KU is known as an institution with a proud history of its own in that it has specialized in North Korean Issues and research on national unification. KU has proudly placed itself to be a mecca for the research areas at hand and a leading research institution of a national unification. The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) at KU has conducted research studies on North Korean issues over the last three decades. Since the establishment of the nation's first graduate school of North Korean Studies in 1998, particularly, more than 30 visiting professors home and abroad have educated professionals well-versed in practice rather than in theory.

KU has also administered North Korean policy programs for the leadership, Korean National Community Leaders Program, and other vital programs.