Welcome to the Korean Language Flagship Center (KLFC) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM)! Established in 2002, KLFC is the first Korean language and culture center in the United States.

KLFC has been dedicated to cultivating specialists with superior-level proficiency in Korean by providing an immersive language learning environment, tutoring programs, one-year capstone program at Korea University, overseas internships, summer intensive domestic and overseas programs, merit and need-based financial aid, and so forth.

B.A. in Korean for Professionals

Minimum 36 credits

The B.A. program aims to prepare American students to function in Korean as professionals in their chosen academic or professional fields. Through the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL), a Bachelor of Arts degree in Korean for Professionals is ...

M.A. in Korean for Professionals

Minimum 30 credits

The M.A. program aims to produce professionals who can function in Korean in their chosen fields. After two years of intensive Korean language training, graduates of this program are expected to take their place among the next generation of global professionals ...

Overseas Programs

One-year

The one-year overseas component completes the B.A. program and the Certificate program. Housed at Korea University’s Korean Language Center, the overseas component is called the Korean Flagship Overseas Program. The overseas component includes coursework ...

The Language Flagship

The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages. We offer language programs at schools across the United States for undergraduate students in critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish. In an effort to build language proficiency for all U.S. students, we also support K–12 language programs and curriculum development to improve opportunities for U.S. students to pursue language education. 

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Students Say

Student Testimony – K.S.

As someone who could barely even talk in their first language as a child, I am often surprised by myself as I partake in presentations entirely in a second language. Especially when only three years ago, I could only ask where the bathroom was with stuttering. It is a...

Student Testimony – A.A.

By joining the Korean Flagship Program, I have been able to reach levels of fluency and professionalism that I never thought were possible for me. This opportunity has reignited my passion for language learning, and I continue to be impressed by the progress I and my...

Student Testimony – L.Y.

My first couple semesters after joining the Korean Language Flagship, I felt very welcomed and felt a sense of community. I have made countless amazing memories with peers and teachers, and I look forward to new experiences at the Korean Language Flagship. Being in...

Student Testimony – J.B.

The process of creating, editing, and working on my presentations has been very detailed. From outlines to audio recordings of practicing my presentation, a lot of work and help has gone into it. Seeing a topic grow into a PPT, which is accompanied by audio recordings...

Student Testimony – H.S.

The presentations were a great learning experience that expanded my knowledge beyond just the language but also on social and economic issues in Korea present at hand. It provided a space for me to culminate my learning throughout the course into a presentation,...

Student Testimony – D.J.

I joined Korean Language Flagship to perfect my Korean skills. Being in Korean Flagship made me realize how beautiful Korean language is. There are numerous expressions and words to express or explain [something]. I believe through reading and vocabs, grammar can...

Student Testimony – C.M.

In 403 and 404 we were required to present a lesson in our textbook. We put in the content in the textbook but we also include some research contents. Since we have to read carefully and also research on our own, I think this helped us with preparing for bigger...

Student Testimony – M.R.

What attracted me to the Korean Language Flagship is the number of resources and support the program offers. At first when I had told my parents about the program they thought it was a very good program and had wished I had joined the program earlier. Being in...

Student Testimony – M.M.

but after deciding to change my major to Korean, a subject I was passionate about, I wanted to find the best place to study. I did a lot of research, and finally I found the Korean Language Flagship at UHM. It is the best Korean program in the United States....

Student Testimony – J.M.

I never imagined I’d one day give a presentation on the collapse of the Berlin wall and how it symbolized the end of the Cold War and affected Europe all in Korean. The presentation required more work and preparation than all the homework from my 6 other classes...
NSEP

National Security Education Program (NSEP) at the U.S. Department of Defense

Korean Language Flagship Center is a part of The Language Flagship which is a federally-funded effort and is a component of the National Security Education Program (NSEP) at the U.S. Department of Defense. NSEP was created in 1991 to develop a much-needed strategic partnership between the national security community and higher education to address national needs for expertise in critical languages and regions.

NSEP is the only federally-funded effort focused on the combined issues of language proficiency, national security, and the needs of the federal workforce. In conjunction with technology and research-oriented investments, NSEP represents an integral component of a national security strategy to eliminate the serious language deficiency in the federal government.