Introducation

The Department of Japanese Language and Literature educates students not only to study Japan and its literary works from a Korean vantage point, but also equips them with the ability to use Japanese language and culture in responding to the geopolitical situation in a future-directed fashion. Currently, the department offers four majors curricula, Japanese Linguistics, Japanese Literature, Japanese Culture and Teaching Program. Principal courses are Basic Japanese, Japanese Linguistics, Japanese Literature Overview, Readings in Japanese, Grammars, Spoken Japanese, Chinese Characters, Literary History, Understanding of Pop Culture, Royal History and Culture, and Teaching Program subjects. The department is the first in the country when it opened in 1977, and has been fully staffed with several native Japanese professors. The departmental events include “Parangjae” festival, Japanese dubbing, plays, and Japanese culture experiencing. Students are active in Japanese speaking, pop culture activities, and other extracurricular programs that enrich their Japanese majors’ college experiences. Also, one or two outstanding students are picked to participate in a long term (1 year) exchange study program at Kyushu University, Tokyo University of Arts, Osaka City University, Ryukyu University, Kagoshima University, Nagasaki University, and Shiga University in Japan annually.

Aims

1) Build the ability to do research and proficiently use spoken Japanese through   comprehension and spoken language training in Japanese

2) Improve translation and conversation skills in Japanese for actual employment.

3) Foster scholastic studies of Japanese language and literature and develop the sense of internationalization.

4) Encourage to take courses in other disciplines and broaden the base of Japanese majors to explore diverse career options.

Careers

Graduate studies in Japanese language and literature open the opportunity to be research scientist or professor in higher education institutions. Well-trained Japanese majors may find careers in diplomacy, foreign affairs, tourism and financial businesses, and many others involving Japan as traders, interpreters, and teachers. A number of the department’s graduates are currently employed as teachers and professors, tourism managers, international translators and guides, financial managers and airline staff.

History

1977: Opened Department of Japanese Language

1984: Renamed as Department of Japanese Language and Literature

1995: Opened Graduate School of Education M.A. program

2002: Established Graduate College M.A. program

2009: Instituted Graduate College Ph.D. program