Skip to Main Content
Go to Penn Libraries homepage   Go to Guides homepage

Korean Studies: Home

This guide is intended to help patrons find resources to support their study and research in Korean studies and the Korean language. It includes tips on searching; links to databases, e-journals, and e-books; and information on the Korean collection.

Getting Started

This guide is intended to help patrons find resources to support their study and research in Korean studies and the Korean language. It includes:

  • Tips on searching
  • Links to Penn and free databases, e-journals, and ebooks
  • Links to online video and image databases
  • Information on the Korean collection and Korean studies at Penn

Location

The East Asia stacks on the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center house monographs and bound journals in Korean, while reference works are located in the East Asia Seminar Room in 526 Van Pelt. Current periodicals (unbound journals) can be found on the fourth floor of Van Pelt library (no Korean-language journals are in the seminar room). Other than Van Pelt, the University Museum Library and the Fisher Fine Arts Library hold some Korean monographs on anthropology, archaeology, art and design, and architecture. 

East Asia Seminar Room

The Seminar Room, located in Van Pelt 526 (next to Rebecca's office), is available for you to use for reading and study. Some classes may meet in here (especially graduate seminars), but when classes are not in session, researchers can consult the reference works and use the room for group or individual study. Feel free to plug into the large monitor with your laptop using the HDMI cables provided in the room or use the PC in the room to connect to the screen.

Library area with table and chairs, PC screen on wall, couch and armchair, and bookshelves

Searching for Korean Materials

Catalogs

Korean collections at the library are cataloged in Korean (including 한글 and/or 한자) as well as in romanized form with the Library of Congress system, based on pronunciation, which is different from the official romanization system used in Korea. It is recommended that you mainly search by romanized form in our catalog, Franklin. For materials at Penn, use our Franklin library catalog.

Penn's online catalog contains the library's collection of books, journals, e-resources, and other materials. You can also search for books in the US and worldwide using WorldCat.

Searching Tips

WorldCat is most efficient and convenient when searching by hangǔl 한글. If the item is held by Penn, you can then search for the item in Franklin to learn its status and location. WorldCat is a great place to find the official romanized form of a title for searching in Franklin, or the standard spelling of an author's name.

Romanization Guides and Tools

Searching in romanized form will bring the most comprehensive results for Korean books, but good knowledge in standard romanization is essential when searching this way.

Subject Guide

Profile Photo
Rebecca Mendelson
Contact:
527 Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
215-898-3205
Penn Libraries Home Franklin Home
(215) 898-7555