The Dept. of German Language & Literature was established on March 1, 1980. The educational and research areas of the Department consist of Practical German, German Linguistics, German Literature, German Cultural Studies, German Area Studies, and European Area Studies. The educational goal of the Department is to develop practical German language skills and establish an academic foundation through the acquisition of comprehensive knowledge of German literature. Furthermore, by deepening the understanding of culture and regional studies in general (politics, economics, society, etc.) in Germany and Europe, the Department aims to cultivate cultural experts for the German-speaking world and Europe who possess both specialized knowledge and practical skills.

Since 2003, European Trade has been established as an interdisciplinary major. Upon completing this program, students gain the opportunity to become European experts by leveraging the linguistic and cultural knowledge of Germany and Europe acquired through their major courses to take additional related subjects within the interdisciplinary program, such as economics, trade, and management. Our department signed sister-university agreements with the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1998 and with TU-Chemnitz in 2007, which boasts a well-established research system for European Studies; we have consistently implemented programs such as student exchanges and language training to this day. Furthermore, through an MOU between the department and the Language Institute at the University of Munich, students participate in local language training courses every year.

Furthermore, the Dept. of German Language & Literature at Incheon National University is an accredited TestDaF/TestAS/OnSet/dMAT testing center that regularly administers these accredited exams.