UCC - Department of Asian Studies

Home
Ireland
Cork
UCC - Department of Asian Studies

Directions Website Contact the university

UCC, Department of Asian Studies, School of Asian Studies , 3rd Floor, O'Rahilly Building, Universit

Asia, the birthplace of some of the oldest civilizations, is the fastest growing economic centre in the world and home to half the world's population. Following the rise of Japan and the 'Tiger Economies' of South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, today it is China and India with their economies and drive towards modernisation that catch global attention. The current economy crisis is highlighting the importance of understanding economic developments, cultural backgrounds and political implications of a major shift towards Asia. All European economies are increasing their engagement with Asian countries to preserve and improve their own ways of living. There is no way of escaping the impact of Asia's rise in a globalised world. For Irish and European business, Asian represents the most promising growth market. The areas of R&D innovation particularly within the fields of food, dairy and science industries, present Irish companies with a substantial range of opportunity. Already Irish political and industrial leaders are well placed within this market. The Irish government has acknowledged the significance of Asia by implementing its Asia Strategy through the support of commercial, political, social and educational exchange between Ireland and its Asian partners. The need for people to acquire a deep understanding of Asian societies, languages, politics and economy is increasingly important. Asia offers students a vast array of social and cultural diversity that concerns hundreds of distinct languages, dialects and cultural traditions. Understanding an Asian language is of massive benefit to anyone intending to build a relationship with an understanding of the region. Studying Asia opens doors to magnificent new worlds and is a major step in preparing oneself for the challenges of the 21st century. Studying Asia provides more than just a means of communication. it is the starting point for a long, personal journey and an acknowledgement of a potentially life-long commitment to new opportunities.

23/10/2026

📚🇰🇷 DISCOVERING KOREAN LITERATURE | Korea Contemporary Literature Festival 2026

Friday, 6 November 2026 13:00–5:30 p.m. 📍 Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ireland, in collaboration with Trinity Centre for Asian Studies (TCAS) and Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation (TCLCT), is delighted to present the Korea Contemporary Literature Festival 2026: Discovering Korean Literature.

Join us for an afternoon celebrating the richness and diversity of Korean literature in English translation, exploring the stories that offer new perspectives on Korean society, culture and everyday life.

📖 What’s on?

📚 Book Exhibition Discover a curated selection of contemporary Korean literature, featuring 15 Korean books across genres and themes,
Explore Korean and English editions side by side and discover the literary connections between Korea and Ireland.

💬 Korean Book Club Join fellow readers for an engaging discussion of contemporary Korean literature in English translation. Explore themes such as family, identity, gender, memory, urban life and the future through stories that invite fresh perspectives and meaningful conversations.

🎤 Special Book Talk: Neither Marriage Nor Solitude, A Third Way: How South Korean Women Are Redefining Family

Meet South Korean authors Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo, authors of Two Women Living Together.

Two women and four cats share a home in Seoul, building a new kind of family beyond marriage and blood ties. Through their experiences of shared living, friendship and caregiving, the authors invite us to rethink what family means in contemporary South Korea.

🎟️ Book Talk registration: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tcas-book-talk-two-women-living-together-tickets-2003702207240?aff=oddtdtcreator

15/10/2026

Acclaimed Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son performs with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at St Michael’s Church, Blackrock, on Saturday, 21 November. Don't miss this extraordinary musical event.
https://www.irishchamberorchestra.com/whats-on/concerts-and-events/mozart-illuminated

08/10/2026

The Irish Institute of Korean Studies is pleased to announce the publication of Dr Kevin Cawley's Korean-language article in the October 2026 issue of 한국산문 (Exploring Korea).

Published as part of a special feature commemorating the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hangeul and the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, the article traces Dr Cawley's 25-year journey with Hangeul and reflects on the role of the Korean writing system in fostering intercultural understanding and lifelong learning.

가을빛이 짙어지는 10월,『한국산문』 10월호를 소개합니다.

03/09/2026

Good luck to all our students for the new semester.
Information for 1st year students in Arts, including day and time of first lectures in Asian Studies and Chinese Studies, can be found here:

Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland's first 5 star university. Our tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.

27/07/2026

The Academy of Korean Studies has awarded 180,000 Euro to Korean Studies at the Department of Asian Studies at UCC. Congratulations to Dr Kevin Cawley!

23/07/2026

The review for the American Academy of Religion highlights: Cawley's work advances understanding of early Catholic globalization by showing how Catholic ideas were transformed through cross-cultural encounter, revealing a process of mutual transformation that created genuinely new theological and social possibilities. His accessible narrative style makes complex theological and philosophical developments comprehensible to general readers while maintaining an analytical depth that advances scholarly understanding.

Tracing the development of Catholic ideas in Japan and China during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, this book provides an overview of the e...

05/05/2026

Planning a trip to Japan this summer? Get ready with our short evening course "Travel Japanese"

https://uccshop.ie/shop/travel-japanese-course/

Address

UCC Dep. Of Asian Studies, 3. 37 O’Rahilly Building, University College Cork
Cork

Website

http://www.ucc.ie/en/asian/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UCC - Department of Asian Studies posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.