중앙대학교 메인 홈페이지

Three weeks of academic achievement on the Korean culture and arts

International Summer School (ISS) is a program for learning about Korea, focusing on its culture in an international context, and providing students with cultural experiences to promote understanding of the Korean culture and society. Every day from late June to early July, Chung-Ang University will welcome students from all over the world to its various courses, most of which deal with the Korean culture and society.

For the past several years, many Asian countries, especially in Southeast Asia, have been swept by Hallyu, the Korean cultural wave. Never before has one nation spread its culture to others within so short a time and with such speed and enthusiasm, all thanks to the rapidly developing telecommunication technology. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors from other countries have been streaming into Korea, specifically to learn and personally experience its wonderful culture and customs, which were introduced to them by the mass media. Chung-Ang University is particularly proud of this phenomenon because for the past 80 years, it has been at the forefront of cultivating the nation's cultural heritage in traditional music, dance, drama, and other performing arts. Majority of the individuals responsible for Hallyu are CAU graduates. Chung-Ang University offers an opportunity to a select group of international students to learn and experience the essence of Hallyu through a three-week summer program. During their short stay in Korea, the students will be given many opportunities to immerse themselves in the culture and customs of the country, and to learn much about its dynamic economy, politics, business, and people. International students will be participating in the said summer program along with the Chung-Ang University students who will register for the program. Together, they will form a "buddy" group to learn Hallyu from one another. Chung-Ang University is providing its international students with comfortable and safe housing units near the campus. It has been CAU’s tradition to provide its many guest international students with excellent care in a small family-style setup. CAU promises a fun and exciting summer experience to all those who will come and join this program. Perhaps what’s best about the program is that the students will earn from it the three credits that they need to be able to transfer to the home universities that they want to enter.

The lectures will be organized by block of topics covering the Korean folk culture and tradition, the traditional Korean performing arts and music, and the Korean society. All lectures will be taught in English. Ten three-hour lectures will be given during the three-week period, most in the morning.

Introduction of various aspects of the traditional Koreanculture. This course focuses on the basic elements of the Korean folk culture, such as village communities, rituals, burial customs, folk religion, folk play, annual customs, and festivals.

This course explains how traditional folk religion influenced the contemporary popular belief among the ordinary Koreans. The students will find out the hidden meanings of the shamanism-related practices in Korean daily life.

This course will invite the students to a traditional Korean culinary experience. The lecturer will first demonstrate his/her culinary skills and will then encourage the students to participate in cooking traditional Korean dishes, such as kimchi and Korean rice cakes and cookies.

This lecture introduces the traditional Korean music, musical instruments, and ensemble. The students will have an opportunity to hear the traditional Korean music as performed by nationally acclaimed CAU student performing groups. They will also have a chance to try out the different instruments.

The goal of this course is to help the students understand the phonological systems and grammatical characteristics of the Korean language. The students will be able to read Korean words and sentences after the course. The course also introduces various aspects of the Korean culture that are related to the Korean language

In Asian calligraphy, ink brushes are typically used to write letter characters. Calligraphy is considered an important art in East Asia and the most refined form of East Asian painting. It has also influenced ink and wash painting, which is accomplished using similar tools and techniques. The students will have an opportunity to learn how to use ink brushes and how to write letter characters. They will also derive insights into how calligraphy contributes to the development of a balanced and temperate state of mind.

ISP07 Korean History This course deals with Korean history in the context of its relations with other nations. Many foreigners have the misconception that the Korean culture is confined to the traditional sphere of Chinese civilization. The students will understand from this course that Korea has a very distinct culture and history as well as political and social structures that are very different from those of China. ISP08 Traditional Korean Architecture By exploring the traditional Korean architecture, the students will gain insights into the Korean culture from a unique point of view. They will learn much about the structure of traditional Korean houses, which were designed to adapt to four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. They will also become acquainted with Korea's under-floor heating system and its scientific functions. ISP09 Traditional Korean Masked Dance The masked dance, called “talchum,” is a traditional Korean form of dancing. In this program, the initiator of a famous masked-dance play called “Songpa Sande” will talk about the origin and features of the play, after which the students will be invited to put on a mask and will be taught how to perform the masked dance. ISP10 Temple Stay The major activities included in this program are attending a Buddhist ceremonial service, Seon (Zen) meditation, tea ceremonies that can elevate one's meditative ability, a Buddhist meal with traditional bowls, community work and informative tours around the temple grounds, forest meditation to achieve oneness with nature, and hikes to nearby hermitages.

Explore Seoul's top visitor attractions on this convenient tour bus. Seoul City Tour Bus departs from the Gwanghwamun bus stop and follows a regular-schedule tour route, a major landmark of the city. Buy a one-day tour ticket and get on and off the bus at any stop that will catch your fancy.

The students will be introduced to Takkyon, a traditional Korean martial art. They will witness Takkyon demonstrations by experts and will learn its basic forms and a few techniques from the instructors.

Icheon Ceramics Village produces high-quality traditional Korean ceramics. Experience doing pottery there, and bring home your finished product.

Nanta Theater is the permanent home of the first Korean nonverbal performance: “Nanta.” Nanta is a hybrid artwork, a combination of a traditional Korean folk performance called “Samulnori” and a Western form of performance.

The capital of Silla Kingdom for almost a thousand years, Gyeongju has preserved a vast number of significant and fascinating historical heritages. Along with Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, Gyeongju Historical District has been designated as a World Heritage by UNESCO.

In the Korean Folk Village, where the customs and lifestyles of the past generations have been carefully preserved, various lifestyles prevalent during the Joseon Dynasty can still be seen.

DMZ is a buffer zone built after the armistice agreement between North and South Korea to prevent an armed conflict between them. Restrictions are imposed on the troops assigned therein, on weapon disposition, and on military installation. Here, you will be exposed to the realities of the divided Korea. CA8 HANBOK (TRADITIONAL KOREAN COSTUME) EXPERIENCE Hanbok literally means "Korean dress." It is the traditional clothing that the Koreans have worn through the ages. The Koreans now wear Western clothing for business and traditional Korean costumes during rituals and festive occasions. You will be given a chance to experience all kinds of Hanbok that the Chung-Ang students majoring in Clothing and Textiles will make.