SUMMARY

• Columbus State University has launched the Korean Institute at Columbus State (KICS) to expand global learning opportunities for students through academic programs, cultural exchanges and study abroad experiences—including partnerships with South Korean institutions like Chonnam National University.

• KICS aims to strengthen economic ties between Georgia and South Korea by fostering relationships with South Korean-affiliated companies and organizations, addressing workforce development needs, and supporting sustainable economic growth in the region.

• The institute will serve as a hub for cultural diplomacy and community engagement, leveraging Columbus State's existing connections with South Korea, including its diverse student and faculty population and its proximity to Fort Moore's ROK Army training detachment. 

A new Korean Institute at Columbus State (KICS) will continue deepening students’ global experiences through academic programs and cultural exchanges. It also aims to strengthen university partnerships with South Korean-affiliated companies and organizations related to economic development in Georgia.

As Dr. Eric Spears, executive director of CSU’s Center for Global Engagement, explained, KICS will benefit students, the university and the state economy.

“The Korean Institute at Columbus State will be a catalyst for career development, economic development and cultural diplomacy,” said Spears, the university’s Mildred Miller Fort Foundation eminent scholar and chair of international education. “Through the institute, our students will be better prepared—and our university better positioned—to address the opportunities and challenges of our interconnected world.”A $25,000 founding donation to establish the new center will fund KICS programming, speakers and student engagement opportunities.

BROADENING STUDENTS’ GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Through KICS, Spears and other university leaders envision broadening already existing classroom and study abroad experiences for students, collaborative outreach and research programs for faculty, and cultural exchanges and economic partnerships benefiting both the university and the community.

“This institute will represent a true exchange. In addition to our students and faculty traveling to learn in South Korea, KICS will bring Korean students and scholars the Columbus State campus as we exchange ideas and knowledge with our global counterparts,” Spears said. “In this way, the Columbus State campus will be a hub for global learning and innovation in ways the region has not yet seen.” 

This work—especially concerning U.S.-South Korean ties—is not new at Columbus State. Faculty have integrated Korean cultural and military history into their teaching and public lectures through its Hallock Endowment for Military History based in the Department of History, Geography & Philosophy. During the summer of 2024, the Hyundai Motor Group sponsored students for a two-week South Korean study-abroad experience. A Summer 2025 program is already in the works and will include students studying in both history and communication disciplines.

 “Experiential learning—getting our students out of the classroom and out of their comfort zones—is key to helping them become world citizens. It prepares them to lead in their fields, succeed in their careers, and be globally mindful in our 21st-century economy,” Spears said of semester- and year-long study abroad opportunities. He noted that Columbus State’s study-abroad experiences often come with scholarships and grants, making student travel and study more affordable.

Introducing students and the community to South Korean culture is also part of the KICS mission. That includes exchange programs with academic partners like Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. In January, piano students from CNU spent two weeks taking master classes from Dr. Ester Park, an associate professor in Columbus State’s Schwob School of Music. Their visit culminated in a joint recital on Jan. 30.

 In August 2024, Columbus State became the first U.S. school to host a Campus Club of the Korean Defense Veterans Association. KDVA is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that aims to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance and provide resources and assistance to its members. It also supports veterans who served in the Korean War and subsequent U.S. military presence in South Korea.

 STRENGTHENING COLUMBUS AND BEYOND

 The institute underscores the university’s recently launched five-year strategic plan, which includes economic competitiveness and community impact priorities. Establishing KICS emphasizes Columbus State’s commitment to internationalizing the Chattahoochee Valley’s economic vitality and students’ career readiness.

 KICS will also equip the university to better understand and help address the specific economic and workforce development needs of South Korean employers while helping to drive innovation, support sustainable economic growth, and prepare the next generation of Georgia leaders to excel in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the Georgia-South Korean relationship.

“South Korean direct investment in Georgia is positively impacting our economy, with billions of dollars invested annually and significant job creation for Georgians in virtually every part of the state,” explained Maj. Gen. (ret.) Pat Donahoe, Columbus State’s chief operations officer. “Through KICS, we are intentionally deepening our relationship with this key U.S. economic, military and political partner—and our students and the region will benefit tremendously from our efforts.”

 Muscogee County has Georgia’s most prominent Korean diaspora population—outside of metropolitan Atlanta. Of the 65 countries represented among the university’s student body, South Korea is among the top five, and 5% of Columbus State’s faculty is of South Korean descent. Fort Moore is home to the largest Republic of Korea (ROK) Army training detachment outside of South Korea.

For more information about connecting with the Korean Institute at Columbus State, visit columbusstate.edu/kics.