朝鮮語Korean

Introduction
Dear new SFC students, annyeong haseyo.

Here is a little-known secret about Korean: it is the easiest language to learn for native Japanese speakers or Japanese learners.

Chili, kamsa, and yagu in Korean are chiri (geography), kansha (appreciation), and yakyu (baseball) in Japanese, respectively. The fact that many kanji characters are shared with Japanese is reassuring to those whose native language is Japanese. Don't you think that the Korean pronunciation is quite similar to Japanese?
Experts say that there are about 7,000 languages in the world. Among these languages, there is none easier to learn for Japanese native speakers than Korean. This is due to the fact that 1) the word order completely matches Japanese; 2) the grammar is also nearly identical, so Korean translates into Japanese word-for-word; 3) a vast amount of kanji characters are used in both Korean and Japanese; and 4) the depth and base of the cultures are similar. This means that a large chunk of the Japanese language ability we already have can be directly applied in the same way, compromising a decent portion of Korean language proficiency.
Students who are learning the structure of Hangul and basics of the pronunciation at the beginner level can acquire a very high level of language proficiency in a short period of time. Anyone who has basic Japanese language skills will be able to improve their Korean language skills quite fast. Learning Korean will give Japanese-speaking students a sense of accomplishment they cannot experience studying any other language.

Aims of the Korean Language Education Program

Korean language coursework has long been offered at Keio University. Although undergraduate and graduate programs on each campus as well as Keio Gaigo also offer Korean language courses, SFC has been providing high quality language instruction that allows students to really study Korean, going beyond the liberal arts level since its establishment. Despite not being foreign language faculties, the Faculty of Policy Management and the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies offer a full range of coursework to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of students who are engaged in advanced learning and research. The goal is not only to learn the Korean language, but also to be able to use the language to deepen a comprehensive intellectual understanding of both the north and south of the Korean Peninsula. It goes without saying that whether or not you understand the Korean language is a decisive factor in understanding Japan's neighboring country. Fake news exists among the wide array of information exchanged on a daily basis. It is essential to acquire Korean language proficiency in order to carry out the following series of intellectual tasks: identifying accurate information, organizing, analyzing, and contemplating it. Furthermore, the faculty members at the SFC's Korean Lab aim to provide instruction such that students acquire these abilities, which allow them to carry out intellectual tasks including sharing their messages in Korean.

Korean as a method of intellectual understanding

South Korea rebuilt itself from ruin following the Korean War (1950-1953) and experienced a period of rapid economic growth referred to as "The Miracle on the Han River," eventually becoming an economic giant (ranked 10th among 193 countries in the world in terms of nominal GDP in 2021). You've likely have heard of Korean companies such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. These conglomerates have matched or even surpassed Japanese companies in terms of overall strength in areas such as smartphones, electronics, and automobiles. The incredible influence of their pop culture, a phenomenon referred to as the "Korean Wave," is exemplified by K-POP, K-dramas, and video games which have become extremely popular not only in Asia but also in Europe and the United States.
To further deepen intellectual understanding of Korean society, it is essential to learn the Korean language. Learning Korean will allow you to access more information on the Korean Peninsula and to diversify your interests.
As an extension of learning of Korean language courses, SFC offers a variety of curricula for understanding modern Korea. Through lecture courses, including "Korean Regional Studies," "Korean Social Studies," and "Modern Culture (Korean)," students will deepen their intellectual understanding of Korean politics, economy, society, culture, history, as well as the geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, several Kenkyukai research seminars are offered as an advanced form of these lecture courses.

Learning Korean as an opportunity to reflect on Japanese culture and oneself

Language is inherently intertwined with culture. In fact, culture develops with language and language reflects the character of culture. Language is a part of culture. In the process of learning the Korean language, you will also be exposed to and learn the Korean culture that is baked into the Korean language. Thus, while learning Korean, you will gradually gain an understanding of Korean culture and have opportunities to examine the cultural differences between Korea and Japan.
Japan and Korea have historically had a long close ties and uninterrupted exchange. Korean culture has many similarities to Japanese culture, but also has differences. Understanding of Korean culture through Korean language and comparing Korean culture with Japanese culture will give you an appreciation for Japanese culture that you may have taken for granted. Such cultural awareness and thought will provide us, as intellectuals, an opportunity to reflect on Japanese culture and ourselves.