The Korea Foundation

Program Outline

The Korea Foundation provides financial support for efforts to create new professorships in the field of Korean studies and Korean language at various universities abroad that are equipped with the infrastructure necessary to maintain an adequate level of research and education on Korean studies and have future growth potential. Under this program, the Foundation funds the establishment and operation of two types of professorships: 1) the Tenure-track Position, in which the recipient university agrees to permanently maintain the position from its own resources after the termination of the Foundation’s support, and 2) the Endowment Chair position, in which the recipient university operates a permanent professorship with Korea Foundation through a jointly created endowment fund.

Eligible Applicants

Universities outside of Korea that plan to create new professorships in Korean studies/Korean language

Eligible Areas

Korean studies (humanities or social sciences) and Korean language

Details of Support

1. Tenure-track Position (TTP): The Foundation provides up to 70% of the total amount of the salary* and employee benefits** for the TTP professor of Korean studies/Korean language to be hired by the recipient university. 

  * Salary: the hired professor's salary in accordance with the existing professor salary table of

      the recipient university.

** Employee benefits: the non-wage payments, such as fringe benefits and social welfare

     expenses, that an employer is required to pay to his/her employees according to the

     laws and regulations of the state or country to which the recipient organization

     belongs. 

2. Endowed Chair Position: The Foundation provides an endowment on an annual basis during the grant period, for the new establishment of a permanent professorship in Korean studies/Korean language, on the condition that the recipient institution provides a matching fund contribution of 50% on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Grant Period

Three to five years

Prerequisites for the Foundation's Support

This program aims to support universities that are willing to fund and maintain a newly established Korean studies professorship permanently from its own resources after the conclusion of the Foundation’s support, or through a jointly created endowment fund. In addition, the universities should ensure that the holder of the professorship will be appointed and promoted through a thorough and fair review of his/her qualifications and accomplishments in accordance with the university’s procedures for appointment, promotion, and tenure for faculty members.

※ Please refer to“Important Reminders for Applicant Institutions”below

Program Schedule

1. Application Period: July 1 to September 8, 2017

                                                    (Deadline: September 8, 12:00 noon KST)

2. Notification of Results: December 2017

3. The grant period starts in the following academic year.

Required Documents

1. Online application

  ※ Information about current status of Korean studies of the applicant institution (including

       existing faculty members, courses, library collections, and academic activities in Korean

       studies/Korean language at the university) is required.

2. Supplementary materials (to be uploaded with the online application)

  ① Curriculum for B.A./M.A. in Korean studies (and/or Korean language) degree programs (if

           applicable).

  ② Information about the university’s salary scale for professors.

  ③ Curriculum vitae of the professor to be hired (only if the university has a

       concrete candidate in mind at the time of application).

  ④ Curriculum vitae of the project director

How to Apply

All required documents must be submitted in Korean or English via the KF Online Application System (http://apply.kf.or.kr).

Evaluation Criteria

1. Is the plan well-organized enough to achieve its stated objective? Is the applicant

institution committed to fostering the development of the Korean studies or Korean language program? Does the applicant institution have a long-term plan for enhancing education/research on Korean studies or Korean language at the university?  

2. Considering the applicant institution's reputation and its prior accomplishments/

experience in the field of Korean studies, how adequate is the applicant institution’s ability to implement the program?  

3. Is the expected outcome or goal feasible?

4. How sound and specifically-written is the budget plan? Is there a matching fund effort for the program?

Important Reminders for Applicant Institutions

1. Cancellation of Support: The Foundation can cancel its decision of support if the Foundation and the recipient university cannot conclude an agreement. 

2. Eligibility Requirements for the Appointee to a Korean Studies

      Professorship: 

     ① Focus on Korea in more than 50% of his/her research and teaching activities,

           and conduct such research using primary sources published in the Korean

           language. 

      ② Publish the findings of such research in the English language, and possibly in the Korean

     language.

      ③ Be proficient in the Korean language if he/she teaches in the field of

    humanities.  

3. Notification of Changes to the Project: An applicant institution must promptly notify the Foundation of any changes, including postponement and/or cancellation, on the project plan submitted at the time of application.  

4. Revision of the Project Plan: The Foundation, when deemed necessary, may request an applicant institution to revise its project plan or to supplement it with new elements. 

5. Disbursement of the Grant: Before grant funds are made available to the selected applicant, the Foundation and the recipient university enter into a grant agreement which includes the details of the project and the budget. The Foundation's salary and benefit support for a TTP position will be made after the conclusion of a grant agreement and the recipient university's employment of a qualified candidate for the position.

6. Submission of Report:: Recipient universities are required to submit their annual project report to the Foundation during the term of the agreement. The report must be accompanied by an accounting report drafted and signed by the recipient university’s accounting officer. KF report forms will be provided.

Contact

• Korean Studies Department (E-mail: studies@kf.or.kr)

• Inquiries about Application Portal (helpdesk@kf.or.kr)