Konkuk University (KU) in Seoul, South Korea inaugurated its Graduate School of Architecture (GSAKU) in 1996 to advance the architectural education system in Korea in line with the globalization of architectural education and practice. The GSAKU boasts of its two-and-three-year curricula, focusing on architectural design for students with degrees in architecture or interior architecture, as well as for those with backgrounds in other disciplines. The program specializes in academic and professional training at par with international standards.
The “4+2” program of GSAKU combines four-year undergraduate coursework with two-year graduate level studies. It offers a number of advantages over traditional fiveyear undergraduate programs. For architecture majors, the enhancement of basic knowledge and skills achieved at the pre-professional level become beneficial as students endeavor in the professional program to discover if the architectural field is their true calling. Another merit is the diversity in terms of educational opportunities. Students at GSAKU enjoy opportunities to explore not only architecture at the graduate level but also interior design, urban design/ planning and engineering, in addition to other architecturally related topics. For those who did not major in architecture, the school’s threeyear extension program offers specialized program whereby undergraduate degrees and background in humanities and the arts can perfectly complement incoming students’ skills set.
The Department of Architecture’s academic program reflects GSAKU’s firm belief that professional architects are much more than technicians. These genuine professionals are nurtured only through sufficient training and exposure to humanities and liberal education. The school is among the first South Korean architectural educational institutions to offer a graduate school-oriented system. Students of the Department of Architecture have two options: (1) the “4+2” program for those who majored in architecture and received basic training in architectural design; and (2) the “4+3” program for those with sufficient exposure to undergraduate level humanities and liberal arts. Regardless of the length of the program, the common goal is to offer in-depth training.
Although GSAKU aims to produce professionals with field-smart executive abilities, the focus extends beyond to include creative research capabilities. The urban architectural environment in South Korea boasts not only global appeal but also historical and cultural idiosyncrasies. GSAKU is interested in examining the core of the local urban architectural milieu and developing skills for resolving real world issues. Toward that end, students must show they are equipped with executive as well as research abilities. Creativity is another indispensable quality that they must instill among themselves in order to function as keen researchers. Therefore, GSAKU advocates combining technical proficiency and program interpretation skills, executive capabilities for solving urban issues, as well as artistic and scientific creativity. These reflect the school’s solid belief that field work and research are essentially one endeavor.