The Institute of International Affairs (IIA) at the Graduate School of International Studies, which was established in 2004, promotes insightful academic research with policy implications on a broad range of subjects addressing international affairs. IIA provides a unique inter-disciplinary perspective on various international issues, embracing economic, political, social, and historical analysis. As one of the leading research institutes for international affairs, IIA works as a focal point for serious policy discussions to cope with the constantly changing world environment. IIA regularly hosts seminars, conferences, and symposiums with leading scholars and policymakers from all over the world. In addition, the institute also conducts training programs customized for specific needs of participants.

IIA continues to support its specialized research centers that deal with important international subjects including the Center for International Commerce & Strategy, the Center for International Cooperation, the Center for International Development Studies, the Center for American Studies, the Center for EU Studies, the Center for Chinese Studies, the Center for East Asian Studies, the Socheon Center for Korean Studies, the Center for Transnational Migration and Open Society, and the Center for International Security. Each center further deepens its own research initiatives with their own academic and policy networks. IIA facilitates scholarly communication through two academic journals, one in Korean and one in English, which are indexed in the Korean Citation Index operated by the National Research Foundation of Korea.