The history of Korean studies in Southeast Asia is quite short. The study of Korean language, culture and literature in the region only became a fully accredited course in the mid-1990s, with several leading universities in Southeast Asia leading the way. In the 1990s, ASEAN set up the ASEAN University Network, with the aim of facilitating academic exchanges as part of its effort to build "a Southeast Asia that was integrated into a single entity."It was then that Korean studies gained momentum in Southeast Asia.

Three Southeast Asian countries, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, have been particularly enthusiastic about the study of Korean language, culture and history. Thailand regarded Korea as a "horizontal rival." Vietnam adopted a Doi Moi reform policy and wanted to learn how Korea had transformed itself, in a short period of time, from a Third World status and the poverty it entails, into a global power. In Thailand, Burapha University and Songkhla University established Korean studies courses, while four Vietnamese universities, including the University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Hanoi and University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Ho Chi Minh City, currently offer courses on Korean language, history and literature.

Rapid Growth of Korean Studies in Indonesia
Korean ambassadors posted to Indonesia have expressed the hope on many occasions that the National University of Indonesia, on the outskirts of Jakarta, capital of the country, would introduce Korean studies courses. However, this remained an elusive goal until 1995, primarily due to the university's call for greater financial assistance from Korea.

Things changed in 1995, however, when Korean Ambassador Min Hyung-ki was posted to Jakarta. Korea began extending financial support to Gadjah Mada University (UGM) at a governmental level. This decision was preceded by visits to Korea by two UGM officials. In May 1995, Vice Rector Boma Wikan, and Dean of Humanities College Soeratno Chamamah visited leading Korean universities and the Korea Foundation.

They steadied their plan to set up Korean studies courses at their university, and thus, UGM began teaching Korean language on the occasion of a Korean-Indonesian seminar thatI supervised. Titled "Three Decades of Exchanges between Korea and Indonesia and Future Prospects," the event took place in August 1995.

In the new semester that commenced in September 1995, the university's Faculty of Humanities opened two Korean language courses, one for humanities majors and another for other students. These courses, which lasted two hours a week each, were taught as elective humanities subjects and were given two credits each. About 100 students were enrolled in one Korean language course open to humanities majors, and another 60 students were enrolled in the other course.

The teaching of Korean language during the first academic year was conducted by Ms. Cho Yun-mi, now a doctorate candidate in cultural anthropology at UGM. Among the students was Suray, who, like many Indonesians, goes by just one name. He became a full-time UGM lecturer after earning his masters degree in Korean studies from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

As of September 1996, the teaching staff has been reinforced by language experts dispatched by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). These teachers, Lee Dong-yop, Im Jeong-hun, Ko Dong-hyun, and Kim Kyong-woo were in charge of three courses: Korean Language I, Korean Language II, and Korean Culture. As such, they played a significant role in laying down the foundation for Korean studies in Indonesia until they were replaced by volunteers dispatched from KOICA.

Korean studies within the university came to life after the Korea Foundation dispatched Professor Kim Geung-seob to UGM in February 1997. In the five years since Kim began teaching, the university has increased the total number of Korean studies courses to 14. In addition to general introductory courses, more specialized subjects such as Korean society, culture, history and economics have been taught. Since August 2001, a total of 2,459 Indonesian students have enrolled in 14 courses, which means an average of more than 50 students per course. A total of 11 KOICA language instructors and volunteers have served and are now serving as Korean language teachers at the university.

Of particular note, UGM set up Pusat Studi Korea, a Korean studies center, under the direct control of its rector in October 1996. Professor Djoko Suryo, former dean of the Faculty of Humanities, currently serves as director of Pusat Studi Korea.

Success of Pekan Korea
Pusat Studi Korea sponsors an international seminar on Korea-Indonesian relations every semester, with a number of prominent Koreans attending. Among the recent visitors to UGM were Lee soon-bok, president of Kyungnam University; Lim Seung-dall, president of Kangnung National University; and Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Jae-sup. In February 2002, Korea Foundation President Lee In-ho was also a guest of honor for UGM. This enabled her to reconfirm the growing interest in Korea among Indonesian students.

Pekan Korea is a cultural event that has been held every October since Professor Kim Geung-seob's arrival at UGM. This year the program was kicked off with a Korean film festival that attracted an average of 400 people daily from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5. The event also featured a Korean festival that got underway on Oct. 23-24. An essay competition was also held to great success, with talented students from as many as 250 high schools throughout Indonesia participating.

Opening of Korean language department
UGM, the oldest and largest university in Indonesia, boasts a student body of 55,000 and 2,900 full-time faculty members. This university, which is well-known globally, will open a Korean language department at the Faculty of Humanities at the beginning of the 2003 semester. Preparations are earnestly underway, with the appointment of three full-time lecturers holding masters degrees in Korean studies. The university has dispatched nine full-time lecturers, five for masters courses and four for doctoral courses, to Korea to train them as Korean studies teachers.

Of late, a Korean entrepreneur, Ma Yong-do, president of Magic.com, donated the Korean studies center building, Gedung Korea, in order to further advance Korean studies in Indonesia. This 1,052-sq.-meter facility is currently under construction at the Faculty of Social Sciences. The University of Indonesia already has a Korean studies center, and this remains a testimony to the bright prospect of Korean studies in Indonesia.