Oxford University is set to officially unveil the groundbreaking **Oxford Centre for Korean Studies** this Saturday. The announcement will be a highlight of the public opening for Oxford’s prestigious Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, marking a significant milestone for **Korean studies** globally.
Helmed by distinguished scholars Professor Jieun Kiaer, Professor James Lewis, and Dr. Chi Young-hae from the university’s renowned **Korean studies program**, the Centre’s establishment received final, unanimous approval during a faculty meeting held last month, underscoring its foundational importance.
The **Oxford Centre for Korean Studies** is poised to become a central hub, dedicated to overseeing pioneering **Korea-related research** and fostering a vibrant schedule of academic lectures. It will actively champion in-depth exploration into crucial areas such as **modern Korean politics, economy, and literature**, driving forward comprehensive understanding.
This pivotal development signifies the latest addition to Oxford’s distinguished portfolio of regional study centres, building upon the rich legacies of the Japanese and Chinese studies centres established in 1981 and 2008, respectively. The **Korean studies centre** now completes a vital triumvirate, deepening the university’s commitment to East Asian scholarship.
Professor James Lewis, a leading authority in **Korean history** and a foundational figure for the Centre, conveyed to a major news agency that the ambitious, **long-term research** agenda of the Centre is anticipated to significantly inspire academic discourse across Europe and beyond, fostering new perspectives.
The strategic importance of establishing a dedicated **Korean studies centre** was affirmed in a senior faculty meeting last month. Discussions highlighted Korea’s undeniable global significance as a research subject and the burgeoning student interest in its formidable **soft power**, particularly the widespread influence of its **popular culture**.
Professor Jieun Kiaer, an eminent scholar in **Korean linguistics**, emphasized the critical role of robust **English-language scholarship on Korean culture** for its enduring global impact and longevity. She affirmed that the new Centre will serve as an indispensable international hub, centralizing and propelling this vital research forward.
