Welcome to the Department of Public Administration at Korea University

Established in 1955, the Department of Public Administration at Korea University has long been a cradle for cultivating outstanding talent in both the public and private sectors, making significant contributions to the development of the nation and society for decades.

Our alumni who have advanced into government, the National Assembly, and public institutions serve as dedicated public servants, taking the lead in upholding public interest and constitutional values. Those who have entered the private sector and research institutes actively fulfill their social responsibilities in their respective fields. In recent years, an increasing number of our graduates have pursued legal education through law schools, committing themselves to the defense of human rights and the realization of social justice. The spirit of prioritizing public values and the common good over personal gain remains the most cherished tradition of our department.

Today, the Department is preparing for a new leap forward to respond agilely to the uncertainties of our time—marked by the climate crisis, competition for technological supremacy, and the rise of artificial intelligence in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results in the field of public administration, with a 13.6% pass rate in the civil service examination over the past decade—one of the highest rates among single departments. In 2024, one of our students ranked first nationwide in the General Administration track of the Grade 5 Civil Service Examination. Alumni actively contribute to student development by meeting with incoming students each year to share their experiences and insights. They have also established an unprecedentedly large development fund for a single department, enabling us to operate our own Public Talent Development Program, which provides direct support to students preparing for the Grade 5 Civil Service Examination and law school admission. Our faculty members also demonstrate exceptional research capacity, leading major national research projects funded by organizations such as Social Science Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

We actively promote international exchange and educational programs. At the undergraduate level, we have signed an MOU with the University of Southern California (USC) and the USC Price School, facilitating student exchange programs. At the graduate level, we offer distinctive scholarship programs such as the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, Research Excellence Grant, and Kim Young-Pyung International Fellowship. We also maintain academic partnerships with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) at Waseda University, through which we develop and support a range of international programs.

Above all, the Department of Public Administration at Korea University is committed to nurturing creative professionals who can design the future and lead the nation. We will continue to provide unwavering support so that our graduates take the lead in solving complex social problems, serve as role models in society, and emerge as leaders who shape the future.

We sincerely invite your continued interest and support in our journey toward further growth and excellence.

Professor and Department Chair
Yong Sook Lee