As the popularity of Korean TV, pop music, and food—such as kimchi and bulgogi—surges in the United States, Professor Minju Kim is perfectly poised to meet the needs of CMC students interested in learning more about Korean language and culture.
Kim, who earned her B.A. and M.A. from Yonsei University in Seoul, and her Ph.D. from UCLA, joined the CMC faculty in 2003. She teaches in the Modern Languages and Literatures department, and has overseen the Korean language program, which has substantially increased enrollment.
Recently, in recognition of Kim’s scholarship and leadership in her field, she was appointed editor-in-chief of the journal, The Korean Language in America, and elected President of the International Circle of Korean Linguistics, the first president from a liberal arts college.
While Kim said that many of her students initially become interested in Korean through K-pop or movies, she designs her “courses to push them to explore deeper cultural, historical, and societal aspects of Korea.” She shared her teaching approach, career highlights, and what she appreciates about the CMC community.
What are some of the highlights of your time at CMC? What are you most proud of?
When I first joined CMC in 2003, the Korean program had only 35 students, and I was the sole full-time instructor. Over the years, I have worked tirelessly to revitalize the program, and, as of last year, enrollment exceeded 185 students. This growth has allowed us to hire an additional full-time instructor, a milestone that reflects the program’s success.
Seeing this transformation has been one of my proudest achievements. It demonstrates the growing interest in Korean language and culture at CMC, and I am honored to have contributed to making the program what it is today.
On a personal level, being elected president of the International Circle of Korean Linguistics (ICKL) and serving as editor-in-chief of The Korean Language in America are also highlights of my career. These roles have given me opportunities to contribute to the field of Korean studies on a global scale. Becoming the first ICKL president from a liberal arts college has been particularly meaningful, as it reflects not only my personal journey but also the value of the liberal arts in fostering innovative research and teaching.
What is your teaching approach? Why do you think it’s important to teach Korean at CMC?
My teaching philosophy centers on active, student-focused learning. I minimize lectures and prioritize interactive activities such as pair and group work. By engaging students in tasks that require them to use Korean in meaningful ways, they develop real-world communicative competence.
More broadly, my goal is to provide students with a transformative educational experience. Learning Korean is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar; it’s about opening a window to a culture and worldview that are often very different from their own. Many of my students initially become interested in Korean through K-pop or movies, but my courses push them to explore deeper cultural, historical, and societal aspects of Korea.
Korean challenges students to think differently—not only about language but also about concepts like social hierarchy, collectivism, and modes of expression. Through this process, they learn to appreciate cultural differences and embrace diverse perspectives. I believe language learning is a powerful tool for fostering empathy, curiosity, and global citizenship. These qualities are essential in today’s interconnected world and align perfectly with CMC’s mission of cultivating future global leaders.
What would you like us to know about the Korean program at CMC?
The Korean program at CMC may be small in size, but it offers exceptional quality in both instruction and student engagement. As an educator, I prioritize staying current with advancements in language teaching.
In the classroom, I not only draw upon linguistic expertise, but also on cultural and historical insights, helping students understand how Korea’s language evolved alongside its history and society. Beyond this, I emphasize community-building. Language learning is inherently social, and at CMC, I work hard to cultivate a vibrant, tightly knit learning community.
Our program goes beyond the classroom: I organize cultural events such as kimchi-making workshops, Korean movie nights, and calligraphy sessions. These activities allow students to engage with Korean culture on a deeper level while fostering personal connections with one another. With language courses meeting four days a week, plus a weekly language table, students often take multiple semesters together, creating lasting bonds and a peer support network. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students connect with the language, the culture, and each other in such meaningful ways.
How do you describe the CMC community?
CMC is a dynamic and collaborative community that thrives on intellectual curiosity and mutual support. Our students are not only ambitious, but also genuinely interested in broadening their perspectives. They bring an energy to the classroom that makes teaching incredibly rewarding.
My colleagues, too, are deeply committed to their fields and to the success of their students. The liberal arts environment fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, which enriches my teaching and research. Being part of such a vibrant and supportive community has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career at CMC.
Joining CMC has allowed me to combine my passion for teaching with my research interests in a setting where both are equally valued.
Tell us about the International Circle of Korean Linguistics and your role as president. How does this pair with being editor-in-chief of The Korean Language in America?
The International Circle of Korean Linguistics (ICKL), founded in 1975, is the oldest and most prestigious international association for Korean linguistics. It brings together scholars from diverse fields such as pragmatics, phonology, and syntax to exchange ideas and advance research.
As president, my primary goal is to organize the 50th-anniversary conference at the University of Sheffield in 2026. This milestone event will celebrate the achievements of the field while fostering new collaborations.
Being the first ICKL president from a liberal arts college is a significant honor. Many of my colleagues in Korea are unfamiliar with the liberal arts model, and I have enjoyed sharing how it fosters both breadth and depth in education and research.
My role as editor-in-chief of The Korean Language in America, which is the journal of the American Association of Teachers of Korean, complements my work with ICKL. While ICKL focuses on pure research, the journal bridges the gap between linguistic scholarship and language teaching. My vision for the journal is to make it a hub for cutting-edge discussions on teaching methodologies, assessment techniques, and the integration of technology in language education. Both roles allow me to contribute to the growth of Korean studies in unique but interconnected ways.
My research, which examines linguistic changes using computer programs, has been instrumental in achieving these leadership roles. I focus on grammaticalization, discourse analysis, and pragmatics, often comparing Korean with other languages such as English and Japanese. This work has allowed me to make meaningful contributions to the field and to elevate the visibility of Korean linguistics on the international stage.