Institute for Asian Studies at Portland State University

09/27/2026

The Chuseok (often referred as “Korean Thanksgiving” on August 15th in Lunar Calendar) is one of the major holidays in Korea, and this holiday is widely celebrated in many Asian countries with different names. This year, the Korean Society of Oregon organized the Chuseok Festival in the Round on September 26th, and over 1,500 people enjoyed various performances and delicious food, and learned about a number of local Korean organizations and businesses.

09/24/2026

Korean Studies program development work by IAS director Hyeyoung Woo is well featured in the PSU news. Please check this out!

The Korean wave is going strong at Portland State University. As the global popularity of K-pop, K-movies, K-dramas and Korean food has surged over the past decade, PSU has seen a parallel rise in interest from heritage and non-heritage students alike. Annual enrollment in Korean language courses no...

08/31/2026

Our community partner, Oregon KAC (Korean American Coalition), is conducting a survey to better serve our community. It only takes a few mins and the responses will be kept confidential.

See the link below, and the deadline: Deadline: Saturday, October 31

08/26/2026

We are so happy to know that Korean Class will be offered at the West View High School as an after school class. The class will start in Sept 14th and the class size will be limited to 20. Register now at the link below. It’s for the West View students only.

https://forms.gle/xCmPYZj9EVNADK9fA

07/29/2026

New course alert! SOC 299: Gender and Family in Contemporary Korea

Curious how gender and family shape (and are shaped by) society? This new lower-division course uses Korea as a compelling case study to build foundational understanding of gender and family dynamics, with an international lens.

🗓️ MW, 11:00–12:40 PM

📍 In-person

💵 No-cost textbooks, zero cost to enroll!

Perfect for anyone interested in gender, culture, and global perspectives.

Come explore with us!

07/15/2026

Registration for TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is open! If you are eligible, consider registering it now as it will close on July 24th and the exam will be in October. Also, the fee will be reimbursed by PSU KORE.

Check out the link below for more information.

05/30/2026

We are grateful for the success of the first annual event of the KORE (Korean Outreach, Research, and Education) initiative.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our guest speaker, Dr. Yong-Chool Ha; CLAS Dean David Bowman; the K-Pop Dance Club for their outstanding performance; the PSU KORE undergraduate fellows for their presentations; the PSU KORE faculty; and all attendees who helped make this event a success.

We look forward to celebrating many more KORE events in the future.

05/27/2026

Join us as we celebrate the 1st Annual PSU KORE Initiative, bringing together culture, research, education, and community at Portland State University!

Experience an evening filled with k-pop performance, inspiring conversations, guest lecture, fellowship recognition, and connection with students, faculty, and community members passionate about Korean Studies.

Date: May 29, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Venue: ASRC Room 515, Portland State University

Refreshments begin at 3:00 PM

Come celebrate the launch and growing impact of the PSU KORE Initiative (Korean Outreach, Research, and Education).

We look forward to seeing you there!

05/15/2026

Last evening, it was a great delight learning about Tinder and the perspectives of South Korean MZers (Millennials and Generation Z) on dating and s*x, as well as how they navigate and vet profiles before meeting up, from Dr. Seungkyung Kim.

In conclusion, MZers are pushing back against the constraints and challenges facing their generation, and many are experiencing dating as a way to find small but meaningful moments of happiness.

We want to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us for this wonderful event!

05/13/2026

The Institute for Asian Studies Student Scholarship 2026 is now open!

Apply if you are a full-time undergrad or grad student pursuing studies related to Asia, Asian languages, or study abroad programs in Asia.

Scholarship Award: Up to $1,000 will be awarded to one or two selected applications!

Deadline: June 5, 2026, 11:59 PM

Required Materials:
✨IAS Scholarship Application Form
✨Personal Statement (max 500 words)
✨Follow-On Service Project Proposal
✨Enrollment or Study Abroad Verification
✨Unofficial Transcripts
✨Two Letters of Recommendation (at least one from a professor or academic advisor)

🔗 Scan the QR code to apply now or visit the link in bio!

Have questions? Contact Dr. Hyeyoung Woo at [email protected]