Inha University K-Academic Diffusion Research Center Officially Launches the 3rd Cohort of ‘K-Connectors'

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Inha University K-Academic Diffusion Research Center Officially Launches

the 3rd Cohort of ‘K-Connectors'

 

On September 4, the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center at the Inha University Institute of International Studies successfully held the launching ceremony for the 3rd cohort of ‘K-Connectors’ at Inha University’s Inha Creative Space, marking the official beginning of a youth-led project to promote the diffusion of Korean Studies in the field of social sciences.

 

The launching ceremony was attended by Dr. Seungjae Lee (Center for International Studies, Inha University), Dr. Siyao Xing (K-Academic Diffusion Research Center, Inha University Institute of International Studies), Researcher Ryo TAHARA (the center), along with the 3rd cohort organizers and participants of K-Connectors, totaling 35 people. Attendees shared project plans, anticipated outcomes, and aspirations for the 3rd cohort, and pledged their commitment to the six-month journey ahead.

‘K-Connectors’ is a youth-led Korean Studies diffusion project organized by the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center at Inha University. It brings together domestic university students to reinterpret Korean Studies from a social-scientific perspective and to disseminate it both domestically and internationally through various content and projects. Now in its third cohort, the program consists of seven teams with a total of 28 students, each of whom will design and carry out their own distinctive projects.

 

The main activities include planning and managing online and offline projects on Korean Studies topics grounded in the social sciences, designing, producing, and disseminating innovative content, and conducting external outreach through social media. Through these efforts, the program is expected not only to broaden the base of Korean Studies but also to generate diverse attempts to explore the intersections between academia and society.

The launching ceremony was held in two sessions. The first session began with an opening declaration and congratulatory remarks from key representatives, followed by presentations from four teams introducing their project proposals, including their themes, approaches, and activity plans. In the second session, the remaining three teams presented their projects, and an ice-breaking program involving all participants was conducted, providing an opportunity to build a foundation for exchange and collaboration among the teams.

During the project presentation session, proposals that approached the theme of promoting Korean Studies in the field of social sciences from diverse perspectives were introduced, drawing strong interest from the participants. The subsequent Q&A session fostered lively discussions, facilitating the sharing of perspectives and the expansion of ideas among participants.

 

The official activity period for the 3rd cohort of K-Connectors spans approximately six months, from August 2025 to January 2026, during which participants are provided with a certain level of funding necessary for project operations. Participants who complete all activities faithfully will receive a certificate of completion. Upon conclusion of the program, outstanding teams will be selected based on performance evaluations, and separate awards will be presented.

 

Through the activities of the 3rd cohort of K-Connectors, the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center expects to provide an opportunity to reinterpret Korean Studies in a contemporary light—not merely from the perspective of traditional culture or history, but through the analytical lens of the social sciences—and to explore its potential for broader dissemination from multiple angles.

 

Looking ahead, K-Connectors is anticipated to expand its activities through various channels, including exchanges with international students and young people both domestically and abroad, as well as global collaborative projects, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the status of Korean Studies on the world stage.