The first Keimyung International Summer Academy for Korean Studies (KISAKS) was held from July 3 to August 11. It provided Korean studies programs for foreign and domestic students during summer vacation. Its programs can be accepted as credits after students ask a director in their university in advance whether the college can formally admit KISAKS credits. KISAKS had eight lectures concerning Korea: Korean History (Prof. Sem Vermeesch), Korean Economy (Prof. Leonid Petrov), Korean Language Ⅰ (Prof. Lee Hye-young), Korean Language Ⅱ (Prof. Kim Sung-su), Politics in South and North Korea (Prof. Brian Myers), Korean Government and Politics (Prof. Park Se-jeong), Korean Dance (Prof. Chang Yoo-kyung), and Taekwondo (Prof. Na Chae-man). Cultural activities such as Korean dance and taekwondo were 1-credit classes and the others were 3-credit classes. Foreign students could take up to ten credits and domestic students 6 credits. The tuition fee for foreign students was $1500 and for Korean students $500. The dormitory accommodation fee was $400 and was optional. These fees were free to exchange students of our university.

Eleven overseas students from the US, Hong-Kong, Russia, and Japan, and eleven Korean students from Keimyung University participated in the first KISAKS. One of the students, Kaitlyn M. Kenna from Long Island University, who is majoring in political science, said that it was an exciting experience because it made it easy for her to understand Korean politics and culture. Lee Dong-hee, majoring in fashion marketing in Keimyung University, was inspired by studying with foreign students, saying KISAKS was a good chance to build confidence to communicate with foreigners. For six weeks, it gave knowledge of Korean traditions, culture, and history to all students and offered an invaluable chance to understand Korea. The notice for the next KISAKS will be shown at www.kisaks.com or you can contact KISAKS at 053-580-6029.