Mission

Located at the University of Vienna, the European Centre for North Korean Studies (ECNK) is a platform for scholars and researchers to pursue multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and comparative research on North Korea. 

We endeavor to help interested colleagues from within and outside Europe to accomplish the following goals:

  • Define and develop North Korean Studies as a field through research and collaboration.
  • Work with current and potential stakeholders.
  • Find, discuss, and improve data, sources, and methods.
  • Further institutionalize the field of North Korean studies. 

The ECNK will support these objectives through the following actions:

  • Hosting individual researchers or research groups who have acquired funding, or intend to do so, and need an institution through which to pursue their research projects on North Korea.
  • Building and supporting a network of researchers from the field of North Korean Studies or among those whose research involves a substantive focus on North Korea through non-resident fellowships and a Ph.D. Network.
  • Connecting European and non-European colleagues by hosting joint events, such as conferences and workshops.
  • Hosting North Korea-related databases.

To learn more about the motivation behind the ECNK and who we are, read our Background statement. You can submit a plan for collaboration at the Join Us page. 


 Most Recent Announcements

15.07.2025
 

[Workshop] ECNK Online Workshop 2025 - Ethical Issues in North Korean Studies

The European Centre for North Korean Studies (ECNK) invites its fellows to participate in the second ECNK Workshop on July 15 and 16, focusing on...

07.04.2025
 

In April, the University of Central Lancashire hosts an exhibition about the reality of life under censorship and information control in North Korea.

25.03.2025
 

Join Session 3 of the webinar series on March 25, 2025.

03.03.2025
 

[Opinion] Why a Trump-Putin Ukraine peace deal could be good news for North Korea

Trump’s readiness to sideline allies and make concessions to pursue a deal with Russia suggests he may do the same with North Korea

24.02.2025
 

[Article] Kim Jong-un is launching a crackdown on North Korea’s drinking culture

David Hall reports on Kim Jong-un's recent crackdown on North Korea's drinking culture, highlighting the leader's public reprimand of officials for...

06.02.2025
 

[Book] Hidden Heroes: Anthology of North Korean Fiction

Hidden Heroes is a collection of short stories from the 1980s to present that unveil the lives of ordinary North Koreans.