The Southeast Asia Center at the Institute of East and West Studies is Yonsei University's only Southeast Asia research institute. The Center supports Southeast Asia regional research, comparative research with Korea and East Asia, and strives to expand student cooperation and local research. The Southeast Asia Center cooperates with the Phillipines National University, Vietnam Center for Continuing Education, and other Southeast Asia local research institutes, and organizes various academic activities and seminars each year.

The America Research Center was reorganized November 1, 1990 by Moon Chung (Professor of Political Science and International Relations). It focuses on research projects related to the United States, organizes relevant international and national conferences and seminars, and promotes research and publishing business.

Starting in 1996, an annual international conference was held, including the "Korea, Japan, and the United States: Reconstructing History, Cognition, and Peace in East Asia" conference in 1997, the "Democratization and Globalization in South Korea: Comparative Perspective," conference and the commemoration of the 25th anniversary international conference for the Research Institute of East and West.

In 1998 the academic seminar "The Systems of Local Government in the United States: Accounting for their Complexity and Implication Using Some Data" was held with Professor Norman R. Luttbeg (Texas A & M University), and the 3rd International Conference on "Air Power in 21st Century Korea" was conducted. Additional books include American Studies hosted Democratization and Globalization in Korea: Assessment and Prospects (1999). Currently Professor Jung-Hoon Lee of the Graduate School of International Studies is in charge.

The Center for European Studies was made from

(1) the German Study Program, which was founded in 1983, (2) the East European Study Program, founded in 1985, (3) the British Study Program, founded in 1986 and (4) the Austrian Study Center, founded in 1988. Now the Center for European Studies is directed by Professor Sang Tu Ko of the Graduate Program of Area Studies, and holds many academic researching activities such as (1) Research Programs, (2) International Academic Conferences, (3) Invited Scholars Seminars, (4) Scholars and Students Exchanges and (5) Publication.

The Center for European Studies has been leading systematic research on East Europe in Korea through the First 5-Year Communist Bloc Research Project, which progressed from 1978 to 1982 and was supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Second 5-Year Project started in 1985 under the East European Research Program. Then in 1990, the East European Research progressed under the Third 5-Year Plan. The Korea-Hungary International Academic Conference, which has been co-hosted over four times with the Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences starting in 1988, expanded not only the range of East European Research but also academic and personal interaction with East Europe. By doing this, it provided the academic and human basis for improvement of the relationship between Korea and East Europe.

The Korea-Germany International Academic Conference, which has been co-hosted at least 12 times annually since 1983 with the Southeast European Economic and Social Research Institute of University of Munich under the German Study Program. After the unification of Germany in 1990, it has had various in-depth discussion under subjects such as: "Influence of the Soviet Union's collapse to Korea and Germany", "Division and Unification in Europe and Northeast Asia," "Present state of Europe and East Asia's economic integration strategy" and "Germany's unification experience and the Korean Peninsula." The Korea-England International Conference has been co-hosted under the British Study Program annually since 1988 with the Center for Korean Studies in the University of Sheffield. The Korea-England International Conference has covered various subjects such as economic, industrial and social policy problems between Korea and England and Korea and Europe. The Korea-Austria International Academic Conference, which has been co-hosted with Austrian Institute for International Affairs under the Austrian Study Program, was up to its 5th until 1992. In 1992, IEWS hosted a special lecture on September 7th 1992 to commemorate on the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria. The Center for European Studies has bee leading ASEM research since 1988. By hosting "The First Roundtable of ASEM Research Forum in Korea" on September 25th 1998 and the 1st Yonsei-Warwick ASEM International Conference from November 9th to 10th 1998, it contributed to the vitality and development of ASEM research.

As part of these research programs on main European countries, European economy and security, and ASEM researching, the IEWS has hosted academic seminars inviting scholars, experts and ambassadors. Also, from 1999, it has hosted seminars inviting the EU Commission and important people in main EU countries and from the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) with an interest in researching the EU. Approximately 60 conferences have been hosted by IEWS up to 2002, including 11 on Eastern Europe, 8 on the United Kingdom, 20 on Germany, 3 on Austria, 10 on European Problems and 5 on ASEM problem.

The Center for European Studies continues to do active joint researches and scholars interchanges. Research findings are published in IEWS's English journal, Global Economic Review, and East & West Studies. Also, 25 separate volumes have been published by the Center for European Studies, including a 10 book on collection series of treatises of the Communist Bloc, 13 books on East and West Studies Series and other collections of treatises research.

The Center for Canadian Studies is the developed version of Canadian Study Program, which was established in 1984 by the IEWS to study Canada's politics, economics, society and culture and relationship between Korea and Canada. Currently the Center for Canadian Studies is leading the Canadian Study in Korea by: (1) holding international academic conferences, (2) presenting research and hosting seminars, (3) hosting invited scholars seminars, (4) professor and student exchanges and (5) accumulating Canadian-related materials and opening lectures

Academic conferences hosted by the Center for Canadian Studies of IEWS are (1) Korea-Canada International Academic Conference, which is co-hosted by IEWS and University of Alberta since 1987 and (2) Yonsei-Toronto International Academic Conference since 1990. The Center for Canadian Studies of IEWS has exchanged scholars and students with University of Albert, University of Toronto, University of Calgary, Carlreton University, Queen's University, University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa and McGil University.

The Center for Canadian Studies is also running a reference room with Canadian-related books donated from government and universities of Canada since November 22, 1990. Furthermore, the Center for Canadian Studies is opening Canadian-related courses in the Department of Political Science and International Studies and Area Studies of Graduate School. For this, it's trying to obtain materials and information by sending related professors as exchange or visiting scholars. The Center for Canadian Studies launched a research journal specializing in Canada in 1989.

The Center for Canadian Studies has hosting at least one Academic Conference and one Invited Scholars Seminar every year after its foundation. Academic Conferences and Invited Scholars Seminars included: "Comparison of Corporate Culture between Korea and Canada" (1998), "Global Changes in Education: What Needs to be Done?" (1998) by Michel E. Perrault, the Canadian Ambassador to Korea, "NAFT After 5 Years"(1999). In 2002, it hosted the Research Program "Canada in Korea" with support of Embassy of Canada to Korea.

The Center for Russia/Central Asian Studies was established for the regional research on the politics, economics, business, society, and culture of Russia and the Central Asian nations.

Russia, a traditional great power, will play a large role in the 21st Century, with multiple points of exchange with Korea such as the development of Central Asia, the trans-Siberian railroad, and the trans-China railroad. The Russia Central Asia Research Center will vitalize research on this strategically important area and provide productive resources to Korean businesses and government.

The Latin America Research Center promotes knowledge about Korea and Latin America between those who want to promote mutual understanding between these countries. It was established in 1993. The Latin American Research Center's main activities aim in Central and South America. Through Diplomatic Round Table Session invited ambassadors of Latin American countries discuss Latin America and world economic issues as well as in-depth major issues in local Latin American culturaland research.

The Middle-East and Africa Research Center was founded as a core research division from the foundation of the IEWS to proceed in a comparative study of each region in the globe. It was not active due to the lack of human resources and support until after the late 1990s when the Middle East Problem attracted international attention, so the IEWS started accelerating the research activities in earnest. Having Professor Chungin Moon from Department of Political Science and International Studies as a head, the Middle-East and Africa Research Center has hosted academic seminars over 4 times, inviting scholars and experts of Middle East and African regions.

On May 5th 1998, the Division of Middle-East and African Studies hosted a seminar under the theme of "Israel and Korea at 50: Similarities in Crisis and Success Conclusions Based on the Israel Experience" inviting the ambassador of Israel to Korea.

September 23rd 1998, it hosted a seminar with the subject "Economic Crisis and Structural Adjustment in Egypt: Infitah and its Implication for South Korea" inviting Osama El Magdoub, ambassador of Egypt to Korea.

October 16 1998, it hosted a seminar under the theme of "Turkey: A Bridge between East and West" inviting the ambassador of Turkey to Korea.

October 20th 1998, it hosted a seminar under the subject of "Arab-Israel Conflict: Current Situation" inviting doctor Eyal Zisser of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The Centre for Australian studies (CAS) is the only one of its kind in Korea, and its mission is to "Connect Australia and Korea through Research, Education and Networking.” It offers a venue for Australian visitors from various areas like business, science, culture, and politics to meet their Korean counterparts as well as the public. To disseminate knowledge on Australia, the CAS holds regular seminars. It organized an international conference on “Australia’s Multiculturalism and Lessons for Korea” in September 2009, sponsored by the Australia Korea Foundation, and published “Understanding Contemporary Australia” (2011).

The Center for Chinese Studies originated from the Chinese Studies Program established by the IEWS in 1988. The program became a research division in 1990, and was established as a center in 2008. The Chinese Studies Program was developed during academic exchanges with the Beijing University in 1998. The program carried out research projects on the communist world under support from the Ministry of Culture and Education, and held the first Yonsei-Beijing University International Academic Conference in December 1998.

Research on China has become more active since diplomatic relations were established in 1992. The Center undertakes various activities to accurately identify the politics, economics, foreign relations, and culture of China during its market transition phase, and understand the increasing exchanges between China and Korea in order to develop closer ties. The activities of the Center for Chinese Studies are composed of research projects, academic conferences, and seminars.

The Center for Japanese Studies conducts research projects on Japan, and holds international and domestic academic conferences, and visiting scholars seminars to accumulate and transmit specialized knowledge and information on Japan. The center, since its founding, has carried out research projects on "Post-war Japan's Politics, Economics, Science, Technology, and Military Policy (1982),” “Korea-Japan Resource Cooperation and Energy Policy Cooperation : A 3-Step Study (1984-1985),” “US-Japanese Reflations in Emerging Asia-Pacific Regimes(1994-1995),” “Japan's Constitutional Debate(1997-1998),” “Japanese Administrative Reforms in the 1990's and Korea's Developmental Direction (2000-2001),” “Culture in the Age of Information : A Comparative Study of Korea and Japan(2001-2002)”, contributing to the field of Japanese Studies. The Center has also held the Yonsei-Keio University academic conference with the Keio University Regional Studies Institute since 1989, and the 1990 Yonsei-Tsukuba University International Seminar since 1990. The Center also regularly invites experts on Japan to hold seminars, expanding the academic exchanges. Currently, with the support of the Asia Research Foundation and IEWS, the center is carrying out the project on "Establishing a Database for Research on Korea-Japan Relations." This project seeks to create a database on Korea-Japan relations in the field of politics, economics, culture, society, and science. This project will provide information on Korea-Japan relations for researchers and the general public alike, contributing to future research.

The Institute of East and West Studies India/Southeast Asia Center supports regional research on India and Southeast Asian nations, comprativeness research with Korea and East Asia, and strives to expand exchanges and local research. The India/Southeast Asia Center cooperates with Indian / Southeast Asian universities and institutions in organizing various academic events and seminar.

The IT Governance Research Center is an inter-disciplinary research institute focused on network society, social media, and democracy. The Center has developed academic insights and policy initiatives that look to the future of representative democracy and civil society. With its large network of affiliated scholars, the Center conducts research forums and seminars to investigate the relationship between social media and democracy in the networked era.

The NPO Research Center carries out research topics related to nonprofit sector nonprofit organizations, laws and policies. NPO Research Center made a great contribution by establishing the Korea Association of Nonprofit Sector Research (KANPOR) in 2000. The NPO Research Center also has played a role of research hub for nonprofit sector in Korea, as a research partner for a number of international joint research projects.

The Center for Comparative Cultural Studies was established under Jae-Bong Ham’s responsibility in 1998. The goal for this division is the to implement comparative studies about political, economical, social issues between western and eastern countries. We conducted a research project about “Liberal, Social and Confucian Democracy” with supporting from the Asian Research Fund and from Ford between 1998 and 2001.Seminars were hosteed in An-Dong, Kyung-Sang province in the year of 1998 and 2000. Comparative Cultural Studies published a book titled "Confucian Democracy, Why &How" (2000) both in Korean and English.

The Ultimate goal of energy development in the social sciences aspect lies in the human resources and national development. The existing energy related research centers focus mainly on the economic standpoint of energy, thus relatively lacking the significance of inter-disciplinary research. Founded on March 1, 2014, the Research Center for Energy and Human Resource Development (RCEHRD) of the IEWS, Yonsei University offers an alternative approach to the field of energy and human resources development, viewed from an inter-disciplinary research perspective.

The RCEHRD will first push forward the research projects based on MOU with the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES), and move on to the projects with Saudi Arabia, Russia, China and other countries with rich natural resources, in order to contribute to the development of IEWS and greatly improve the prestige of Yonsei University.

Established in 1982, The OIES is an indepent centre approved by the University of Oxford in England. It is also a world-renowned think tank in the energy research which extensively studies issues of energy from the social sciences viewpoint.