1. History of the Department

1997 Baduk Instruction Studies was established in the College of Arts and Physical Education as a course

1998 Promoted as an independent Department in the College of Arts and Physical Science

1999 Enrollment quota was increased to 30

2001 Graduate School of Baduk Studies was opened

2003 The first Master of Art in Baduk Studies appeared

2. Introduction of Baduk Studies

Baduk, which has a long history in oriental countries, is a brain sport that contains profound philosophy, artistry and wisdom. Present-day Baduk has transcended its dimension as a leisurely game and is being widely spread throughout the world. It functions both as one of the most amusing games and as a useful instrument for human life.

The Department of Baduk Studies was established in 1997, for the first time in world history, to pursue an academic study of Baduk. Although Baduk has been regarded as a precious culture, it had not been studied by the scientific approach due to man's traditional adherence to its technique alone. The department will contribute to the development of Baduk culture by providing a variety of knowledge based on a new paradigm beyond the technique-oriented approach to Baduk.

The students who major in Baduk Studies will acquire 5-dan level or above, and foreign language skills so that they can work as experts in the various fields of Baduk. The graduates can create and develop their own professional fields by utilizing the abundant resource of the Korean Baduk community. Many graduates will work in Korea as leaders in the academic field of Baduk, Internet programmers, Baduk writers/columnists/journalists, professional players, and managers of Baduk businesses; and some could be dispatched to foreign countries as instructors.

3. Educational Goal

As Korea has become the strongest and the most active Baduk-playing country in the world, it is expected to play a leading role in a variety of activities of Baduk. In response to this trend, the Department of Baduk Studies has been set up with the following aims:

1) To acquire a deeper knowledge of life from Baduk culture

2) To develop and educate the leaders in the field of Baduk

3) To teach necessary foreign languages so that the students can introduce Baduk culture to the world.

The Department teaches Baduk theory and technique systematically, researches Baduk culture in depth, and acquires wide and various knowledge related to Baduk. It hopes that the graduates will be Baduk leaders in Korea as well as in foreign countries.

The area of the Baduk Studies is divided into the nature of Baduk, technical theory, practice in actual games, and other Baduk related fields such as Baduk education, and professional administration, to name a few.

4. Educational Curriculum

During the first two grades students learn the general techniques and common knowledge of Baduk. As the second step they enlarge their general knowledge on Baduk as well as practically subdivide their majors in order to acquire the ability necessary in the real professions.

1st Grade: General Theory of Baduk Techniques, Introduction to Baduk Studies, Technical Practice 1, 2, Principles of Life & Death, Principles of Fight Patterns

2nd Grade: Baduk Education, Baduk Instruction for Children, Principles of Opening, Technical Practice 3,4, Leisure Theory of Baduk, Baduk Culture Theory, Methods of Baduk Research, Principles of the Middle Game, Principles of the Endgame, Baduk Instruction for Adults, Basic Baduk English

3rd Grade: Practice of Instruction for Beginners, Baduk English 1, 2, Study of Ancient Baduk, History of Baduk, Special Lecture on Themes of Baduk Studies, Computer & Baduk, Comparision of Games, Practice of Baduk Commentation, Practice of Instruction for Low-Level Amateurs, Psychology of Baduk

4th Grade: Evaluation in Baduk, Literature of Baduk, Practice of Instruction for Children, Mental Cultivation through Baduk, Baduk Broadcast Theory, Seminar of Actual Baduk Games, Management in Baduk, Baduk Masters, Baduk Event

When looking at the curriculum, Baduk education, Baduk culture, Baduk psychology, Baduk management and Baduk Media and so on might be unfamiliar to Baduk fans. Why are these subjects taught? Only with knowing Baduk skills we cannot understand Baduk well and we cannot gain leadership in the Baduk world. In the past a famous assemblyman said:

"If the Baduk world is going on well, the abilities of top players like Cho Hyun-Hun and Lee Chang-Ho are not enough. We need professional CEOs, Baduk administrators, great Baduk commentators, good researchers, contributors and so on."

So, all subjects are related to answer the demands of the Baduk world.

In the department of Baduk Studies we especially focus on the field of Baduk education. Baduk education helps to increase the Baduk population and maintains the Baduk world. Furthermore, most people in the Baduk world work in this field.

It may sound natural that if somebody can play Baduk well he/she can also teach Baduk well. However, Baduk education requires expertise. Especially the field of children Baduk education (which aims at developing the brain and training the students' character, attentiveness, and so on) requires not only skills but also general knowledge about teaching methods, psychological background knowledge, Baduk cultural knowledge and so on.

Thus, the department of Baduk Studies opened classes, which are related to Baduk education, like Baduk education theory, Children Baduk education, Practice of Baduk instruction, Baduk education marketing. Additionally in the Master Course, classes about Baduk teaching methods and principles of Baduk have been opened.