International Institute of Korean Studies

The Korean Peninsula and Other Divided Nations

17-18 February 2025 at Cyprus Campus, with Peace Walk at Nicosia, Cyprus on 19 February 2025

Day 1: 17 February 2025 (Monday)

Opening Session

• Opening Remarks by Sojin Lim (University of Central Lancashire, UK)
• Welcoming Remarks by Katerina Antoniou (University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus)
• Keynote Speech by Ambassador Colin Crooks (British Embassy in Seoul, Korea)

Session 1 – Divided Societies and/or Nations

• Peacebuilding Tourism and the Case Study of Cyprus by Katerina Antoniou (University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus)
• Palestine and Israel, and Implications for the Korean Peninsula by Minjong Kim (Korea International Cooperation Agency Palestine Office, Palestine)

Session 2 – Fire and Folklore: Myths Born from Volcanic Activity

A Conversation between Prof Niki Alsford (Anthropologist) and Prof James Hammond (Geophysicist)

Niki Alsford (UCLan) and James Hammond (Birkbeck, University of London) will explore the fascinating connections between volcanic eruptions and the myths they inspire. Together, they will dive into the stories and science of volcanoes on international borders, focusing on Mount Paektu—a sacred mountain straddling North Korea and China. James will discuss the delicate balance of science diplomacy, where collaboration across borders is essential to studying this active volcano. Niki will ask how such political dynamics influence scientific research, adding depth with insights into the ancient myths that surround the mountain, and providing a lens through which people interpret volcanic activity and how these shared stories can help build collaboration across borders.

The conversation will then shift to Papua New Guinea, where volcanoes like Long Island and Billy Mitchell have not only shaped the land but also local myths and cultural identity. Here, Niki and James will explore how we can conduct collaborative research that bridges the natural and social sciences, focusing on the interplay between geology and folklore. By bringing together these two disciplines, the speakers will highlight how scientific inquiry and mythological narratives can work hand-in-hand to provide a more comprehensive understanding of human responses to the powerful forces of nature.

Session 3 – Division and (Re)Unification in the Korean Peninsula

• The Uniqueness of the Division of Two Koreas and the Path Toward Its Final Resolution by Jihoon Chun (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany)
• Reunification Discourse in 2000s South Korea and 1980s West Germany: Parallels, Differences, and Historical Lessons by Patrick Vierthaler (Kyoto University, Japan)
• Crossing the Divide: Korean Unification Through the Eyes of North Korean Escapees by Wooyun Jo (Loughborough University, UK)

Day 2: 18 February 2025 (Tuesday)

Session 4 – Inter-Korea Relations and Engagement

• Beyond the Division System: Inter-Korean Relations and Uneven and Combined Development by Kevin Gray (University of Sussex, UK)
• Positive Interfaces: A Comparative Analysis of the ROK-DPRK Engagement Prospects Through Time by Virginie Grzelczyk (Aston University, UK)
• North Korean Public Diplomacy: How Pyongyang Discusses Division and Reunification for International Audiences by Scott Fisher (New Jersey City University, US)
• From 'Sun of the Nation’ to 'Solar People'? The Change of National Discourse in North Korea After the Hanoi No-Deal / Hyun Jong Noh (Seoul National University, South Korea)
• The Birth of North Korean Women’s Football: Focusing on Historical Factors and International Influence / Yong Ja Hong (University of North Korean Studies, South Korea)

Session 5 – Human Rights & Humanitarian Assistance in North Korea

• The Human Rights Crisis of a Divided Nation: A Study of Push and Pull Factors in North Korean Defection by Hanna Song (NKDB, South Korea)
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid in North Korea by Gyubin Choi (Korea Institute for National Unification, South Korea)
• Understanding the impact of humanitarian engagement in North Korea by Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings (University of Groningen, Netherlands)

Session 6 – Inter-Korea Migration

• Tracing the Footsteps of Victimised Korean Women Across Different Periods by Jinah Kwon (University of Sheffield, UK)
• Environmental Disruption and Human Migration: The Case of North Korean Defectors by Junhyoung Lee (University of Ulsan South Korea)

Closing Session

• Closing Remarks by Niki Alsford (University of Central Lancashire, UK)

Current Calls for Papers

The Korean Peninsula and Other Divided Nations

The International Institute of Korean Studies (IKSU) is inviting scholars whose research focuses on the issues related to the Korean peninsula, including other divided nations and the implications for the Korean peninsula. This is a widely open topic, and we particularly welcome research projects that are based on the interdisciplinary approach. The disciplinary areas can include peace studies, international relations, diplomacy, anthropology, sociology, development studies, politics, film studies, literature, history, linguistics, migration, gender studies, cultural studies, education, psychology, and conflict studies, but are not limited to.

After the conference, an edited volume will be published, and a special issue journal may also follow, depending on the number of participants. Not only established academics at different stages but also early career scholars—including postdoctoral researchers—and PhD candidates in relevant fields are encouraged to submit.

We plan to hold the 2025 IKSU Annual International Conference at the University’s Cyprus campus, located in Pyla, Cyprus. The university accommodation (shared spaces) can be provided unless the participant wants to seek his/her own accommodation. We may provide partial financial support for flight costs for selected PhD candidates. After the conference, we will have a ‘Peace Walk’ in Nicosia (visiting both northern and southern sections).

Schedule for Submission

• Proposal Submission Deadline: 15 August 2024
  • Max 500 words of abstract in MS word file (font size: 12)
  • Include your full name, affiliation and professional title, and the research title on top of the proposal form.
  • Submission to: IKSU-AKS@uclan.ac.uk
• Acceptance Notice: 15 September 2024
  • Notification will be sent to those who are accepted only.
• Full Paper and/or Presentation Slides Submission for Publication Deadline: 15 January 2025
  • For those who wish to be included in the publication project, full paper submission is mandatory.
  • Subject to the quality of the manuscript, we will decide which paper to include in the publication.
  • Submission to: IKSU-AKS@uclan.ac.uk
• IKSU Annual International Conference: 17-18 February 2025
• Peace Walk in Nicosia, Cyprus: 19 February 2025 (subject to change)

Previous Calls for Papers

Exploring Dynamics: Korean Anthropology and Sociology in a Global Context

The International Institute of Korean Studies (IKSU) is inviting scholars whose research focuses on the issues related to Korea, based on anthropology and/or sociology disciplinary approaches. After the conference, an edited volume will be published, and a special issue journal may also follow, depending on the number of participants. Not only established academics at different stages but also early career scholars—including postdoctoral researchers—and PhD candidates in relevant fields are encouraged to submit.

Schedule for Submission

• Proposal Submission Deadline (maximum 500 words of abstract): 15 December 2023
• Acceptance Notice: 15 January 2024
• IKSU Annual International Conference: 19-20 April 2024
• Full Paper Submission for Publication Deadline: 15 May 2024
• Submission to: IKSU-AKS@uclan.ac.uk.

Financial Support for Presenters

Travel costs will be reimbursed up to a maximum of GBP 150 for participants within the UK, GBP 400 for participants from EU countries, and GBP 800 for participants from the rest of the world (economy seats only). Up to three nights of accommodation will be covered by the host, depending on the participant’s flight schedule. We expect presenters to also participate as discussants at the conference. Only those who submitted the full paper by the publication deadline (15 May 2024) will be reimbursed for their travel expenses.

Korean Politics and International Relations at Crossroads: Past, Present and the Future

University of Central Lancashire, UK, 7-8 January 2022

In the run up to the 2022 presidential election, the IKSU Annual International Conference will discuss how South Korea’s politics and international relations have evolved since the founding of the first Republic in 1948. The international relations of South Korea tend to heavily depend on each presidency, especially with regard to North Korea and relations with surrounding countries. In this sense, this conference will explore the past, present and future of South Korean politics and the international relations from a number of perspectives. After the conference, we will publish an edited volume based on the submitted papers. Papers from various disciplines are invited. Early career researchers and PhD candidates are also encouraged, along with academics at all stages of their career in a relevant field.

We plan to hold the first day of the conference at the main campus of the University of Central Lancashire, which is located in the city of Preston in the north of England, and the second day of the event at the Samlesbury Hall, a stunning 14^th century manor house and gardens in Lancashire.

Financial Support for Presenters

Travel cost will be reimbursed up to a maximum of GBP 100 for participants within the UK, GBP 250 for participants from EU countries, and GBP 500 for participants from the rest of the world. Up to three nights’ accommodation will be covered by the host, depending on the participant’s flight schedule. We expect presenters to also participate as discussants at the conference.

In the case that current COVID-19 situation persists until the conference dates, we will hold the event online. In this case, there will be no financial support for travel, but an honorarium for publication will be provided for the chapter authors of the edited volume. Venues are subject to change.

This conference is funded by the Academy of Korean Studies.

Exploring Landscape of K-Culture and Changes in Society: Past, Present and Future

University of Central Lancashire, UK, 26–27 April 2021

From K-Pop, K-dramas, and K-films to political activism, K-culture is no longer limited to entertainment. Recently, the power of K-Pop fans and social media have impacted the political scene in the US. With this in mind, the past, present and future of K-culture and its influence in society will be discussed at the 2021 IKSU Annual International Conference. The main aims of the conference are to provide a venue to explore the landscape of K-Culture and its influence in society, and to publish an edited volume.

Papers from various disciplines are invited. PhD candidate participation is also encouraged.

While the first day of the conference will be held at the main campus of the University of Central Lancashire, which is located in north of England, the second day of the event will be held at the Samlesbury Hall (14th century manor house and gardens), one of the stunning stately homes of Lancashire.

Financial Support for Presenters

Travel cost will be reimbursed up to GBP 300 for flights from EU countries, GBP 100 for train within the UK, and GBP 1,000 for flight from the rest of the world. Up to three nights’ accommodation will be provided for presenters, depending on flight schedule. We expect presenters also participate as discussants at the conference.

In the case that current COVID-19 situation persists until the conference dates, we will have the event online. In this case, there will be no financial support for travel, but an honorarium for publication will be provided for the chapter authors of the edited volume. Also, venues are subject to change in the case of local lockdown.

This conference is funded by the Academy of Korean Studies.

Economic Development and International Development Cooperation of the Korea Peninsula: Past, Present and the Future

University of Central Lancashire, UK, 3 - 4 April 2023

South Korea’s rapid economic success is a widely shared story. The role of South Korea as a donor member of the international development cooperation community has been extensively discussed, owing especially to the 10th anniversary celebration of its accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2020. However, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increasing need to expand the narratives around South Korea’s experience of development from a fragile recipient country to a donor country, within and beyond the Korean peninsula, in a more contemporary context.

With this in mind, the 2023 IKSU Annual International Conference aims to explore how South Korea’s economic development and its international development cooperation have evolved, including in relation to North Korea. After the conference, an edited volume will be published. Additionally, a special issue journal may follow contingent on a sufficient number of publishable papers being received. Papers from various disciplines are invited. Not only established academics at different stages, but also early career researchers and PhD candidates in relevant fields are encouraged to submit.

Financial Support for Presenters

Travel cost will be reimbursed up to a maximum of GBP 100 for participants within the UK, GBP 250 for participants from EU countries, and GBP 500 for participants from the rest of the world. Up to three nights’ accommodation will be covered by the host, depending on the participant’s flight schedule. We expect presenters to also participate as discussants at the conference.

2024 IKSU Annual International Conference

Exploring Dynamics: Korean Anthropology and Sociology in a Global Context

19-20 April 2024

Day 1: 19 April 2024 (Friday)

Opening session

• Opening Remarks by Sojin Lim (University of Central Lancashire, UK)
• Welcoming Remarks by Niki Alsford (University of Central Lancashire, UK)

Session 1 - Migration and Diaspora

Chair: Niki Alsford (University of Central Lancashire, UK)

Speakers:

• Social Cohesion in South Korea: Mutual Integration through Entrepreneurial Incubation by Felicia Istad (Korea University, South Korea)
• Intersecting Asias: Reflections on Connections and Mobility of Yemeni Refugees and Their Arrival on Jeju Island, South Korea by Yura Hyeon (Free University of Berlin, Germany)
• Toward an Anthropology of Foreignness: Ambivalences and Negotiations of Foreign-Born Media Personalities in South Korean Entertainment Programmes by Olga Fedorenko (Seoul National University, South Korea)
• Welcome back home (?): South Korean Reality as Seen by Koryo-saram Migrant Minority by Andrii Ryzhov, Professor, National Autonomous University of Mexico
• A Sociological Analysis of the 2013 South Korean Refugee Act: Its Birth, its Operations, and its Future by Nora Kim (University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, US)

Session 2 - Gender and Sexuality I

Chair: Ed Griffith (University of Central Lancashire, UK)

Speakers:

• The Intersection of Christianity, Feminism, and Decolonialisation: The Case of Korean Christian Women’s Work for Compatriot A-bomb Survivors by Yuko Takahashi (Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan)
• From Factory Girls ('Gong-Sooni') to Call Centre Ladies ('Call-Sooni'): An Anthropological Exploration of the Transformation of the Status of Korean Female Workers Over 50 Years (1970s–2020s) by Kwanwook Kim (Duksung Women’s University, South Korea)
• Skills, Tradition, and Modernity: Bread and Bakeries in Narratives of Identity and Practice among Rice Cake Manufacturers in South Korea by Antti Leppanen (University of Turku, Finland)

Session 3 - Gender and Sexuality II

Chair: Jeong-Im Hyun (University of Central Lancashire, UK)

Speakers:

• Changing Meanings of Love and Marriage in South Korea: An Anthropological Perspective by Hyun Hee Lee (Vilnius University, Lithuania)
• A Sociological Examination of Masculinity in Korean Boys' Love (BL) Dramas by Jeremiah Magoncia (Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines)
• Unveiling the Invisible: Women's Roles in North Korea's Informal Economy by Irene Chianese (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
• Navigating ‘Critical Consciousness’ among Women: Declining Fertility Rates and Its Impact on the South Korean Society by Torunika Roy (Jawaharlal Nehru University, India)

Day 2: 20 April 2024

Session 4 - Encounters and Intersections

Chair: Myungji Yang (University of Hawaii at Manoa, US)

Speakers:

• Encounters of Sleepless Residents and (Im)Material Embodied Techniques: An Ethnographic Study of Ethical Practice as an Art of Co-dwelling in a Dementia Care Home by Jong-min Jeong (Chonnam National University, South Korea)
• Rethinking Becoming Cyborg of those Living with Disability in Korea: Disability, Gendered Body and Embodiment with Performative Ethnography and the Life Histories of Things by Jiyoung Song (Kangwon National University, South Korea)
• The Republic of Apartments: Financialisation and the Performativity of Finance in the Korean Housing Market by Ban Lee (Lancaster University, UK)
• Instagramming Kimchi: An Exploration of the Social Media Landscape of Korean Restaurants in Ankara by Hatice Çelik & Sila Selin Tűrkel (Social Sciences University of Ankara, Turkey)

Session 5 - Roundtable Discussion for Publication

2023 IKSU Annual International Conference

Economic Development and International Development Cooperation of the Korea Peninsula: Past, Present and the Future

University of Central Lancashire, UK, 3-4 April 2023

Venue: Samlesbury Hall, PR5 0UP, UK or online.

This conference is open to all.

Day 1: 3 April 2023 (Monday)

9.30 AM – 9.50 AM / Registration
9.50 AM – 10.00 AM / Opening Remarks (Sojin Lim, Director of the IKSU)

10.00 AM – 11.50 AM / Session 1: Development Assistance to South Korea and Its Implications for Economic Development

Chair: Virginie Grzelczyk (Aston University, UK)
Speakers (30 minutes x 2 speakers, 60 minutes)

Fostering new allies in the face of an 'aggression': Italy's aid to South Korea in the wake of the Korean war / Marco Zappa (Università Ca’Foscari Venezia, Italy).
The German Economic Advisory Group (DVB) to Korea, 1962-1968 / Max Altenhofen (University of Tűbingen, Germany)

Discussant (20 minutes)
Kevin Gray (University of Sussex, UK)
Discussion with Q&A (30 minutes)

2.00 PM – 3.50 PM / Session 2: Development Assistant from South Korea and the Implications

Chair: Marco Milani (Bologna University, Italy)
Speakers (30 minutes x 2 speakers, 60 minutes)

Analysis of South Korean ODA in Mongolia under a Gender Mainstreaming Approach / Patricia Chica-Morales (University of Malaga, Spain)
Towards Trilateral and Multilateral Cooperation beyond Aid / Jae-Eun Noh (University of Western Australia, Australia)

Discussant (20 minutes)
Sojin Lim (University of Central Lancashire, UK)
Discussion with Q&A (30 minutes)

Day 2: 4 April 2023 (Tuesday)

9.00 AM – 10.50 AM / Session 3: Development Assistance from South to North Korea

Chair: Kyoungyun Moon (Junbuk University, South Korea / Visiting Scholar at University of Cambridge, UK)
Speakers (30 minutes x 2 speakers, 60 minutes)

Altruism or Ulterior Motives? South Korean Aid towards North Korea’s Sustainable Development / Queralt Boadella-Prunell & Lauren Robertson (University of Central Lancashire, UK)
Economic Sanctions on North Korea: The Role of Legislatures and Effects on Development Assistance from South Korea and the United States / Matt Abbott (Chicago Council on Global Affairs, US)

Discussant (20 minutes)
Marco Milani (University of Bologna, Italy)
Discussion with Q&A (30 minutes)

11.00 AM – 12.50 PM / Session 4: Experience of Development in South Korea and Its Implications

Chair: Jeong-Im Hyun (University of Central Lancashire, UK)
Speakers (30 minutes x 2 speakers, 60 minutes)

When Film Met Aid: The Transformation of Korea Model / Suweon Kim (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea)
Transposing Miracle from the Han River to the Mekong River? Revisiting Roles of South Korea’s Economic Development to Mekong River Basin Countries / Juhee Jeong (Heidelberg University, Germany)

Discussant (20 minutes)
Juliette Schwak (Franklin University Switzerland, Switzerland)
Discussion with Q&A (30 minutes)
12.50 PM – 1.00 PM / Closing Remarks (Sojin Lim, Director of IKSU)

2022 IKSU Annual International Conference

Korean Politics and International Relations at Crossroads: Past, Present and the Future

7-8 January 2022

* This event will be held both online (via MS TEAMS) and offline, and open to all.

To attend the conference, please register by 31 December 2021 via Eventbrite.

Online link and on-campus venue information will be sent on 5 January 2022 to the registered emails.

Programme

Day 1: 7 January 2022 @ UCLan – the audience will be able to join both online and offline.

Day 2: 8 January 2022 @ Brockholes – the audience will be able to join online only.

This conference is funded by the Korean Studies Promotion Service, Academy of Korean Studies.

2021 IKSU Annual International Conference

Exploring Landscape of K-Culture and Changes in Society: Past, Present and Future

Programme

Day 1: 26 April 2021

Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns

Day 2: 27 April 2021

Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns

• Social Sciences Korean Studies European Network (Soken) Annual Workshop 2019 – Korea at the Crossroads: Economic Development, Political Dynamics, and Social Changes in the Contemporary Korean Peninsula
• K-Drama And Korean Television Symposium
• The 8th Annual Korean Screen Cultures Conference: Interdisciplinarity and ‘Trans-Korean Studies
• International Workshop on the Landscape of Taiwan Studies and Korean Studies

IKSU provides a semester-based buddy programme which links UCLan Korean Studies students and exchange students from South Korea.

For more details, please email Dr Jae-Wook Ryu who is leading the buddy programme.

IKSU hosts various guest talks about South and/or North Korea throughout the year.

Please email the IKSU Enquiries team for more details.

IKSU invites authors who have published books on Korea, and have sessions to discuss about their book(s).

Please email the IKSU Enquiries team for more details.

Korea Corner is a Korean cultural space, which has over 4,000 books and DVDs on both South and North Koreas, in English and Korean, along with some Korean artefacts. The space is funded by the Korea Foundation, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom.

Korea Corner is open for browsing by members of the public with a valid ID within the UCLan Library. Public access is not available between the hours of 11am and 3pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.

For more details, please contact Rowann Fitzpatrick, or see the Library website for more access information.

UCLan is an official TOPIK test venue. In the UK, you can take TOPIK tests twice a year. For more information, visit the TOPIK website. For inquiries, please contact Ms Seungkyung Kim.

Dr Michael J. Seth is a Professor of History at James Madison University. There he teaches East Asian and World history. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii, his M.A. and B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Seth is the author of Education Fever: Society, Politics and the Pursuit of Schooling in South Korea (2002), A Concise History of Korea (second edition, 2016), North Korea: A History (2018), and editor of The Routledge Handbook of Modern Korean History (2016).

Professor Eun Mee Kim is Dean of The Graduate School, Professor in the Graduate School of International Studies, Director of the Institute for Development and Human Security and Director of the Ewha Global Health Institute for Girls at Ewha Womans University.

She served as President of the Korea Association of International Development and Cooperation (2011, 2012). She has served as a member on the Committee for International Development Cooperation under the Prime Minister’s Office, the Policy Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Policy Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. In 2012, she received the Service Merit Medal from the Republic of Korea for her contributions to the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan.

In 2013, she received the first research grant to a university in South Korea from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on her research project entitled, “Advocacy for Korean Engagement in Global Health and Development.” In 2016, she received a second grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a project entitled, “Korea Global Health Strategy.” In December 2016 she was appointed by the UN as one of 15 scientists in the world to work on the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019.

Dr Seon Jung Kim is Dean of International Office and Professor of the Department of Korean Studies at Keimyung University in Korea. She is also President of the Korean Language and Culture Education Society. She has published various of Korean text books in countries like United States, France and in Korea.

Ambassador Enna Park received an Honorary Doctorate here on 14 December 2022, based on her outstanding contributions to enhancing the quality of Korean studies, both nationally and internationally.

In her 37-year-long career as a diplomat, Enna has taken posts at the United Nations, the Korean Embassy in India, the Embassy in the People's Republic of China, and the Embassy in London, to name just a few. It's this experience and passion for making the world a better place through improving education and partnership that has made Enna the perfect individual to spearhead countless initiatives to promote the importance of educational partnerships between Korea and the United Kingdom.