한국국제교류재단

The beginning of the summer semester 2002 marked a new phase for Korean Studies at Hamburg University, with the move into a newly built building just five minutes from Dammtor Railway Station in the heart of the City of Hamburg. Korean Studies are now an integral part of the newly established Asia-Africa Institute (AAI), which enables the study of more related subjects than in any other university in Germany including: Korean Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Thai Studies, Vietnamese Studies, South-East Asian Studies, Indian Studies, Islamic Studies, Turkish Studies, Iranian Studies, African Studies, Ethiopian Studies, Tibetan Studies, Central Asian Studies, Buddhism Studies

Research in Combination with Other Subjects

Students can choose Korean Studies as a major or a minor subject and combine it with any other subject taught at Hamburg University. The real challenge, however, lies in the direct contact with the above listed subjects. Korean Studies, more generally, are in deep confrontation with foreign culture. Occasionally extending study and research interests beyond the borders of just one foreign culture, as well as finding similarities and differences in other foreign cultures, can be a real eye-opener.

Therefore, students of Korean Studies are encouraged - with credit given-to listen to lectures and participate in seminars in any other area covered by the Asia-Africa Institute. All subjects taught at the AAI are creating modules which can be studied by a student in any of the above departments. These modules concentrate on methodological problems that are identical to or similar in all cultural studies, and they cover real aspects of interchange between the cultures involved. Assisting in this regard is the central library of the AAI. Books and research materials about other cultures are concentrated in the same central room just a few meters away from the Korean collection. The library houses 250,000 books and other media. The Korean section is, however, still quite small (10,000 vol.) in comparison to, for instance, the Japanese (55,000 vol.) and Chinese sections (65,000 vol.).

New Experiment for the Development of Korean Studies

The struggle to establish Korean Studies by concentrating on exclusively Korean courses of Korean culture is over. The subject is now firmly rooted in the curriculum of the university, and it is now time to widen the view beyond. It is time to move from ?orea as such?to ?orea as part of a greater cultural area,?as well as methodologically from ?orean Studies as such?to ?ocussing on Korea while learning to do research into a foreign culture in a more general sense.?Because of the limited job market for specialists on Korea, students must always be prepared to apply their methodological preparation to other cultures as well. Looking beyond the borders also seems to be a necessary step for Korean Studies so that it can gain the acknowledgment it deserves.

Korean Studies at Hamburg are neither 'traditional' nor 'modern' Korean Studies. The artificial borders are blurred on purpose. Methodological constraints and pragmatic concentration on a given period tend to divide Korean Studies in an unhealthy way. How could anyone understand what is going on economically, politically, or socially without having more than just a bit of knowledge of its historical background? How could anyone understand traditional culture and history without taking into account the economic, political, and social developments in recent times and how they have influenced the view of traditional culture? Why is a given subject taken up at one moment, and others are being neglected in research? Research into traditional culture, and the way it is being presented, is always a simultaneous research into the identity and self-perception of the contemporary Korean people and the fast-changing culture of Korea. Of course, as much as data permits, Korean Studies at Hamburg deals with both Koreas.

There is another factor that has to be taken into account, and it is therefore emphasized at Hamburg University. The students must learn to understand how their view of the Korean culture is influenced by their own cultural background. A German view of Korean culture naturally is different from a Korean view, but equally different from an American, French, Dutch, Japanese, or any other.

However, secondary material and research results come from all these different cultural backgrounds, and Korean Studies therefore must be seen as a kind of comparative study involving not only the Korean and the student? own cultural background, but also as a way to understand cultural differences in the larger global community.

History of Korean Studies Program and its Faculty

The history of Korean Studies at Hamburg is rather short. While teaching the Korean language began in 1962 under the capable guidance of Mr. Oh Myong-ho since 1970, it was only 10 years ago that Korean Studies became a fully accredited course with access to all academic certifications (M.A., Ph.D., Habilitation, and soon B.A. as well). A full professorship was d at that time and has been in the hands of Prof. Dr. Werner Sasse ever since. During the same period a position was d for an assistant professor, which is currently held by Dr. An Jung-hee. In case of need, part-time lecturers such as Dr. Martin Hanke, who is currently in charge of teaching Hanmun, are also employed. Every winter semester for four years now, Mr. Lee Kang-son from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul has joined the teaching staff to be in charge of the Intensive Korean Course for first semester students. There is also a part-time librarian, Ms. Helene Kang, who works exclusively for the Korean collection, as well as a part-time secretary, Ms. Britta Heymann. In terms of administration, Korean Studies together with Thai and Vietnam Studies belong to the China Seminar (because there is only one full professorship for Korean Studies), but academically and as a subject for study, it is an independent department.

While teaching is concentrated on more general subjects, always covering all
periods of Korean culture and more than one methodological approach, the research interests at Hamburg are more narrowly defined. At the center of all research are texts from all periods of Korean culture. But because there is not enough teaching material available in any of the Western languages for Middle Korean, Hanmun, Idu, and Gugyeol, these areas are currently being stressed. The recent publication of Worincheongangjigok (book 1), with translation, notes and commentary by Sasse/An should be seen in this regard. It is felt that it is necessary to continue along these lines for some time before moving on to other subjects.

Operation of Korean Studies Courses

At the moment there are 40 students enrolled in Korean Studies courses. Students will spend their first semester at Hamburg with 20 hours of intensive language training, and then move to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (20 Korean students from HUFS come to Hamburg for one semester of Intensive German), our partner university in Seoul, for another intensive training session during the second semester. Those staying behind for personal reasons will continue their language training on a reduced scale at Hamburg. (In exchange, 20 Korean students from HUFS come to Hamburg for one semester of Intensive German.)

After two years of concentrating on language training and general introductory courses into Korean literature and history, as well as on methodological introductions, students pass their mid-study examination and move on to more specialized courses and seminars, mainly on original literary or historical sources. Hanmun and Middle Korean are also taught from the third year, and include Idu and Gugyeol texts. While both Hanmun and Middle Korean modules are obligatory for majors, those taking Korean Studies as a minor subject can choose between the two. As already mentioned, the specialized seminars, no matter what the subject will be, always cover Korean culture from the beginning to the present, and employ various methodological approaches to a given central theme. Those passing M.A. examinations must have studied one major subject plus two minor subjects, or two major subjects, and will normally have spent 5 years doing so. If a student wants to move to a Korean university or to any center for Korean Studies at some time during his or her studies, he or she is encouraged to do so, and credits earned elsewhere are accepted at Hamburg.

There is no special Ph.D. program in German universities, and therefore anyone wanting to work towards his or her Ph.D. after passing the M.A. exams is free to do so. The candidate discusses the subject with the professor and will have counselling at agreed intervals. They will also continue to participate in a few seminars in order to keep in touch. In the end he or she will have to defend their dissertation before a committee, which will be attended by professors of related subjects who will also have a vote.

Hamburg is the principal port city of Germany (and one of the most important ones for Korea in Europe.) It is also one of its cultural and industrial centers, enabling close cooperation between the university and the many Korean-German activities in the city. This makes it an ideal place for Korean Studies.



Professor Dr. Werner Sasse

He is a German national who began his association with Korea doing social work in Jeolla-do province from 1966. He then moved to Seoul, and lectured at Sungkyunkwan University. From 1970-75 he majored in Korean Studies at Bochum University in his homeland, with Sinology and linguistics as minor subjects. He later served as an assistant professor and was elevated to full professor in 1988. Having started a Korean studies program at Hamburg University, Professor Sasse has published four books and many articles on the language, literature and history of Korea, and is currently serving as the president of the Association for Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE). ―Ed.