Hongik University
Hongik University offers Korea’s most comprehensive cluster of graduate programs in arts and cultural management, consisting of an MBA, MA, and PhD track that are academically distinct yet closely interconnected. The programs were first introduced in 2008 with the establishment of an Arts and Cultural Management major within the School of Business. In 2010, the university launched Korea’s first daytime academic MA program in arts and cultural management, followed by the creation of the PhD program in 2016. The MBA program was reorganized in 2022 as an independent Graduate School of Arts and Cultural Management, reflecting the growing demand for professional education in the cultural sector.
These three programs—housed respectively in the Graduate School of Arts and Cultural Management (MBA) and the Department of Arts and Cultural Management within the Graduate School (MA/PhD)—are jointly supported by five full-time faculty members and approximately thirty adjunct, affiliated, and visiting professors. The programs also benefit from collaboration with Hongik University’s renowned arts-related graduate schools, including Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Design, Visual Arts, Architecture, and Advertising & PR.
Together, the programs provide an integrated educational environment that combines cultural and artistic expertise with managerial and policy-focused knowledge. The MBA program serves professionals working in the arts and cultural fields, while the MA and PhD programs emphasize academic rigor, research methodologies, and interdisciplinary study. Located in the vibrant Hongdae district—one of Korea’s cultural epicenters—these programs provide students with extensive opportunities to engage in real-world cultural activities, participate in research, and develop both theoretical and practical competencies as cultural leaders and scholars.
Goals and Objectives
Hongik University's Arts and Cultural Management programs aim to:
- Train arts and cultural managers who combine cutting-edge theory with practical expertise.
- Cultivate interdisciplinary competencies that bridge arts, culture, business, and policy.
- Develop global leaders equipped with cultural sensitivity, management insight, and research capabilities.
- Provide professional and academic pathways aligned with Korea’s rapidly evolving arts and cultural industries.
- Strengthen quantitative and qualitative research skills, especially within the MA/PhD programs.
- Offer industry-embedded learning and extensive networking opportunities through the alumni community and professional field engagement.
Curriculum
MA/PhD Programs (Academic Program)
- Two-year, four-semester MA program with thesis requirement
- PhD program established in 2016 for advanced academic research
- Curriculum emphasizes robust methodologies in quantitative and qualitative inquiry
- Diverse courses spanning visual arts, performing arts, literature, cultural policy, and management disciplines (marketing, strategy, organizational behavior, international business, IT, finance, etc.)
- Opportunities for participation in professors’ international collaborative research
- Regular research workshops, guest lectures by international and domestic scholars, and departmental academic conferences further enhance students’ scholarly development.
Admissions
MA/PhD Programs (https://hicam.hongik.ac.kr)
- Open to applicants from diverse undergraduate majors
- Suitable both for those preparing for careers in arts management and for those seeking advanced research training
- Admission typically includes application review, research proposal evaluation, and interview
- Final MA semester requires thesis under faculty supervision; PhD students pursue advanced dissertation research
This program requires a certain level of Korean-language proficiency. While some courses are offered in English, arts and cultural management inherently involves understanding culture and artistic context, making language an essential component of cultural comprehension. Applicants with basic Korean proficiency—approximately TOPIK Level 3–4 or CEFR B1–B2—are generally able to complete coursework and thesis writing successfully while continuing to improve their language skills during the program.
