Launch of New Hallyu South Korea Studies Programme
A new Hallyu South Korea Studies Programme has been announced by the University of Oxford. This pioneering initiative will support sustainable research into the global Korean Wave, or Hallyu. The programme is a collaboration between the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) and Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) and will run initially for five years.
Funded by a generous gift from Samchully Corporation, one of South Korea’s leading companies, the programme will support two new academic posts:
- A Social Science Fellow based at OSGA, focusing on the political, anthropological, historical, sociological, and/or economic impacts of Hallyu.
- A Creative Fellow based in AMES,
By nurturing the next generation of Hallyu scholars, the programme will facilitate creative collaborations between Korea and the UK, and promote cutting-edge research that explores the globalisation of Korean popular culture.
Designed to enrich our expertise
"This five-year programme has been made possible by funding provided by Samchully, a South Korea-based company. It is perfectly designed to enrich our expertise on South Korea. This will enhance our understanding of both east Asian and global developments" said Professor Paul Chaisty, Head of OSGA, during the gift agreement signing ceremony in Seoul this July.
Samchully has a longstanding commitment to educational philanthropy. Its shareholder-funded ChunMan Scholarship Foundation supports students with strong academic records from disadvantaged backgrounds, and funds a variety of cultural and educational initiatives.
The signing event was hosted by Yi Man-deuk, Honorary Chairman of the Samchully Group, and Eun Baik Yi, President and Head of Group Strategy. The occasion was also supported by the Korean Arts Council and attended by its Chair, Choung Byoung-gug.
Joining Professor Chaisty at the ceremony were Professor Jieun Kiaer and Professor Jay Lewis from AMES, who are central to the development of the programme.
Alongside academic appointments, the programme will host regular public events and workshops, showcasing research on South Korea and building academic networks across disciplines. The long-term ambition is to establish a Centre or Institute for South Korean Studies at Oxford.
Professor Paul Chaisty (Head of OSGA) pictured with Professor Jieun Kiaer and Professor Jay Lewis (AMES), and representatives of the Samchully Corporation at the Programme’s gift agreement signing ceremony in Seoul, July 2025.
