In short, other than perhaps entrance to the program, I cant imagine Korean Language ability (or lack of) would hinder one greatly in a PhD program here.