Prestigious Award for Korean Studies at UCC

30 Jul 2026

The Irish Institute of Korean Studies, led by Dr Kevin Cawley, has been awarded €180,000 in funding from the Academy of Korean Studies for a three-year project to further develop Korean Studies at University College Cork. 

This prestigious award will support an ambitious programme of international conferences, workshops, and seminars, bringing leading scholars from some of the world's most distinguished universities to Cork. Students will engage directly with internationally recognised experts and gain exposure to cutting-edge research in Korean history, culture, society, literature, politics, and language. The project will also strengthen international collaboration through joint student conferences with UCC's partner institution, the University of Bologna. Funding will enable Bologna students to travel to Cork, creating valuable opportunities for Irish and Italian students to present research, exchange ideas, and build international academic networks. The award will fund postgraduate scholarships and travel bursaries for research in South Korea, giving students invaluable first-hand experience of Korean society and culture. It will also bring prominent Korean authors and translators to UCC, offering unique insights into contemporary Korean literature, translation, and intercultural communication. This major award will enhance research partnerships, expand student mobility, and strengthen academic and cultural links between Ireland and South Korea. It represents a significant international recognition of the work of Dr Kevin Cawley and the Irish Institute of Korean Studies, while delivering lasting benefits for current and future students of Korean Studies at UCC.

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For more on this story please contact k.cawley@ucc.ie