The term Korean studies emerged after national liberation in 1945, with the academic community's efforts to enhance research on Korea, including its history, society, culture, and political system. Academic research had been suppressed or dominated by a Japanese point of view during the 35-year colonial period. With an increasing number of foreign scholars engaging in Korean studies in recent decades, the government has been supporting research and education activities through the Academy of Korean Studies established in 1978 and the Korean Studies Graduate School, which opened two years later within the Academy. As of February 2006, the state-run academy had produced 466 masters and 200 doctorate degree holders in seven disciplines - history, philosophy and ethics, language and literature, arts, culture and religion, politics and economy, society and education. During the school year, the academy has 201 Korean and foreign students enrolled in its master's and Ph.D programs. Foreign graduates return to their home countries where they are active as professors or researchers of Korean studies.


Korean studies has attracted great attention overseas, and related courses are now available at some 338 universities in China, Japan, the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland, Denmark, Switzerland, Ukraine, Hungary and other countries. International students may also enroll in Korean language courses at universities in Seoul, including Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University and Ewha Womans University.