Ancient Korean Studies Initiative
Mission Statement
The Ancient Korean Studies Initiative is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary and transregional research on ancient Korea, exploring its historical, cultural, and global connections. Our mission is to create a dynamic platform for scholars at Yale and beyond to engage in cutting-edge research, share innovative perspectives, and exchange methodologies across a wide range of disciplines. We are equally committed to enhancing the academic experience of students through cultural events, symposia, and seminars that deepen their understanding of Korea’s historical significance.
The Initiative collaborates with numerous campus partners, including the InterAsia Initiative, the South Asian Studies and Southeast Asia Studies Councils at the MacMillan Center, and departments and programs such as Anthropology, Archaeological Studies, East Asian Languages and Literatures, History of Art, Linguistics, and Religious Studies. Additionally, we aim to foster strong partnerships with international scholars in related fields. By building connections across academic disciplines and national boundaries, we seek to strengthen Yale’s existing expertise in modern and contemporary Korean Studies while shining a critical spotlight on the prehistoric and ancient history of the Korean Peninsula. This approach positions Korea as an integral part of the East Asian, Southeast Asian, and Eurasian historical landscapes.
Through a wide range of scholarly programs and initiatives, the Ancient Korean Studies Initiative aspires to become an intellectual hub at Yale and a globally recognized leader in the field of Korean Studies.
Core Faculty
Advisory Faculty Members
Specific Five-Year Programs
Visiting Scholar Program
Each year, we will initially invite a leading scholar of ancient Korea to Yale for a full academic year. The scholar will teach one course per semester, deliver several talks on their research, advise graduate students, and collaborate with faculty across campus. Offering a course on this understudied field will provide students with a unique opportunity to explore the rich historical context that shaped modern Korea.
Lecture Series
Annually, two scholars specializing in ancient Korea will be invited to participate in a joint lecture. Each scholar will deliver a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute session where they pose questions to each other. This will then open into a Q&A session with the audience. The lecture series aims to stimulate student interest in ancient Korean studies and foster intellectual engagement on the subject. Two scholars we will be inviting this upcoming year are Professors Martine Robbeets from Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Germany, and Gyoung-Ah Lee from the University of Oregon.
Two Symposia/Conferences
Over the next five years, we will host two symposia or conferences, bringing together 10 to 15 leading scholars who study ancient Korea from various disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. These events will be structured to encourage dialogue between scholars of Korea, China, Japan, and other regions, providing a global lens through which to examine Korea’s past. We are planning to organize a conference in Fall 2026 titled “Magic, Material Culture, and State Formation in Prehistoric Northeast Asia.” This event will bring together ten scholars from various disciplines to present their latest research on these interconnected themes.