Mission

The vision of the USC Dornsife Korean Studies Institute (KSI) is to become the most influential academic institution educating the world about US-Korea and US-Asia relations.

Established in 2005 with the goal of explaining Korea to the world through research and teaching, KSI has rapidly grown into a leading center for Korean Studies in the world. Today, KSI is an active center for scholarship and learning at USC and beyond.

Support for Research and Teaching

We support faculty and scholars through a number of academic initiatives such as the manuscript review, book proposal and working paper workshops, and mentor students from diverse majors and fields who study Korea and the US through our signature programs: the KSI Undergraduate Fellows Program, Graduate Student Affiliates, and the US-Asia Grand Strategy Predoctoral Fellows Program.

An Academic Community

Located in the historic Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Family House, the USC Korean Studies Institute nurtures and builds a community of students and scholars in the field of Korean and Asian studies. Along with partners at the USC Korean Heritage Library (which boasts one of the largest Korean-American history and media studies archives in the country), USC KSI avails a deep and broad range of resources. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the gateway to the Pacific Rim, KSI is ideally positioned to serve as a scholarly gateway to improve mutual understanding between the US and Korea.

Impact on US-ROK Policy

KSI also affects US-ROK policy through mentoring programs, such as the US-Korea NextGen Scholars Program, which brings young scholars in contact with policymakers. The director and faculty frequently contribute to the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, NPR and other major media outlets with commentary on North Korea, the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and other pertinent issues related to US-Asia relations. The KSI Video Series is the most widely viewed scholarly series about Korea in the world.

Learn more about the KSI

Learn more about our Signature Programs, the Ahn Family House, Frequently Asked Questions, and Contact Information.

Contact Us

809 W 34th St., Los Angeles, CA. 90089

To get in touch or learn more about the Korean Studies Institute, please reach out to us by email or by phone.