Korean History

The Department of Korean History at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive and in-depth educational experience designed to explore the rich and complex history of Korea from ancient times to the modern era. The program aims to cultivate students’ understanding of Korea’s societal, political, cultural, and economic developments through rigorous academic coursework and original research. Students will examine Korea’s historical interactions with neighboring countries, its colonial past, and its path to modernization, gaining valuable insights into the enduring legacy and modern transformation of Korean society. The curriculum includes a diverse range of courses covering various periods, including prehistoric Korea, the Three Kingdoms Era, Goryeo Dynasty, Joseon Dynasty, colonial period, and contemporary history. Emphasis is placed on developing critical analysis skills, methodological approaches to historical research, and the ability to evaluate historical sources critically. The program is designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for careers in academia, cultural preservation, journalism, public history, and related fields. Faculty members are renowned scholars conducting cutting-edge research, and students are encouraged to participate in research projects, internships, and academic conferences. The department fosters an environment of intellectual inquiry and intercultural dialogue, promoting a deeper appreciation of Korea’s historical identity within a global context. Graduates of the program will be prepared for advanced study or professional work involving historical analysis and cultural understanding, contributing to the academic, cultural, and social development of Korea and beyond.

• Studies in Ancient History of Korea
• Studies in Medieval History of Korea
• Studies in Modern History of Korea
• Studies in Contemporary History of Korea
• Studies in Korean Epigraphy
• Studies in Korean Social History
• Studies in the History of Korean Social Stratification
• Studies in the History of Korean Foreign Relations
• Origin of Korean People
• Formation of Ancient State in Korea
• Ancient Culture of Korea
• Topics in Ancient History of Korea
• Topics in Medieval History of Korea
• Topics in History of Korean Buddhism
• Topics in History of Korean Confucianism
• Studies in Political History of Early Choson
• Studies in Political History of Late Choson
• Studies in Intellectual History of Late Choson
• Studies in Intellectual History of Modern Korea
• Studies in Traditional Korean Historiography
• Studies in Modern Korean Historiography
• Studies in Social Change of Late Choson
• Studies in History of National Independence Movements
• History of Social Movement in Korea
• Studies in History of Korean Arts
• Seminar in Koryo Period
• Studies in Political History in Koryo Dynasty
• Korean History and North －Eastern Asia
• Studies in Kinship in Korean History
• Seminar in Kyujanggak Collection
• Seminar in History of Korean Science
• Studies in Korean Economic History
• Studies in Early－modern History of Korea
• Topics in Early－modern History of Korea
• Topics in Modern History of Korea
• Topics in Contemporary Korean History
• Studies in Korean Palaeography
• The Periodization of Korean History
• Studies in Research of Korean Historical Materials
• Reading and Research

1. Online
   application
2. Either
   proof
   of
   Korean
   or
   English
   proficiency
   is
   required;
   
   
   
   
   1)
   Korean
   Proficiency:
   TOPIK
   level
   3
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   
   2)
   English
   Proficiency:
   TOEFL
   (PBT
   550,
   CBT
   213,
   iBT
   80),
   TEPS
   551, IELTS
   5.5
   or
   higher
   
   
   
   3)
   Other
   official
   documents
   indicating
   proof
   of
   language
   proficiency (ie.
   SNU
   Korean
   Language
   Center
   Level
   4
   or
   higher)
3. Personal
   Statement
   and
   Study
   Plan
4. Letter
   of
   Recommendation
5. Counselor
   Reference
   
6. Official
   High
   School
   Transcript
   and
   Graduation
   Certificate
7. A
   Copy
   of
   the
   Applicant’s
   Passport
8. Certificate
   of
   Facts
   concerning
   the
   Entry
   and
   Exit
9. Portfolio,
   Records
   of
   Achievement,
   etc.
10. Agreement
    for
    Verification
    of
    Academic
    Record

If you wish to apply for the scholarship program, please fill out the scholarship application form every semester. Application period:

• During November(1st semester)
• During May(2nd semester)

International Student Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.0 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partial or fully funded)
• Eligibility: International student in the government-funded (government-invited) scholarship, international student

  (self-funded), Korean student living overseas and studying in Korea (undergraduate and graduate course)

Lecture/Research Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.3 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester; excluding new students)
• Eligibility: Graduate student recommended by the advising professor; an annual income of less than KRW 12 million
• Working condition: 10 or more hours a week (40 hours/month)
• Responsibility: Assist the lectures by the professor, general electives and research; help students with their course; manage assignments; manage laboratory; fulfill administrative duties for the undergraduate course, etc.
• Funding: Current student: Fully funded tuition and fees and monthly scholarship;

  Research student: Monthly scholarship

• Termination: If on leave of absence, disciplinary action or determined to be unqualified for other reasons

Core TA Scholarship

• Eligibility: Returning graduate student and research student
• Funding: Type A – Tuition (partially funded) and monthly research aid / Type B  – Half of the monthly research aid
• Duration: 1st semester : March – August (6 months) /

  2nd semester: September – February of the following year (6 months)

• Responsibility: Attend the assigned lecture; supervise discussion; check assignments; focus on Laboratory

  sessions/Experiment/Practice courses; assist practice, etc.

SNU Foundation Scholarship

• GPA requirement: 3.3 GPA or higher (average of the previous semester)
• Funding: Tuition and fees (partially or fully funded)
• Feature: Scholarship funded by some 200 funds created by Seoul National University Foundation

The following is the scholarship programs offered for graduate applicants. Students may apply for the programs before or during the admission application period. The annual announcement will be posted on this websitehttp://en.snu.ac.kr/apply/info.

Graduate Scholarship for Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS)

Eligibility

• Asian students, excluding Japanese and Chinese nationals, who wish to study one of the designated graduate programs
  * The programs eligible for this scholarship are subject to change, and different by applicants’ nationalities. The eligible programs list is announced every semester.

Number of Recipients

• Approximately 20

Subsidies

• Tuition fee: full tuition exemption for a maximum of 4 semesters
• Living expenses: 500,000 KRW per month (different according to recipients’ majors)

Application Period

• During admission period for international students every semester

Selection Procedure

• Applicants who submit admission application to SNU’s Office of Admissions ⇒ applicants submit scholarship application to SNU’s Office of International Affairs ⇒ Selection made by respective Colleges/Schools based on the admission documents ⇒ decision noticed

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Silk-Road Scholarship

Eligibility

• Applicants from the countries in the ‘Silk-Road’ area who want to study humanities or social sciences, including Korean language, history, culture, politics, and economics

Number of Recipients

• About 5 new graduate students

Subsidies

• Tuition fee: full tuition fee exemption for a maximum of 4 semesters
• Living expenses: maximum of 600,000 KRW per month for 4 semesters
• Airfare: maximum of 1 million KRW for one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: fee exemption at the Language Education Institute

Application Period

• During admission period for international students every Fall semester

Selection Procedure

• Applicants who submit admission application to SNU’s Office of Admissions ⇒ applicants submit scholarship application to SNU’s Office of International Affairs ⇒ Selection made by respective Colleges/Schools based on the admission documents ⇒ decision noticed

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Overseas Koreans Scholarship

Eligibility

• Overseas Korean students who wish to take graduate degrees at SNU

Subsidies

• Full tuition exemption
• Living expenses: 800,000 KRW per month for 4 semesters
• Insurance fees: approximately 30,000 per month
• Settlement expenses aid upon initial arrival: 500,000 KRW (one-time payment)
• Airfare for one economy round trip
• Language training expenses: for 2 semesters

Application Period

• March and September

Selection Procedure

• Applicants submit applications to Korean embassies in their countries ⇒ the embassies make the first selection ⇒ the Overseas Koreans Foundation make the second selection

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-2519, intlscholarship@snu.ac.kr

Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)

Eligibility

• International students applying for SNU’s graduate programs

Number of Recipients

• 325

Subsidies

• Full tuition fee: tuition exemption for 4 semesters for master’s program and 6 semesters for Ph. D program
• Living expenses: 900,000 KRW per month
• Airfare: one economy round trip
• Korean language training fee: for one year
  * Korean language training is mandatory and when the student does not achieve TOPIK grade 3 within a year, she/he is not eligible to enter the degree program
• Others: medical insurance, research fund, thesis printing fees, settlement and returning expenses

Application Period

• February

Selection Procedure

※ Applicants choose one of the following application methods.

• University Recommendation Program: applicants submit applications to SNU’s Office of Admission ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the selection
• Embassy Recommendation Program: applications submit applications to Korean Embassies in their countries ⇒ the National Institute for International Education make the selection

Contact

• SNU staff in charge: 82-2-880-6971, sck590@snu.ac.kr

The Department of Korean History at Seoul National University offers a comprehensive undergraduate program designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of Korea's historical development from ancient times to the modern era. The curriculum encompasses a wide range of topics including ancient Korean history, medieval periods, modern Korean history, and contemporary issues. Students are encouraged to engage critically with primary sources, historical research methodologies, and to analyze Korea's socio-cultural evolution within East Asian contexts. The program aims to cultivate scholars who can contribute to academic research, cultural preservation, and public understanding of Korean history. It offers opportunities for research and fieldwork, including internships, seminars, and collaborative projects with museums and cultural institutions. The faculty members are renowned experts in various fields of Korean history, often publishing influential research and participating in international conferences. Graduates from the program typically pursue careers in academia, education, cultural administration, and media, or continue their studies at graduate levels. The department emphasizes the importance of language proficiency, particularly in classical Chinese and modern Korean, to facilitate historical analysis. Students are also encouraged to participate in international exchange programs, gaining exposure to global perspectives in history. As a leading university in Korea, Seoul National University's Department of Korean History maintains strong connections with national research institutes and cultural heritage organizations, ensuring the curriculum remains relevant and impactful. Overall, the program offers a rigorous academic environment, dedicated faculty mentorship, and a wealth of resources—including extensive archives and libraries—aimed at fostering new generations of Korean historians and cultural scholars.