goals of study, subject of research and study plan
Hi there. I posted my personal statement here already, now is the time for my study plan lol basically, the things I needed to mention here were my goals of study, title or subject of research and detailed study plan. I tried to be as descriptive as I can be, while adding the details that I thought were necessary to show my dedication and sincerity. I would be so grateful if you share your opinions with me! Thanks in advance!
"The ugly face of war that lasts in the image of demolished cities and the hearts of destroyed families is best described by literature, as the minds of writers work in wondrous ways to describe their great pain in limited words. My main goal of study is to base my studies on the common language of resistance in times of war, by comparing Korean literature during Japanese invasion to the famous works of European poets of World War I and World War II.
In order to understand the core of the texts that I will be studying better, I am planning on getting to the advanced level in Korean during my first year at the language school that I will be enrolled in. During this year, I will be able to practice reading Korean poetry freely, which will enable me to take courses on translating Korean poetry to English. After doing research on the curriculum and the syllabi of the taught subjects in the department of English Language and Literature at Yonsei, I have found out that there are many courses offered in English that focus on translation of Korean literary and non-literary works into English, as well as cultural and literary studies on the translated works that are originally written in Korean. Hence, studying and practicing Korean during my first year until I start my studies at Yonsei will be the perfect opportunity for me to benefit from these courses to the fullest later on.
During my first year of studies in the department, I am planning on taking courses that will enhance my understanding of Korean literature. Yonsei offers the most courses on Asian Culture Studies in the English Language and Literature department, some of which are impossible for me to study as subjects in different universities, such as "Posthuman Aesthetics in Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy," "Literary and Visual Culture of Asian Diaspora," "East Asian Cultures and Critical Perspectives," "Translating Korean Cultural Texts into Korean," and many more. Most of these courses are taught by Professor Rhee Suk Koo, who teaches courses on Korean and Asian cultural studies in relation to English Language and Literature department. Since his courses and topics of interest overlays with mine, I contacted him to ask his opinion on my desired topic, to which he responded positively, since there are already two graduate students in the department who also work on comparative studies between Korean literature and Western literature. My main goal is to dedicate this year to gaining knowledge in my field of research as well as my other topics of interest in the department through taking courses and joining extra-curricular activities such as writing and reading clubs, which will be helpful for me when I start writing my thesis the next year. Additionally, I will be the part of a community that is deeply connected to my department. This way, I hope to gain friends amongst my colleagues and make the most of my journey in Korea outside of my studies as well, in the way that I think suits me the best.
My thesis will mainly focus on the resistance poetry in Korea during Japanese invasion, mainly of Yoon Dong Ju, who also graduated from Yonsei University, and war poetry in Europe specifically during the World War II. As the periods for both colonization of Korea and the two world wars overlay in the timeline of history, I think it would be an interesting topic for research to look at the similar discourses in the voices of the oppressed people under different threats in two different continents. My main goal is to prove that there is only one language of sorrow to word out the destructive power of war and the horrifying truths about the casualties. The languages we speak are just transmitters between our hearts and our lips, which shape and mold our feelings as products of our thinking before we use them to communicate. In my research, I would like to analyze the deeper connection between Korean and Western literatures in the same period but under different conditions.
I am planning on dedicating my third and last year to my thesis, as well as taking additional courses on my topics of interest related to my research field. With my research, I hope to contribute to the voicing the importance of other nationalities in canonical literature. I want to be a researcher that studies literature in English, rather than be a copier of all the studies that have been done on English literature already; which is why the English Language and Literature department at Yonsei suits my interests. As a global citizen and a willing student, I look forward to fulfill my dreams, ready to learn and make the most of this great chance."
