Abstract

In 1900, the Oriental Institute in Vladivostok established the first Department of Korean Language in Russia and the world, marking the beginning of Russian Korean studies scholarship. Within a few years, the foundation of the Far Eastern School of Practical Korean Studies was firmly established. However, the turbulent events of the 20th century, including Stalin’s repressions, severely disrupted its development, resulting in a harsh interruption of this scholarly tradition. Despite these challenges, Korean studies training was revived in Vladivostok in 1975. Over the past five decades, it has achieved significant progress, culminating in the establishment of the dynamic Department of Korean Studies and the Center for Korean Studies at Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU). This study aims to examine the 125-year history and current state of Korean Studies at FEFU. The research draws upon materials from Izvestiya Vostochnogo Instituta (Bulletin of the Oriental Institute), the works of professors instrumental in reviving Oriental Studies education in Vladivostok, and the contributions of distinguished graduates who have advanced the field through their teaching at FEFU. The analysis of the current state is based on Vadim Akulenko’s personal materials, interviews with the head of the Department of Korean Studies, and official documents available on the FEFU website.