2027 Korea Foundation Support for Establishment of Professorship: Funding for Universities Worldwide to Expand Korean Studies and Korean Language Education
Introduction
Universities around the world are increasingly expanding their academic programs in Korean Studies and Korean language education in response to growing global interest in Korea, its language, culture, economy, politics, history, society, and international relations.
To support this global development, the Korea Foundation (KF) has opened applications for its 2027 Support for Establishment of Professorship program. The initiative provides financial support to universities outside the Republic of Korea that intend to establish a new professorship in Korean Studies or Korean Language.
The program is designed not simply to provide short-term funding, but to help universities create sustainable academic positions that can contribute to the long-term development of Korean Studies and Korean language education in their respective regions.
Under the program, selected universities can receive support toward the establishment of either a tenure-track position or an endowed chair position. Depending on the type of position, the Korea Foundation can provide substantial financial assistance toward salary, employee benefits, or an endowment, while the recipient university is expected to demonstrate a strong institutional commitment to maintaining the professorship beyond the Korea Foundation’s initial support.
The application period runs from July 1 to September 11, 2026, with the application deadline set for September 11, 2026, at 18:00 Korea Standard Time (KST).
This article explains the opportunity in detail, including who can apply, the available funding, eligible academic areas, requirements, application documents, evaluation criteria, important conditions, and the expected timeline.
2027 Support for Establishment of Professorship at a Glance
- Program: 2027 Support for Establishment of Professorship
- Organizer: Korea Foundation
- Opportunity type: Institutional grant
- Eligible applicants: Universities outside the Republic of Korea
- Eligible academic fields: Korean Studies and Korean Language
- Purpose: Establishment of new Korean Studies or Korean Language professorships
- Available position types: Tenure-track Position and Endowed Chair Position
- Grant period: Three to five years
- Application opening: July 1, 2026
- Application deadline: September 11, 2026
- Deadline time: 18:00 KST
- Results announcement: December 2026
- Expected grant commencement: 2027-28 or 2028-29 academic year
- Application language: Korean or English
- Application platform: Korea Foundation Online Application System
What Is the Korea Foundation’s Support for Establishment of Professorship Program?
The Korea Foundation’s Support for Establishment of Professorship program is intended to help universities outside Korea strengthen their capacity to teach and conduct research in Korean Studies and Korean language.
The program focuses specifically on the creation of new professorships rather than simply funding existing positions.
The Korea Foundation seeks to support universities that have the necessary academic infrastructure and demonstrate sufficient potential for the continued growth and development of Korean Studies.
A major feature of the program is its emphasis on sustainability.
The Korea Foundation’s funding is intended to help establish the position, but the recipient university is expected to have a long-term plan for maintaining the professorship after the initial Korea Foundation support ends.
This means that universities applying should not view the program as a temporary source of salary funding. Instead, they should demonstrate how the newly established professorship will become a permanent part of the university’s academic structure.
The program supports two principal models:
- Tenure-Track Position
- Endowed Chair Position
Who Can Apply?
The primary applicants are universities outside the Republic of Korea that plan to create a new professorship in Korean Studies or Korean Language.
This distinction is important because the opportunity is not designed for individual applicants seeking personal funding.
An individual cannot apply independently for the professorship establishment grant.
Instead, the application must come from an eligible university that intends to establish a new academic position.
The applicant institution should have appropriate infrastructure and demonstrate the ability and commitment to develop Korean Studies or Korean language education and research.
The Korea Foundation will consider factors such as:
- The university’s existing Korean Studies activities
- Current faculty members working in Korean Studies or Korean language
- Existing Korean Studies or Korean language courses
- Library collections and academic resources
- Previous academic activities
- The university’s reputation and experience
- The institution’s long-term development plans
- Its ability to support the proposed professorship
- The feasibility of the proposed project
- The university’s financial commitment to the position
Eligible Academic Areas
The program supports new professorships in two closely related academic areas:
1. Korean Studies
Korean Studies encompasses academic research and teaching relating to Korea. Depending on the university’s academic structure, this may include areas such as:
- Korean history
- Korean politics
- Korean society
- Korean culture
- Korean economics
- Korean international relations
- Korean literature
- Korean philosophy
- Korean sociology
- Korean anthropology
- Korean media and communications
- Korean regional studies
- Interdisciplinary Korean Studies
The proposed position should have a meaningful focus on Korea and contribute to the university’s Korean Studies program.
2. Korean Language
Universities may also seek support for the establishment of a new professorship focused on Korean language.
This can strengthen:
- Korean language teaching
- Korean language research
- Korean language curriculum development
- Korean language academic programs
- Korean language scholarship
- Advanced Korean language education
- Research using Korean-language sources
The university must demonstrate how the proposed professorship will contribute to the development of Korean language education and/or research at the institution.
What Funding Is Available?
The Korea Foundation provides support through two different professorship models.
1. Tenure-Track Position
For a new tenure-track position, the Korea Foundation can provide up to 70% of the total amount of the professor’s salary and employee benefits.
The salary is based on the salary structure already established by the recipient university.
This means the Korea Foundation does not simply impose a universal salary amount on every institution. Instead, the relevant professor’s compensation is determined according to the existing professor salary scale of the university.
Employee benefits
The program also recognizes employee benefits as part of the support.
These are non-wage payments and employment-related costs that an employer is legally required to provide to employees under the laws and regulations applicable in the state or country where the university is located.
The Korea Foundation can therefore contribute toward both the professor’s salary and eligible employee benefits, subject to the program’s funding arrangements and the final grant agreement.
Important sustainability requirement
The university must be prepared to continuously maintain the tenure-track position using its own resources after the Korea Foundation’s initial support ends.
This is one of the most important elements of the program.
Universities should therefore have a credible financial and institutional plan showing how the position will become sustainable over the long term.
2. Endowed Chair Position
The second option is an Endowed Chair Position.
Under this model, the Korea Foundation provides an endowment on an annual basis during the grant period for the establishment of a permanent professorship in Korean Studies or Korean Language.
However, the university must provide a matching fund contribution of 50% on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
In practical terms, universities considering this option must be prepared to contribute matching funds alongside the Korea Foundation’s support.
The endowed chair model is therefore particularly relevant to universities that have the financial capacity and institutional commitment to create a permanent academic position supported through an endowment structure.
Grant Duration
The grant period is expected to last between:
Three and five years.
The exact duration and conditions of support will be determined as part of the grant arrangement between the Korea Foundation and the selected university.
The university should therefore develop a clear multi-year plan that explains:
- Why the professorship is needed
- How it will be established
- How it will contribute to Korean Studies or Korean language education
- How the professor will be recruited
- How the position will be integrated into the university
- How the university will sustain the position
- What outcomes are expected
- How the program will contribute to the broader development of Korean Studies
What Happens After Korea Foundation Support Ends?
One of the defining characteristics of this opportunity is the emphasis on long-term sustainability.
The Korea Foundation wants to support universities that are capable of continuing the newly established professorship after the Foundation’s support concludes.
For a tenure-track position, the university is expected to maintain the position from its own resources.
For an endowed chair, the university participates in the creation of a jointly funded endowment.
This requirement means that applicants should have a realistic institutional strategy rather than relying entirely on Korea Foundation funding.
A strong application should therefore clearly explain how the professorship will remain financially and academically sustainable.
Requirements for the University
Universities seeking support should demonstrate that they have the necessary infrastructure and academic environment to support the development of Korean Studies or Korean language.
The institution should be able to demonstrate:
- Existing interest in Korean Studies or Korean language
- Appropriate academic infrastructure
- Relevant faculty and academic activities
- Suitable library resources
- Relevant courses or programs
- Institutional commitment to the proposed professorship
- A long-term strategy for Korean Studies or Korean language development
- Financial capacity to support the required institutional contribution
- A credible plan for recruiting and retaining a qualified professor
The Korea Foundation will also consider whether the applicant university has the reputation, experience, and institutional capacity necessary to successfully implement the project.
Important Requirements for the Professor Who Will Hold the Position
Although the university is the applicant, the Korea Foundation also specifies important eligibility requirements for the person eventually appointed to the Korean Studies professorship.
The appointed professor must satisfy the following requirements.
1. More than 50% of research and teaching must focus on Korea
The professor’s research and teaching activities must have a focus on Korea in more than 50% of their overall academic work.
This means that the position is expected to be genuinely centered on Korean Studies rather than being a general academic position with only a minor Korean component.
2. Research must use Korean-language primary sources
The professor must conduct research using primary sources published in the Korean language.
This requirement demonstrates the Korea Foundation’s expectation that the professor will have the ability to engage directly with Korean-language academic and primary-source materials.
3. Research findings must be published in English
The professor is expected to publish research findings in English, with publication in Korean also potentially possible.
This helps ensure that research conducted through the supported professorship contributes to international academic discussions.
4. Korean-language proficiency
The professor must be proficient in the Korean language.
This is particularly important because the position requires direct engagement with Korean-language primary sources and the development of Korean Studies or Korean language education.
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants must submit an online application together with relevant supplementary materials.
The required documentation includes the following.
1. Online Application
The university must complete the Korea Foundation’s online application.
The application requires information about the institution’s current Korean Studies situation.
This includes information concerning areas such as:
- Existing Korean Studies faculty
- Existing Korean language faculty
- Korean Studies courses
- Korean language courses
- Library collections
- Academic activities
- Existing programs
- Institutional plans for Korean Studies development
Universities should therefore prepare detailed and accurate institutional information before beginning the application.
2. Curriculum for Korean Studies or Korean Language Degree Programs
Universities should provide the curriculum for their B.A. and/or M.A. programs in Korean Studies or Korean Language where applicable.
This document is required only if the university already offers degree programs in Korean Studies or Korean Language.
The curriculum can help demonstrate the university’s existing academic foundation and explain how the proposed professorship would fit into its academic structure.
3. University Professor Salary Scale
Applicants must provide information about the university’s salary scale for professors.
This is particularly relevant to the tenure-track model because the Korea Foundation’s support can cover up to 70% of the salary and employee benefits associated with the new position.
The salary information allows the Foundation to understand the financial structure of the proposed position.
4. Curriculum Vitae of the Professor to Be Hired
If the university already has a specific candidate in mind when submitting its application, it may provide that candidate’s curriculum vitae.
This document is only applicable where the institution has a concrete candidate at the time of application.
Having a candidate in mind can help demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed appointment, although the application requirements should be followed carefully regarding the recruitment and appointment process.
5. Curriculum Vitae of the Project Director
The university must provide the curriculum vitae of the person serving as the project director.
The project director will be responsible for overseeing the project and should therefore have an appropriate academic or institutional background.
The CV can help demonstrate the university’s ability to implement and manage the proposed project.
6. Letter from the Dean
Applicants must also submit a letter from the Dean of the faculty that plans to establish the Korean Studies professorship.
This provides evidence of faculty-level institutional support for the proposed position.
The letter should form part of the university’s broader demonstration of commitment to the establishment and long-term development of the professorship.
Language Requirements for the Application
All required application documents must be submitted in either:
- Korean, or
- English
Applications are submitted through the Korea Foundation Online Application System.
Universities should ensure that their supporting materials are properly prepared before submission and that all required information is included.
Application Deadline
The application period runs from:
July 1, 2026 to September 11, 2026.
Final deadline
September 11, 2026 at 18:00 KST
Applicants should pay close attention to the stated Korea Standard Time deadline.
Universities located in other time zones should convert the deadline to their local time and avoid waiting until the final hours to submit.
Because this is an institutional application requiring multiple supporting documents, universities should begin preparation well before the deadline.
Program Timeline
The Korea Foundation has provided the following schedule:
July 1, 2026
Application period opens.
September 11, 2026
Application period closes at 18:00 KST.
December 2026
Applicants are expected to receive notification of results.
2027-28 or 2028-29 Academic Year
The grant period is expected to commence during either the 2027-28 or 2028-29 academic year.
The actual commencement will depend on the outcome of the application and subsequent arrangements with the Korea Foundation.
How Applications Will Be Evaluated
The Korea Foundation will assess applications based on several important criteria.
1. Quality and Organization of the Proposed Plan
The Foundation will consider whether the proposal is sufficiently organized to achieve its stated objectives.
Applicants should therefore clearly explain:
- What they want to establish
- Why the professorship is necessary
- How the position will be integrated into the university
- What academic outcomes are expected
- How the position will contribute to Korean Studies or Korean language education
- How the university plans to sustain the position
The university should also demonstrate a clear institutional commitment to developing its Korean Studies or Korean language program.
2. Institutional Reputation and Previous Experience
The Foundation will consider the applicant university’s reputation and its previous accomplishments and experience in Korean Studies.
This means that applicants should clearly demonstrate existing strengths rather than simply stating that they are interested in Korea.
Evidence may include:
- Existing Korean Studies courses
- Existing Korean language courses
- Faculty research
- Academic publications
- Conferences and seminars
- Korean Studies events
- Library resources
- Research collaborations
- Student enrollment
- Existing academic programs
The university’s track record can help demonstrate its capacity to successfully implement the proposed project.
3. Quality of the Budget Plan
The budget is another major evaluation factor.
The Korea Foundation will assess whether the proposed budget is:
- Sound
- Specific
- Realistic
- Properly justified
- Consistent with the proposed project
The Foundation will also consider the applicant university’s matching-fund effort where applicable.
Universities applying for an endowed chair should pay particular attention to the matching-fund requirement.
A poorly explained budget could weaken an otherwise strong application.
4. Feasibility and Expected Outcomes
Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed objectives are realistic and achievable.
The Foundation will assess:
- Whether the university can successfully implement the project
- Whether the proposed professorship is genuinely needed
- Whether the expected academic outcomes are realistic
- How the position will contribute to Korean Studies
- How the project can support the diversification of Korean Studies across different regions
The regional dimension is particularly important because the program seeks to contribute to the broader international development and diversification of Korean Studies.
Long-Term Institutional Commitment
The Korea Foundation expects recipient universities to demonstrate a strong long-term commitment to the professorship.
The university should not treat the grant as a temporary project that ends when Korea Foundation funding ends.
Instead, the institution should establish a sustainable structure through either:
- Continued institutional funding for a tenure-track position; or
- A jointly established endowment for an endowed chair.
This makes long-term planning one of the most important components of a competitive application.
Fair Appointment and Promotion Requirements
The recipient university must ensure that the person holding the professorship is appointed and promoted through a thorough and fair review of their qualifications and accomplishments.
The process should comply with the university’s established procedures for:
- Faculty appointment
- Promotion
- Tenure
- Academic evaluation
The Korea Foundation therefore expects the recruitment and career progression of the professor to follow appropriate institutional standards rather than being based solely on informal selection.
Important Conditions Applicants Should Know
There are several important conditions attached to the program.
Cancellation of Support
The Korea Foundation may cancel its support decision if the Foundation and the recipient university are unable to conclude the required grant agreement.
Being selected for support therefore does not mean that funding is automatically disbursed without further arrangements.
Notification of Changes
The applicant university must promptly notify the Korea Foundation about significant changes to the approved project.
This includes changes such as:
- Postponement
- Cancellation
- Changes to the project plan
- Other significant modifications
Universities should therefore maintain communication with the Foundation throughout the project.
Revision of the Project Plan
The Korea Foundation may request an applicant institution to revise its project plan or add new elements if the Foundation considers this necessary.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to make reasonable adjustments during the review or agreement process.
How Grant Funds Are Disbursed
Before grant funding is made available, the Korea Foundation and the selected university must enter into a grant agreement.
The agreement will contain details relating to:
- The project
- The budget
- Funding arrangements
- Responsibilities of both parties
- Other agreed conditions
The final project and budget will be determined through discussions between the Korea Foundation and the recipient university.
For a tenure-track position specifically, the Korea Foundation’s salary and employee-benefit support will be provided after the grant agreement has been concluded and the recipient university has employed a qualified candidate for the position.
This is an important distinction for universities when planning their recruitment and financial arrangements.
Annual Reporting Requirements
Recipient universities must submit an annual project report to the Korea Foundation during the term of the agreement.
The annual report must also include a financial statement.
The financial statement must be:
- Prepared by the university’s accounting officer
- Signed by the accounting officer
- Submitted according to the Foundation’s reporting requirements
The Korea Foundation will provide the relevant reporting form.
Universities should therefore maintain accurate financial and project records throughout the grant period.
Why This Opportunity Is Significant
The establishment of a permanent Korean Studies or Korean Language professorship can have a substantial impact on a university’s academic community.
A new professorship can help an institution:
- Expand its Korean Studies curriculum
- Increase Korean language teaching capacity
- Develop new academic courses
- Strengthen research on Korea
- Recruit students interested in Korea
- Increase academic publications
- Build international research partnerships
- Organize seminars and conferences
- Develop Korean Studies expertise in its region
- Create opportunities for students to engage with Korean language and society
- Strengthen the university’s international academic profile
The opportunity can be particularly valuable for universities that already have some Korean Studies activities but need additional faculty capacity to expand them into a more comprehensive academic program.
What Makes a Strong Application?
Although the Korea Foundation will make the final assessment, universities can strengthen their applications by developing a clear and evidence-based proposal.
A strong proposal should clearly answer several questions.
Why does the university need a new Korean Studies or Korean Language professor?
The application should demonstrate a genuine academic need.
What existing infrastructure does the university have?
Applicants should explain their current courses, faculty, library resources, student interest, research activities, and other relevant assets.
What will the new professor actually accomplish?
The university should present measurable and realistic academic objectives.
How will the university sustain the position?
This is especially important because of the program’s emphasis on long-term sustainability.
How will the position contribute to regional Korean Studies?
Applicants should explain how the professorship will contribute beyond the university itself and support the broader development of Korean Studies in its region.
Is the budget realistic?
Every major financial component should be clearly justified.
Who Is This Opportunity Best Suited For?
This opportunity is best suited to universities that already have an academic foundation in Korean Studies or Korean language and want to significantly expand that capacity.
It may be particularly relevant to institutions that:
- Already teach Korean language
- Offer Korean Studies courses
- Have faculty conducting research on Korea
- Have Korean Studies library resources
- Have students interested in Korea
- Want to establish a permanent academic position
- Have a long-term plan for Korean Studies
- Can provide the necessary institutional funding or matching contribution
- Have sufficient administrative capacity to manage a multi-year grant
Universities without any meaningful infrastructure or institutional commitment to Korean Studies may find it more difficult to demonstrate the capacity required under the evaluation criteria.
Application Process
Universities interested in applying should follow the official Korea Foundation application process.
The general process involves:
- Reviewing the program requirements carefully.
- Determining whether the university plans to establish a new Korean Studies or Korean Language professorship.
- Assessing the university’s existing Korean Studies infrastructure.
- Developing the proposed professorship plan.
- Determining whether the institution will pursue the tenure-track or endowed chair model.
- Preparing the relevant financial information.
- Preparing the required supporting documents.
- Obtaining the necessary institutional and faculty-level approvals.
- Completing the online application.
- Uploading the required supplementary materials.
- Submitting the application before the deadline.
- Awaiting the Korea Foundation’s decision in December 2026.
Applications and required documentation should be submitted through the Korea Foundation Online Application System.
Official Application and Contact Information
Applications are submitted through the Korea Foundation Online Application System.
More information visit HERE
More global opportunities visit the OFY Website HERE
Program-related questions can be directed to:
Email: studies@kf.or.kr
Technical questions relating to the Korea Foundation Online Application System can be directed to:
Email: tech-support@kf.or.kr
Applicants are advised to use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge when working with the online application system. The announcement states that Internet Explorer and Safari are not supported for stable document work.
Final Deadline Reminder
The application deadline is:
September 11, 2026 at 18:00 KST
Universities should not wait until the deadline to begin preparing their applications. The required materials can involve information from multiple university departments, including academic faculties, finance or administration offices, and institutional leadership.
Early preparation can therefore give applicants enough time to develop a strong proposal, verify salary information, prepare supporting documents, obtain the Dean’s letter, review the budget, and complete the online application properly.
Conclusion
The 2027 Korea Foundation Support for Establishment of Professorship represents a significant opportunity for universities outside Korea seeking to strengthen and institutionalize their academic work in Korean Studies or Korean Language.
Rather than functioning as an individual scholarship or short-term research grant, the program is designed to help universities create new, sustainable professorships that can contribute to the long-term development of Korean Studies.
Selected institutions may receive substantial financial support through either a tenure-track model, where the Korea Foundation can provide up to 70% of salary and employee benefits, or an endowed chair model involving an annual endowment and a 50% dollar-for-dollar matching contribution from the university.
However, financial support is only one part of the opportunity. Successful applicants must demonstrate institutional capacity, a strong academic foundation, realistic objectives, a sound budget, long-term sustainability, and a genuine commitment to developing Korean Studies or Korean language education.
The application period is open from July 1 to September 11, 2026, with the final deadline at 18:00 KST on September 11, 2026. Results are scheduled to be announced in December 2026, while supported projects are expected to begin during either the 2027-28 or 2028-29 academic year.
Universities interested in expanding their Korean Studies or Korean language programs should carefully review the eligibility requirements, prepare the necessary institutional documentation, develop a strong and sustainable project plan, and submit their application through the Korea Foundation’s official online application system before the deadline.
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