Broadening Academic Engagement on Korea through Multidisciplinary Approaches in Indonesia

Depok, Indonesia – Korea-Indonesia Connection (KIC), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI), held an academic seminar titled “Broadening Academic Engagement on Korea through Multidisciplinary Approaches in Indonesia” at the Auditorium Mochtar Riady, FISIP UI. Supported by Korea Foundation (KF) Jakarta through the KF Jakarta Small Grants Program, the seminar brought together academics, researchers, students, policy and think-tank communities, institutional representatives, and practitioners to examine how Korea Studies in Indonesia can develop across a broader range of academic perspectives by placing Korea within wider social, political, economic, and contemporary regional questions.

The discussion connected three dimensions of Korea-related engagement in Indonesia: institutional partnerships, the development of Korean Studies as an academic field, and mass media and public discourse. Together, these perspectives highlighted the roles that universities, scholarly communities, and media actors can play in expanding how Korea is studied, discussed, and understood in Indonesia.

Opening the discussion, Getar Hati, Ph.D., Program Director of KIC FISIP UI and Lecturer in Social Welfare at Universitas Indonesia, drew on KIC’s experience in connecting FISIP UI with universities in South Korea to discuss the role of institutional partnerships in broadening opportunities for Korea-related learning and research.

“KIC FISIP UI recognizes that building strong institutional partnerships is essential to advancing Korean Studies in Indonesia. Korean Studies should not be limited to the study of Korean language and culture; we believe Korea can also be understood through a much broader range of academic perspectives, including social, political, economic, development, and policy issues. This is not something that one institution can pursue alone. By connecting institutions and academic communities that share a common vision, we can create more opportunities for collaboration and broaden the impact of Korea-related learning, research, and academic engagement in Indonesia.” Getar Hati (Program Director of KIC FISIP UI)

While supporting collaborative research and knowledge exchange between Indonesian and Korean, the discussion also reflected on the challenges of sustaining long-term cooperation, particularly in ensuring institutional continuity, mutual commitment, and relevant areas of collaboration rather than remaining concentrated within a limited number of academic fields.

Building on the institutional perspective the discussion continued with Suray Agung Nugroho, Ph.D., President of the International Association of Korean Studies in Indonesia (INAKOS) and Lecturer of Korean Language and Cultural Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada. He reflected on the evolving landscape of Korean Studies in Indonesia as Korea-related research increasingly engages with other social sciences areas.

"It is time for us to move beyond viewing Korean Studies merely as an entertainment stage or keeping language, literature, and pop culture in isolated silos. We need a paradigm shift that treats Korea not just as an object of admiration, but as an interdisciplinary laboratory and a predictive mirror for Indonesia’s future. INAKOS is dedicated to serving as a vital platform that connects scholars, researchers, and students across diverse fields—from sociology and international relations to data science and public policy—uniting their varied expertise into a collaborative ecosystem capable of addressing complex contemporary challenges."

"By examining critical issues such as demographic crises, digital society ethics, and creative economy supply chains, we can transform Korea’s socio-economic experiences into actionable insights for Indonesia’s own development. INAKOS aims to lead this strategic direction through cross-disciplinary research consortia, joint academic publications, and policy-oriented white papers. In doing so, we ensure that Korean Studies in Indonesia evolves into a strategic compass that contributes meaningfully to our national interest and regional academic standing."

The discussion also addressed the opportunities and challenges involved in building a more diverse Korean Studies ecosystem, including the need to strengthen research networks, broaden academic perspectives, create more sustained opportunities for collaboration across disciplines, and greater interaction among scholars approaching Korea from different fields in which Korean Studies develops while retaining connections among researchers working on related questions.

The final perspective extended the discussion beyond universities to the wider information environment of media and public discourse. Mochamad Alvin Dwiana Qobulsyah, S.I.P., M.I.S., Lecturer in International Relations at BINUS University and Program Director of the Korean Peninsula Research Cluster at CBDS BINUS University, examined how changes in news consumption are reshaping the role of mass media in Indonesia–South Korea relations.

Drawing on the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026, he highlighted how traditional media increasingly shared public attention with social platforms, digital creators, messaging networks, and AI-based channels, while media consumption patterns differed between the two countries. Earlier research on Hallyu, youth perceptions, and news framing showed that greater cultural visibility did not necessarily lead to stronger reciprocal understanding, particularly as political and bilateral knowledge remained uneven. The discussion proposed a more stronger agenda for media cooperation based on reciprocal reporting, stronger verification and translation, and greater attention to whether media improves public understanding as well as reach.

As the seminar drew to a close, the shared discussion shifted toward how the ideas could be carried forward beyond the event. The networking session provided space for participants to explore possible cross-departmental and cross-institutional collaboration. Moving forward, the discussions are expected to inform further research, teaching initiatives, and academic collaboration, while creating more opportunities for Indonesian scholars and students to engage with Korea through questions and perspectives relevant to their own disciplines.

“Reflecting on the broader direction of Korean Studies in Indonesia, Lee Sanghoon, Director of the Korea Foundation Jakarta Office, emphasized the importance of expanding the field beyond its traditional strengths in language, literature, and culture. He highlighted the need to connect scholars and institutions across different disciplines and sectors , and to build a more sustainable academic network bringing together universities, research institutions, government, media, and businesses . He expressed hope that such collaboration would help strengthen the foundation for Korean Studies in Indonesia and create broader opportunities for research, academic exchange, and future cooperation.”, said Mr. Lee Sanghoon, Director of the Korea Foundation Jakarta Office.

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