An American professor for Korean Studies here in Korea? This may sound unlikely, but Professor John M. Frankl at Underwood International College (UIC) of Yonsei University teaches Korean literature and Korean Studies with passion. Many are stunned by his fluent Korean, but the language is only the beginning of his special relationship with Korea. He holds a PhD in Korean Studies from Harvard University and is also a noted master of Jiu Jitsu in Korea.
Korean, so much more than just a foreign language
In 1987, Frankl, a student majoring in English literature at UC Berkeley, selected Korean as a second language. His reasoning behind the choice was simple. A language that is as exotic as possible, a real ‘foreign’ language, was what he wanted to try. This mere curiosity turned into interest, then fascination.
He studied at Yonsei for a year as an exchange student from 1988 to 1989. Making the transition academically as an exchange student was easy, but he had to face anti-American sentiment that was prevalent in society at the time. He would hear people say ‘Yankee go home!’ with animosity. He recalls telling his father, ‘It was a good experience for me, and I had fun, but I never want to go back to Korea again’ at the airport. However, this resolve did not last two weeks. Frankl headed back to Korea as soon as he finished undergraduate course and applied for the master’s course in Korean literature at Yonsei.
Teaching Korean Studies at the Mecca
Doubting whether he would be able to distinguish the sounds of ‘ㅈ’ and ‘ㅊ’, Frankl nevertheless persevered. He obtained a master’s degree in Korean Literature from Yonsei in 1993 and, ten years later, a PhD from Harvard. (His doctoral thesis on ‘The image of foreigners in Korean literature’ will be published in Korean soon.) And in 2005, he became a professor of Korean studies at UIC.
Finds his lifelong partner through Yonsei
When Frankl was in the doctoral program at Harvard, he often came to Yonsei for his research and, because Yonsei has a cross registration system with Ewha Woman’s University, there were many opportunities for him to meet with Ewha students, including his future wife who was the studying Korean literature at Ewha. This is how they first met, and today they have an adorable daughter.
Spreads Jiu Jitsu in Korea
Frankl is a noted master of Jiu Jitsu in Korea. Jiu Jitsu has its origins in Japan but had been fairly unknown in Korea until recently. Frankl started practicing Jiu Jitsu in 1994 and started spreading it in Korea since 1999. Currently, 70~80% of people practicing Jiu Jitsu in Korea have been taught by John Frankl.
UIC just as good as Harvard
Frankl taught ‘Korean Literature’ at UIC last year and will be teaching ‘Introduction to Korean Studies’ this semester, an interdisciplinary course dealing with different aspects of Korean culture. When we asked him about the level of UIC compared to Harvard, he said “Overall, the method of teaching, students’ academic level and their willingness are excellent. I think UIC is as good as any of the Ivy League schools including Harvard.” And he also added, “UIC focuses on thinking, writing and reading critically. I believe in the curriculum and the students. I am confident that if we provide students the right courses, and if the students actively construct themselves, we will be able to progress in the desirable direction.”
Moved by the faculty and staff of UIC
Currently, Professor Frankl is in charge of the common curriculum at UIC. However, he says he had not intended to be assigned any special position. But the devotion of faculty and staff led by Dean Jongryn Mo, Professor Michael Kim and Director Young-sook Kim made him change his mind. He explains, “UIC is definitely an outstanding project, and I think the mission and the vision of UIC is very important. The project is only at its beginning, so there are many difficulties, but I decided to contribute to the development.”
Lastly professor Frankl advises, “I fully appreciate Yonsei. It was natural for me to choose Yonsei because I studied Korean Studies here. But it is obviously different for other foreign professors who do not have any connection with Korea or Yonsei. Forming an excellent faculty depends on the funds invested. Many professors consider not only the salary but also other aspects such as residence, research funds, and their children’s education. Any school will agree that investment is the key issue in building a strong faculty.”
An American professor for Korean Studies here in Korea? This may sound unlikely, but Professor John M. Frankl at Underwood International College (UIC) of Yonsei University teaches Korean literature and Korean Studies with passion. Many are stunned by his fluent Korean, but the language is only the beginning of his special relationship with Korea. He holds a PhD in Korean Studies from Harvard University and is also a noted master of Jiu Jitsu in Korea.
Korean, so much more than just a foreign language
In 1987, Frankl, a student majoring in English literature at UC Berkeley, selected Korean as a second language. His reasoning behind the choice was simple. A language that is as exotic as possible, a real ‘foreign’ language, was what he wanted to try. This mere curiosity turned into interest, then fascination.
He studied at Yonsei for a year as an exchange student from 1988 to 1989. Making the transition academically as an exchange student was easy, but he had to face anti-American sentiment that was prevalent in society at the time. He would hear people say ‘Yankee go home!’ with animosity. He recalls telling his father, ‘It was a good experience for me, and I had fun, but I never want to go back to Korea again’ at the airport. However, this resolve did not last two weeks. Frankl headed back to Korea as soon as he finished undergraduate course and applied for the master’s course in Korean literature at Yonsei.
Teaching Korean Studies at the Mecca
Doubting whether he would be able to distinguish the sounds of ‘ㅈ’ and ‘ㅊ’, Frankl nevertheless persevered. He obtained a master’s degree in Korean Literature from Yonsei in 1993 and, ten years later, a PhD from Harvard. (His doctoral thesis on ‘The image of foreigners in Korean literature’ will be published in Korean soon.) And in 2005, he became a professor of Korean studies at UIC.
Finds his lifelong partner through Yonsei
When Frankl was in the doctoral program at Harvard, he often came to Yonsei for his research and, because Yonsei has a cross registration system with Ewha Woman’s University, there were many opportunities for him to meet with Ewha students, including his future wife who was the studying Korean literature at Ewha. This is how they first met, and today they have an adorable daughter.
Spreads Jiu Jitsu in Korea
Frankl is a noted master of Jiu Jitsu in Korea. Jiu Jitsu has its origins in Japan but had been fairly unknown in Korea until recently. Frankl started practicing Jiu Jitsu in 1994 and started spreading it in Korea since 1999. Currently, 70~80% of people practicing Jiu Jitsu in Korea have been taught by John Frankl.
UIC just as good as Harvard
Frankl taught ‘Korean Literature’ at UIC last year and will be teaching ‘Introduction to Korean Studies’ this semester, an interdisciplinary course dealing with different aspects of Korean culture. When we asked him about the level of UIC compared to Harvard, he said “Overall, the method of teaching, students’ academic level and their willingness are excellent. I think UIC is as good as any of the Ivy League schools including Harvard.” And he also added, “UIC focuses on thinking, writing and reading critically. I believe in the curriculum and the students. I am confident that if we provide students the right courses, and if the students actively construct themselves, we will be able to progress in the desirable direction.”
Moved by the faculty and staff of UIC
Currently, Professor Frankl is in charge of the common curriculum at UIC. However, he says he had not intended to be assigned any special position. But the devotion of faculty and staff led by Dean Jongryn Mo, Professor Michael Kim and Director Young-sook Kim made him change his mind. He explains, “UIC is definitely an outstanding project, and I think the mission and the vision of UIC is very important. The project is only at its beginning, so there are many difficulties, but I decided to contribute to the development.”
Lastly professor Frankl advises, “I fully appreciate Yonsei. It was natural for me to choose Yonsei because I studied Korean Studies here. But it is obviously different for other foreign professors who do not have any connection with Korea or Yonsei. Forming an excellent faculty depends on the funds invested. Many professors consider not only the salary but also other aspects such as residence, research funds, and their children’s education. Any school will agree that investment is the key issue in building a strong faculty.”