The Korean Psychoanalytic Center (KPC, formerly KIPSA) is the only psychoanalytic organization in Korea that belongs to the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), and is an official training institution that can qualify as an IPA-recognized psychoanalyst.
The Korean Psychoanalytic Center (KPC) is the only psychoanalytic organization in South Korea affiliated with the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). It is also the sole official training institute in the country authorized to grant the globally recognized IPA-certified psychoanalyst qualification.
In 2024, we changed our name from the Korean Institute for Psychoanalysis to the Korean Psychoanalytic Center. Through this renaming, we clarified the identity and role of KPC not only as a hub for psychoanalytic research and academic endeavors but also as a leading educational institution focused on the “training of psychoanalysts”.
The IPA, founded in 1910 by Sigmund Freud based on his theories, is the oldest and most globally encompassing psychoanalytic association, bridging Eastern and Western traditions.
In South Korea, the IPA-linked psychoanalytic training program began in 2009 under the name Korean Psychoanalytic Study Group (KPSG) within the Korean Psychoanalytic Society (KPS, formerly KAPA).
To align with the IPA’s non-discrimination policy—which emphasizes that psychoanalytic organizations should be open to all mental health professionals, not only psychiatrists—the training program was separated from the psychiatrist-only Korean Psychoanalytic Society in 2020. In March 2022, KPC achieved “Provisional Society” status, having been elevated from a study group, and is now on the verge of becoming a “Component Society,” the final step for independent psychoanalytic activity and training within the IPA framework.
As of 2024, the Korean Psychoanalytic Center comprises 29 IPA-certified psychoanalysts, including 10 training analysts, and is currently training 61 psychoanalytic candidates. One of the most significant advantages of KPC’s training program is that it allows individuals to complete all necessary requirements to become IPA-certified psychoanalysts entirely in South Korea, in their native language, while maintaining their professional roles in the country.
The KPC training program follows the Eitingon model, which consists of three core components: “personal training analysis, psychoanalytic theory and seminars, and supervised clinical cases”. Admission, training, and graduation are conducted according to official training standards.
KPC is committed to fostering a democratic, open, and inclusive environment, aiming to educate more psychoanalytic candidates and contribute to the advancement of psychoanalysis in South Korea.
Cho, Doo-Young
Hong, TakYoo
Yu, Jaehak
Lee, Moo-Suk
Kim, Mee-Kyung
Chung, SunJu
Yoo, Young-Sik
Kang, Hyeun-Sook
Choi, MyoungHwan
Rho, Wangku
Ahn, KilJoon
Lee, In-Soo
Jang, Hongsuk
Ku, Jeong-il
Song, Joo-Youn
Yang, Dong-Seok
Cho, Nam-Hyeon
Ryu, Jeoungwhan
Choi, Jongbae
Sung, YuMi
Koo, Jae-Woo
Choi, SunKyoung
Moon, SuJin
Han, Sunghee
Kim, Yangsuk
Kim, Joon
Lee, KyungJin
Yang, Jong-Chul
Koo, Bon-Hoon
The International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) forms a robust network of over 150 psychoanalytic institutions across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region. If you are interested in obtaining the IPA-certified psychoanalyst qualification or pursuing the training program domestically, please feel free to contact the “Korean Psychoanalytic Center” (Admissions Subcommittee: admission.kpc@gmail.com) for detailed guidance.
Candidates who are selected through evaluation and interviews undergo a comprehensive training program consisting of “training personal analysis”, “a four-year didactic course and seminars on psychoanalytic theory”, and “supervised clinical work under the guidance of training analysts”. Upon graduation, candidates become members of our society, actively participating in academic activities and the education of future trainees. We look forward to your interest and applications.
※ Please note that the Korean Psychoanalytic Society (KPS) has severed all ties with the IPA, including its status as an Allied Center of the IPA. Therefore, any depth psychotherapy or other programs offered by the KPS are “not affiliated with or recognized as part of the IPA-accredited psychoanalytic training program” of our center.
The curriculum of the Korean Psychoanalytic Center (KPC)'s analytic training program is meticulously crafted to develop the analyst's ability to keenly observe and understand the dynamics unfolding between the analyst and the patient in here and now. This focus allows for the interpretation of interactions and unconscious expressions as they occur during sessions, thereby deepening the understanding of the psychoanalytic process.
This curriculum upholds Freud's legacy, recognizing it not only in his foundational theories, which form the bedrock of psychoanalysis, but also in the continuous process of revising, developing, and refining psychoanalytic theory and technique through clinical experience and research.
In essence, the curriculum aims to cultivate each trainee into a modern-day Freud, capable of engaging with patients in the present moment and evolving into a fully competent analyst with their own unique theories and techniques. This development is grounded in assimilating new and diverse experiences that have been built upon by Freud's successors up to the present day.
Outlined below is the curriculum from the fourth edition of the KPC program. It is designed to evolve annually, reflecting the needs of the candidates and keeping pace with the dynamic nature of contemporary psychoanalysis. The ultimate goal of the KPC curriculum is not to create a perfect analyst but to train a fully qualified analyst with the capacity for continuous growth. This growth-oriented approach ensures that the program evolves in tandem with the development of the candidates themselves.
The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Course is a “two-year introductory course” based on psychoanalytic perspectives. It is designed to provide foundational knowledge that will support more in-depth exploration if participants later enroll in the psychoanalytic training program. Lectures are conducted by IPA-certified psychoanalysts from our society, as well as senior candidates who have completed the analyst training program and are preparing for certification.
(The Korean Psychoanalytic Center (KPC) is the only IPA-accredited institution in South Korea authorized to educate and train psychoanalysts. According to IPA standards, anyone with a degree in mental health-related fields is eligible to apply for this program.)
“Contact”: kpc@kfreud.org
| Year | Quarter | Topics |
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| First year | 1Q | From Freud to Ego Psychology |
| 2Q | Object relations
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| 3Q | Contemporary Psychoanalytic Theory
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| 4Q | Development and attachment
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| Second year | 5Q | Psychoanalytic Technique
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| 6Q | Deepening the treatment
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| 7Q | Personality Disorder
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| 8Q | Remained issues
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The Korean Psychoanalytic Center is actively engaged in academic activities both domestically and internationally.
In March 2024, the Asia-Pacific Online Conference and IPA Webinar took place.
At the Asia-Pacific Online Conference, Dr. Jaehak Yu presented "The Extreme Uniformity of Korean Society: Psychoanalytic Diversity as the Key for Mental Development" and Dr. Hye Ri Yoon shared an analytic case presentation.
At the IPA Webinar, Dr. In-Soo Lee delivered a presentation on "Confucian Culture and Its Discontents" (https://youtu.be/IfCKnWCKrXQ?si=MG2Zs29Y99W-Uwiy) Dr. In-Soo Lee discussed the impact of Confucian culture and family structures in Korea on the psychological characteristics of Korean individuals. He specifically addressed issues such as the suppression of aggression and emotions, father hunger, fear of women, and narcissistic vulnerability. Furthermore, he argued that Korean society is built on a positive “father-son relationship”, with strong suppression of incestuous desires toward parents. As a result, “oedipal desires” are deeply repressed in the unconscious. Interestingly, he noted that, compared to other cultures, “sibling incest” frequently appears in Korean oral folktales.
In May 2024, an in-person conference was held in Sydney, Australia. From May 2 to 4, psychoanalysts and trainees from Asia, North America, Europe, and South America gathered at the Pier One Hotel in Sydney to discuss the theme Suffering and Desire.
Prior to the main conference, on April 30, Dr. Sunghee Han gave a presentation at COFAP on the topic “Suffering and Repair in the Family Following Suicide” and on May 1, Dr. Sun Ju Chung presented at COWAP on “Female Masochism as a Fantasized Rope to Unite with the Dead Mother”
Dr. In-Soo Lee Keynote paper, “Beneath harmonious Surface: Exploring Korea’s Deep-Rooted Strains”
Dr. MyoungHwan Choi Panel discussion, “Suffering and desire along a historical perspective: the past in the presence”
Dr. Sun Ju Chung Panel discussion, “Hikikomori in Korea”
Dr. Hong Suk Jang Chair of a panel discussion, “Intergenerational transmission of trauma”
In May 2024, the Korean Psychoanalytic Center held its Spring Academic Conference online. The theme was “Psychoanalytic Understanding and Approach to Narcissistic Vulnerability”. The conference explored key questions such as: What are the roots of narcissistic vulnerability? How does narcissistic vulnerability manifest in clinical settings? What therapeutic efforts are needed to treat patients with these issues?
These topics were discussed and debated alongside compelling case studies, offering valuable insights.
A psychoanalyst embodies the dual identity of a clinician and a scientific investigator. To strengthen this identity and foster scientific thinking, the **Korean Psychoanalytic Center** holds **bimonthly scientific meetings** where all members gather for academic discussions.
During these meetings, a member selects a topic of their choice and presents it, followed by a discussion led by a training or supervising analyst. This is then opened up for a full group discussion. After the scientific meeting, one of the candidates presents a clinical case, which is followed by an open discussion.
The 2026 IPA Asia Pacific Conference will be held in Seoul from April 29 to May 1, 2026!
We are living through the palpable reality of political turmoil and the climate crisis. At the same time, we find ourselves in an era of hyperconnectivity and artificial intelligence, where human subjectivity is either magnified to extremes or entirely overlooked. Among younger generations, the phrase “This life is ruined! Better luck in the next one!” has become common, while multiverse and reincarnation narratives fill our movies and literature. We find ourselves in a cultural moment that denies death, loss, and separation—embracing instead a sense of magic and omnipotence with transhumanism movements gaining more currency. This is the era of narcissism.
These cultural phenomena may, in fact, reflect a profound inner vulnerability and anxiety. Narcissistic vulnerability refuses loss, preventing contact with a sense of self in motion, becoming and transforming instead external values dictate everything. Now, more than ever, we need psychoanalytic reflections on narcissism.
At the May 2026 Seoul Asia Pacific Conference, we will engage in discussions about dynamic analytic processes that foster genuine transformation. These processes can enable individuals, trapped in narcissistic vulnerability and regression, to risk the pain of loss, integrate the fragmented self, and ultimately discover themselves, create meaning, and attain true intimacy and love.
We invite you to the Asia-Pacific Conference in Seoul, Korea—a country with 5,000 years of living history and home to the vibrant culture of K-pop.
Aram KimSecretary
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| Address | Seolleung-ro 90-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06192 |
| Voice | +82-2-562-1856 |
| kpc@kfreud.org |
