Undergraduate Korean Studies
Study Korean language and culture to become a global professional.
Why Study Korean?
Over 75 million people speak Korean, making it the 16th most spoken native language in the world, particularly across 6 Asian nations and the United States. The number of people learning Korean has increased recently due to the rising prominence of Korean cultural exports.
Korea has a vision for the future of cities in the world and as such is promoting two futuristic themes: the Korean Wave of Culture (Hallyu) and the Korean Wave of Economy. We can already see these themes among teenagers and young adults in around the world where young adults enjoy K-pop, K-drama and K-video games, and where they have become acutely interested in South Korean fashion and lifestyles, as well as using cutting-edge Korean products.
Being able to speak and understand the Korean language is thus a tool for understanding and using this "soft" power. Finally, as South Korea is an important strategic and economic partner and North Korea remains an important international security concern, studying Korean benefits students in any university major who wish to pursue a career in the private or public sector.
Our Korean Program
The Department of Modern Languages offers four full years of instruction and an undergraduate minor in the Korean language, making it one of a select few universities with such a comprehensive program. Classes in Korean language average 7-12 students and students have the opportunity to study abroad in Korea during the summer or the semester.
Korean Tutoring
Join our weekly informal conversation group during which the Korean faculty help students of the language develop their language skills.
- Wednesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm at the South Residential College
Welcome to the Korean Program
The Korean minor at the University of Mississippi offers students a unique opportunity to develop a foundational understanding of the Korean language, enhancing communication skills and cultural awareness. Through our courses, you will gain essential skills for engaging with Korea and its people, expanding your global perspective. The program complements any field of study by equipping students with language skills that foster cross-cultural understanding. We invite you to join us and add a valuable, international dimension to your academic journey!
여러분을 한국어 프로그램에 초대합니다! (We invite you to join the Korean program!)
Minjin Kim
Instructor in Korean
Beyond the Classroom
Korean Club
Students studying Korean get together for fun and to learn more about Korean language and culture.
Korean Conversation Group
Korean Conversation Group is a vibrant weekly gathering that brings together Korean exchange students and UM students keen on exploring Korean language and culture. This casual meetup provides a dynamic platform for participants to share their interests, socialize, and engage in cultural exchange.
Study Abroad
We encourage all students to immerse themselves in the study abroad experience. The Study Abroad Office offers over 20 programs in South Korea where students at all levels of Korean can study a variety of topics.
Korean Alumni
The Korean program drew Faith Deering to UM from New Jersey. She was looking for a college with an international studies major and Korean minor (and a KPOP Dance Club!). Deering spent a year in S. Korea with a national Freeman scholarship.
“As part of my post-departure project for the scholarship and as a Study Abroad Ambassador, I advertised UM’s programs and helped students of color to study in East Asian countries. As a UM Global Ambassador, I helped Korean exchange students immerse themselves into campus life at UM. If they needed a hand, I was there.”
That work earned Deering recognition as a finalist for the inaugural James Meredith Changemaker Award from the College of Liberal Arts.
B.A. in International Studies, minor in Korean ‘23
Global Digital Communications Specialist with ABB, a global technology leader in electrification and automation
Fulbright Scholar in S. Korea
“The Korean minor at UM is a small group that’s fun. I was with the same people in most classes and we were very close. We took difficult high-level courses and got through it together.”
Manuel Campbell
B.A. in Biochemistry, minor in Korea 2023
Outstanding Student Awards
| Year | Outstanding Korean Awards |
| 2024 | 100 Level: Jabria Nelson 200 Level: Lauren Sit 300 Level: Kennedy James 400 Level: Paola Leon |
| 2023 | 100 Level: Abigail Shaw 200 Level: Jessica Shea Horton 300 Level: Manuel Campbell 400 Level: Kevin Liu |
| 2022 | 100 Level: Sophia Trombley 200 Level: Katelyn Doss 300 Level: Jess Paxton |
| 2021 | 100 Level: Kaylan Hall 200 Level: Faith Deering |
| 2020 | 100 Level: Emily Meek 200 Level: Caryn Gillean 300 Level: Priya Sanipara 400 Level: Olivia George |
| 2019 | Maliah Jai Wilkinson (Honors Day) 100 Level: Mercedes Ward-Daniels 200 Level: Emma Scott 300 Level: Muyao Tang |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | Margaret Simonson |
| 2015 | Kylan Grace Toohey |
| 2014 | Rachel N. Yi |
| 2013 | Conner Stephen Clark, Marcus Christopher Townsend |