Korean Studies in Thailand: Current Status and Future Development
Korean Studies in Thailand: Current status and future development Soontaree Larprungrueng
The term of ‘Korean Studies’ first be used in the 1940’s, but did not attain widespread until the risen of South Korean economy prominence in 1970s. As we know, Korean studies is the study to learn and develop things native to Korea through the fields of language, politics, history, geography, literature, economy, society and culture about Korea. And in 1991s, the South Korean government established the foundation to promote Korean Studies around the world. Korean Studies in Thailand has been started and developed in universities in the field of foreign language teaching. And Korean language learning became more popular when the Korean wave across throughout Southeast Asia. Needs to learn Korean language and culture increases exponentially and causes the teaching Korean language in the educational institutions, both the public and private sectors. The purpose of this paper is to show the current status of Korean Studies in Thailand. I summarized that there are 2 main paths that activate and promote Korean studies in Thai. First is the path of Korean language education and the second path is Centers for Korean Studies. This paper also showed how Korean studies develop through Korean language education and considered all Korean studies centers in Thailand on the aspect of strengths and weakness. At the end, added on with what are the problems that obstruct the development of Korean studies and the suggestions for further development.
목차
I. Korean Studies in Thailand
Considering the status of Korean studies in Thailand, is found that there are 2 main paths 1) Korean language education and 2) Center for Korean Studies that function vitally to drive, support and promote Korean studies in Thailand.
1. Korean Language Education
As already mentioned above that for Thailand, the first start of Korean studies began from Korean language education in Thai university. Thai policy about foreign languages teaching in 1992 profoundly supported foreign language study and allowed the language school to teach every foreign language. It also encouraged students both in the primary and the lower secondary level to choose to study one more foreign language according to the obligation of Ministry of Education.
1.1 Korean Language Education in University
In the university level, the policy and the standard of the foreign language study’s development of 1996-2006 has divided the foreign language into groups such as groups of western languages, groups of neighboring languages and groups of eastern languages included Korean language. For Korean language, it was first taught officially in the public university in 1988 as an elective subject in the Prince Songkla University, Pattani campus, and it was developed as a minor subject in 1998 and as a major subject from 1999. Tables below show the current status of Korean language education in universities and technical collages level which offer the Korean language courses. <University offered majoring in Korean> (10) Year Opened University 1 1999 Prince of Songkla University Pattani Campus 2 2000 Burapha University 3 2003 Silparkorn University 4 2005 Mahasarakham University 5 2005 SrinakarinWirot University 6 2006 Chiang maiRajabhat university 7 2007 Naresuan University 8 2011 Prince of Songkla University Phuket 9 2013 University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce 10 2014 UttaraditRajabhat university
<University offered minor Korean> (3) Year Opened University 1 2006 Prince of Songkla University Hatyai Campus 2 2007 Chulalongkorn university 3 2013 Chiang mai University
In the nearest future, several universities also have plans to open a major Korean language such as Chulalongkorn university, Chiang mai University, Kasetsart University and Thammasart University. Data from the Embassy of Republic of Korea, in 2014 showed that there are more than 23 universities and 6 technical colleges teach Korean as elective subject. Almost of the instructors are volunteers from Korean Organization for International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). <University offered Korean as electives> (23)
<Technical college offered Korean as electives> (6)
1.2 Korean Language Education in Secondary School The hit of Korean wave made secondary school students turn their interested on Korean language and culture. Now Korean language is one of the famous foreign languages in school which students love to learn. In 2009s, teaching Korean language began in secondary schools for the first time as a second foreign language. And in 2010s, eight high schools have opened Korean language course and increased to 42 schools by in the end of 2011s. Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) informed that in 2014 more than 70 secondary schools start teaching Korean language (9 in Bangkok/61 in provinces). The number of Korean teachers were 110 teachers; obtained B.A. degree in Korean language 10 persons, graduated from other fields 30 persons, and Korean teacher were 70 (10 Hired / 60 Volunteer) And the number of students choosing to study Korean language totaled 18,745 students.(8,105 secondary school students, high school students, 10,640 students) Now the biggest problem of Korean language education in secondary school level is there are not enough qualified teachers who can teach Korean because all of graduated students do not have teacher diploma, so the Obec solved this problem by providing 600 scholarships to earn teachers diploma. 35 Korean language teacher diploma scholarships are included. The scholarship recipients will study in Thailand for three semesters and study one semester in South Korea. After their return, they will receive a teacher diploma in Korean language teaching and will be sent to secondary school throughout the country to start their teaching work.
2. Center for Korean Studies
Apart from Korean language education in university level and secondary school level, another pathway to drive and promote Korean studies is that Korean studies center. In Thailand, there are five Korean studies centers run activities concerned Korea and Korean people. 2.1 Center for Korean Studies, Ramkhamhaeng University Center for Korean Studies, Ramkhamhaeng University established in 1995s as an internal organization with in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities of Ramkhamhaeng University. The prime objective of this Center is to create interests and to seek understanding, as well as to build up a body of knowledge of Korea in Thailand. The Center focuses on its activities as follow: 1) to be a Center providing assistance on Korean Studies in all areas, i.e. socio-cultural features, economy, politics, geography, history, and current situations of the peninsular; 2) to be a Center assist teaching materials in the area of study for faculty, and to provide knowledge of Korea as well as of Japan, China and Mongolia to the general public; 3) to be a campus of knowledge on Korean Studies and also to build up an academic strength in this field through research and publication; 4) to be a Center for coordinating academic exchanges in Korean studies with internal and international institutions. Strengths; Center for Korean Studies, Ramkhamhaeng University located in Bangkok, the center of the country. Director of the Center dedicated to produce academic work out a lot. Weakness; almost activities of the Center carried out by one person. There is no center officers, no permanent researchers and they have no Korean language section to help Center’s activities. (Offered Korean as elective)
2.2 Korean Studies Center (KSC), Burapha University Korean Studies Center, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University was founded in 2000 under the Faculty administration. The objectives of establishing as followed; 1) to be a hub of Korean Studies database in Thailand and to facilitate Korean Studies information to any interested agency domestically or international 2) to be the research and academic center for Korean Studies and 3) to promote and encourage the knowledge of Korean Language and culture. Strengths; Korean Studies Center, Burapha University located in the center of eastern region of Thailand approximately one hour far away from Bangkok. This region is surrounded by Industrial estates and famous major attractions. Lots of Korean people and lots of Korean entrepreneurs live in this area. The Faculty allocated a budget and space on the 9TH floor at Queen Sirikit Building which is now used as a Korean Studies exhibition room, an administrative office and an office for the visiting professors.
In addition to the staff of the Korean Studies Center who fully responsible for all Center activities, the importance of cooperation in every activities is from the cooperation from Korean language section’s lecturers and their students.
Weakness; yearly budget has been allocated from the Faculty of Humanities is so small to do and run various Korean studies activities all year. Moreover, the frequent personnel changes in Center affect administrative operations and make certain activities carried out sporadically. Without vision or ambitious to drive Center, no enthusiasm in any activities will be an obstacle to promote Korean studies.
2.3 Center for Korean Studies (IEAS), Institute of East Asian Studies The Center for Korean Studies, Institute of East Asian Studies has provided academic service by promoting scholarly research and studies on Korea and her relationships with Thailand, compiling and disseminating the finding and knowledge or relevant information concerning Korea to the public, and encouraging cultural exchange and academic cooperation among educational institution in both countries. The Objectives of the Center for Korean Studies are the following; 1) to promote scholarly research and studies on Korea and her relationship with Thailand. 2) to compile basic information concerning Korea to the public 3) to disseminate the findings and knowledge through lectures, seminars, conferences, training and publications etc. in order to promote a broader and better public understanding and 4) to encourage cultural exchange and academic cooperation among scholars and to strengthen the close relationship among educational institutions in both countries. Strengths; Institute of East Asian Studies has a long history organization, located in Bangkok. The center has a systematic management and receive regular budget each year so Center can continue theirs constant activities. Center has fulltime researchers to conduct research as the main task. Thereby affecting research on Korean studies came out fairly. Weakness; Almost of administrators and staffs of the Center of Korean Studies are expert in other disciplines not Korean studies or Korean language. Center’s personnel who knows Korean language is rare. No Korean language department. Most of activities of the Center based on seminars or special lectures.
2.4 Korean Studies Center, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University Korean Studies Center was first set up in 2008 under the Humanities Faculty administration. The aim of the center is to disseminate the culture of Korea. The center administration is done by Korean language lecturers in Oriental department. Center receives small budget from faculty to run activities. Strengths; Korean Studies Center, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University located in Chiang Mai, the prosperity center of Northern Thailand. The numbers of Korean people who travel or live in this area are numerous. The faculty has allocated a space for exhibition room for students to do cultural activities together. Weakness; though the faculty allocated some area for Center but they have no officers, researchers, every activities concerned Korean studies operated by Korean language teachers. The budget has been allocated but very small cause the difficulties to run big activities.
2.5 Korean Studies Center, Chiang Mai University With the cooperation of KOICA, the Center was officially opened on 8 October 2013s to be an educational center about Korean language, culture, education and information of Korea. Strengths; Korean Studies Center, Chiang Mai University also located in Chiang Mai, the prosperity center of Northern Thailand. Korean people travel or live in this area are numerous. The faculty has allocated a space for exhibition room for students to do cultural activities together. Weakness; since a very short history, there is no record of activities founded. And now full time lecturer was on leave to study for her PhD in Korea.
II. Obstacles to further development of Korean Studies in Thailand
There are many problems that obstruct the development of Korean studies in Thai. In this paper, acute problems mentioned as follow; 1. Instructors A sharp increase in the number of Korean language departments and students had a negative influence on the quality of teaching and caused insufficient Korean instructors. Some Korean language instructors had little practical experience in teaching, had insufficient methodological training. Graduated students from Korean language degree prefer to work in a company or private sector because the salary is much higher than the academic institutions offered. Academic plan and the curriculum are still unstable, constant changes. The plan usually depends on the number available lecturers in Korean language section. Most of courses concentrate on language skills, grammar and Korean language for special purpose. Though the Korea- related courses such as Korean culture, Korean history, Korean politics, Korean literature etc. contained in curriculum but it is not opened many because there are no lecturers want to teach. It is not a field of their interest. (Almost Korean language lecturer majored Korean linguistics or teaching Korean as a foreign language) 2. Textbooks Another major obstacle that affects the development Korean studies in Thailand is the lack of textbooks and teaching materials concerned Korean studies. At book store, we can find Korean language books easily, those written both in Thai and English. But the Korean studies-related books are so rare to find. Almost of them are written in English which is hard to understand. There is no Korean studies-related books appropriated for Thai students, some books on Korea are old fashioned, some are too difficult to learn. Recognizing of this problem, KSC of Burpha University determined that we will continue our efforts to compile and publish books on Korean studies for Thai’s learners. And we planned to produce, translate and publish the ‘Introductory to Korean Studies’ Textbook in Korean and Thai language and distribute to universities and secondary schools. 3. Center for Korean Studies management Due to Korean studies expert specialist in Thailand is insufficient. So almost half of Center for Korean Studies has been conducted by persons who no relevant with Korean studies. This point brings inconveniences when Center has to collaborate, exchange or work together with the Korean organization. But what we must be realized is, the development of Center sometimes depends on external factors. So the person in charge or Center director should further strengthen exchanges with outside organization both in Thailand and Korea. At the present days, some Centers are functioning as a part of Oriental language department, so Korean language teachers in the department have to administer or manage all Korean activities of the Center. In practical, because of limit of time and responsible for main duty (teaching) make teacher fatigue, to do something else would be difficult. 4. Budget In Thailand, there is still lack of societal interest on Korean studies. Each academic institution receives small amount of budget allocation to promote Korean studies. As long as there is not societal interest, the resources destined to this kind of activity are minimal. For Thailand, without any assistance from Korean organizations such as the Academy of Korean Studies, Korea Foundation, Korea Research Foundation and KOICA, Korean studies education in Thailand will be hard to grow up and develop.
III. Future Development First, Thailand and South Korea will further strengthen exchanges in culture, economy, politics and other fields. When their cooperation and collaborative relations get especially close, Korean Studies in Thailand will be promoted and further developed. Secondly, support, train and expand the number of Thai instructors engaged in Korea-related studies, which are currently very few. Foster this new generation of Korean Studies specialists and language professors, outstanding Thai students and scholars should be sent to Korea for graduate studies. Third, Korean language education in Thailand need to be taught in a more effective way with better and proper textbooks and audiovisual materials, and a new generation of well-trained teachers. The increase in number of Korean language students will consequently results in the increase the number of scholars who research Korean Studies in the future. Fourth, Korea related textbooks/ academic materials need to be developed urgently. Academic scholars need to work together to create Korean studies related books or publications and widely used in the country. Also Korean textbooks written in Korean need to be translated into Thai for educational use. Fifth, permanent networks or connections of Thai specialists in Korean language education and Korean Studies should be established and maintained across university boundaries. Ongoing efforts to expand the department‘s or Center’s networks and link with various universities in Korea to explore possible collaborative projects that aim to promote Korean studies. In conclusion, Korean Studies in Thailand has been started for long time ago. We have gone through difficulties and obstacles from the first start. Those beginnings were ended. Now we have to move forward, we have to concentrate and rethink what to do next steps, consider our strengths and weaknesses in order to find out the ways to fully develop Korean Studies in Thailand constantly and sustainably.
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