- Mason Korea opens a research center to advance global learning in K-culture
- Focus on training industry professionals and expanding cultural education programs
- Strategic step to support Korea’s rise as a global hub for creative industries
Mason Korea, the South Korean campus of George Mason University, has unveiled the Center for Korean Culture and Society (CKCS), marking its first independently operating research center. The new hub aims to build a strong educational and research foundation around South Korea’s booming cultural sectors such as K-pop, film, gaming, sports, and tourism.
The CKCS will support global learners by offering specialized academic programs, hosting international conferences, and providing professional training in cultural content creation. It will also focus on industry-academic partnerships to help students gain real-world experience in fast-growing fields like digital media and cultural tourism. Mason Korea campus dean Joshua Park highlighted the university’s mission to “build a platform where K-culture can be shared and co-created with the world”, reinforcing the campus’s role as a bridge between Korea and global academic and creative communities.
The launch aligns with South Korea’s national strategy to boost its status as a leader in global entertainment and creative industries. Leveraging Incheon’s strategic position as an international entry point, and working closely with partners like the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ), Mason Korea aims to help shape the next generation of cultural experts.
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Professor Gyu Tag Lee, a respected authority on K-pop and the center's inaugural director, emphasized CKCS as both a research and collaboration space. “It’s not just about studying K-content”, he said. “It’s about creating a global meeting point for learning, sharing, and innovation."
The opening ceremony brought together key representatives from cultural, educational, and business organizations, showcasing broad support for enhancing Korea's cultural reach through education.
