The Council on Korean Studies at MSU

09/20/2025

You are cordially invited for the 2025 Global Korea Award.

09/20/2025

2024 Global Korea Award Ceremony🥳

04/08/2025

An original Korean play (열하일기만보) comes to the Wharton Center! Inspired by the diary of 18th-century Korean philosopher Yeon-Ahm Park Ji Won (연암 박지원), contemporary Korean playwright Sam Shik Pai (배삼식) used Yeon-Ahm’s diary (열하일기) as a starting point to craft a play steeped in lyrical metaphors and absurd musings on Yeon-Ahm’s quest for a new perspective that could move the nation forward.

Purchase a ticket:
https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/inching-toward-yeolha
Pricing:
• General Admission: $20
• Seniors (60+): $15
• MSU Faculty and Staff: $15
• MSU Students: $10 or free with MSU student ID at the Wharton Center Ticket Office

Michigan State University's Department of Theatre Presents: Inching Towards Yeolha

Where is this unbearable itching coming from?
Find out April 11th-19th at the Pasant Theatre. Get Tickets now at Whartoncenter.com!

Written by Sam-Shik Pai
Translated from Korean to English by Walter Byongseok Chon
Directed by Ji Won Jeon

Inspired by 18th-century Korean philosopher Yeon-Ahm’s quest for a new perspective that would move forward a nation, Inching Towards Yeolha is a dark, absurd comedy about a secluded village in Central Asia desperate to explore a new world while clutching tightly to the past.

04/01/2025

The CKS and Asian Studies Center at Michigan State University are pleased to present Mungyeong: More Than Roads (문경), a Korean film directed by Dong-il Shin, on MSU's campus on Monday, April 21, 5:00 pm—7:30 pm. Experience Cinema Therapy! Journey into Korea's beautiful nature, self-discovery, and human connection. A discussion with filmmaker Dong-il Shin will follow the screening.
An excellent opportunity to appreciate Korean Independent Cinema.

Free and open to the public. Korean language with English subtitles. PG-13, 110 minutes long.

Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 5:00-7:30 PM
Location: Wells Hall B122
Pizza will be served following the screening.
RSVP is required https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00XdXw8VsQaFGHc

10/30/2024

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Global Korean Awards, and the recognition for this special occasion was awarded to two distinguished recipients: Dr. Haksoon Paik and Dr. Suzanne K. Scholte. Big congratulations!

Dr. Haksoon Paik is the Founding President of the Academy of Kim Dae-jung Studies, established by the Kim Dae-jung Foundation in Seoul, Korea.

Dr. Suzanne K. Scholte is considered one of the world’s leading activists in the North Korean human rights movement.

The ceremony took place at MSU's International Center on Saturday, October 5th, on a beautiful autumn day. CKS also awarded many scholarships to MSU students to recognize their hard work and interest in Korean Studies. Thanks to all those who attended our special year of celebration.

04/26/2024

Hope Elizabeth May, a CKS Executive Committee member, is presenting "Korea's independence movement overseas and implications on Contemporary Diplomacy" on April 30, 2024 at George Mason University.

02/17/2024

Ok-sook Park Memorial Fund is established at MSU in memory and honor of the late Dr. Ok-sook Park, Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures (LiLaC). This memorial fund will support the Korean Program at MSU and continue the legacy of Korean language learning at MSU for years to come. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Help us honor Park’s memory and continue the legacy of Korean learning at MSU for years to come.

02/13/2024

Open calls for nominations for the Global Korea Awards!

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Global Korea Awards.
Please take a moment to nominate an outstanding individual or group for this year's special Global Korea Awards. The winner(s) will be recognized at the 30th Global Korea Awards ceremony on October 5, 2024, on MSU’s campus. Nominations close March 15. Follow the link for the nomination form. https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CHIOizLh0y8BcW
Or scan the QR code.

01/24/2024

We're deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Ok-sook Park, who developed and directed the Korean Program at Michigan State University. She also served as an executive member of CKS for many years. Many of her students were proud recipients of scholarships at the Global Korea Awards. She helped and guided students to practice the recipient speech and it was always the best part of the ceremony. Korean Studies minor would not have been established without her dedication. She will be greatly missed by her students, colleagues, and friends. Her memory and legacy will live on at MSU and beyond. Our deepest condolences to her family. The funeral service is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at Lehman Funeral Homes, 210 E. Bridge Street, Portland, Michigan.

The College of Arts & Letters is mourning the loss of Ok-Sook Park, Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures (LiLaC), who died on Jan. 18, 2024. She was 62 years old. Park dedicated much of her…

11/07/2023

얼씨구, 좋다! 신명 난다!
Join us for this 2-day conference on 11/9 &11/10.
The music we explore in this symposium is inclusive of long-standing traditions and new creations on the Korean peninsula, music performance in the Diaspora, and collaborations drawing and expanding upon Korean musical aesthetics.

This event will be a combination of traditional paper presentation, roundtables, and workshops. There will also be at least two performances during the two-day event. The event will be free & open to the public. Attendance will be available both in-person and virtual.

For details of the event: https://myumi.ch/W23nX