This project aims to establish a sustainable and interdisciplinary Korean Studies platform at Middle East Technical University (METU) by introducing a new, innovative approach that employs sport as an analytical lens to explore Korea’s development, politics, diplomacy, society, and culture. Over the next three years, the project will focus on eight specific objectives:
Objective 1 (Courses): Offer New Korean Studies Courses at METU
To develop and offer a sequence of regular, non-language Korean Studies courses that introduce Korean Studies through sport as an analytical tool and broaden students’ understanding of Korea
Objective 2 (Curriculum Framework): Develop an Interdisciplinary Korean Studies Curriculum Framework
To design, test, and finalize a coherent three-year interdisciplinary Korean Studies curriculum framework that organizes learning continuously from political and diplomatic foundations (Year 1) to sociocultural analysis (Year 2) and advanced comparative study (Year 3).
Objective 3 (Human Resource Capacity): Cultivate Human Resources Capacity
To cultivate a sustainable cohort of undergraduate and graduate students who are trained to support Korean Studies education, research, and dissemination at METU.
Objective 4 (Networking): Create Academic Partnership and Domestic and Global Networking
To strengthen domestic and international Korean Studies networks through a series of student-led academic events.
Objective 5 (Research & Teaching Resources): Develop Research Outcomes and Teaching Resources
To produce research outcomes and teaching resources that reinforce course quality, strengthen institutional capacity, and support the diffusion of Korean Studies.
Objective 6 (Working Group): Establish a Korean Studies Working Group at METU
To establish and actively operate an interdisciplinary Korean Studies Working Group that
coordinates curriculum development, research activities, student mentoring, and collaboration in and beyond METU
Objective 7 (Infrastructure): Build Institutional Infrastructure
To build a sustainable Korean Studies infrastructure at METU through the creation of a digital platform including website and social media that archives course syllabi, learning resources, and project activities. 
Objective 8 (Center Preparation): Prepare Institutional Groundwork for a Korean Studies Research Center
To prepare the institutional groundwork for establishing a Korean Studies Research Center at METU.

Ultimately, this project aims to lay the institutional foundation for establishing a Korean Studies Research Center at METU, positioning it as a key hub for the diffusion of Korean Studies in Türkiye and the surrounding regions including Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and the Balkans.
 

Expected Effects