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The 2025 Graduate Conference in Korean Studies will be held on Friday, February 7th and Saturday, February 8th at the USC Ronald Tutor Campus Center, Franklin Suites (Rooms 350/351/352).

This year we have a wide array of papers that span the humanities and social sciences placing emphasis on  research related to Korea, East Asia, or Asian diasporas.

This conference aims to foster a multidisciplinary community of local and regional graduate students whose research projects significantly engage Korean society and culture across the periods. It offers a platform for emerging scholars to present their work-in-progress, receive feedback from faculty and peers, and participate in interdisciplinary discussions within a supportive environment.

For a pdf version of the conference program, please click here: 2025 Grad Conference in Korean Studies Program

Anyone genuinely curious about what makes South Korean pop culture tick should look no further than Gangnam. Having been wildly celebrated by an unlikely K-pop superstar called Psy in 2012, it is the epicenter of Hallyu, the Korean Wave. Gangnam is an exclusive zone of wealth and privilege that has lured pop culture industries to take root and flourish since the 1980s. But at the same time, Gangnam is widely regarded as a breeding ground for ‘social evil’ (sahoeak) in South Korea as it has firmly established itself as the shrine of the unholy trinity of Korean capitalism: real estate speculation, adult entertainment/sex industry, and college-prep private education business. Gangnam’s foul sense of place, associated with such social evils as organized crime, sex work, and overheated educational competition, has helped create compelling villain characters in South Korean film and television drama. Moreover, Gangnam often makes the evil contagious to other characters, who become complicit either in evil acts perpetrated by villains or in corrupt social institutions. By analyzing Yeon Sang-ho’s animation The King of Pigs (2013) and Yoon Jong-bin’s film Beastie Boys (2008) as the main visual texts, this talk will take an unflinching look at the dark side of South Korean society ranging from school bullying to entertainment industry scandals to misogynistic violence, all of which have provided compelling narratives for an increasing number of Hallyu media products.

This book talk is co-organized by the USC Korean Heritage Library and the USC Korean Studies Institute.

While South Korea successfully transitioned from nearly four decades of authoritarian rule to a parliamentary democracy, the high-level political democratization of post-1987 was also enmeshed with all-out neoliberal restructuring following the 1997 financial crisis. The consequent deepening of inequality and poverty, leading to extreme polarization of the society, along with disappointments with political reform, has resulted in the widespread sense of defeat and pessimism embodied in the discourse of “de-democratization;” that is, despite the hegemony of democratic rhetoric and political democratization, democracy in South Korea is in crisis.

This presentation argues that despite the widespread despair, a broad spectrum of civil society has made equally determined and vociferous efforts to demand and work for democratization in all spheres of life. It explores the political horizons and social imaginaries of these movements, which compel rethinking the meaning of democracy and broadening the existing concept of social movements.

Mr. Ko Young-hwan, President of the National Institute for Unification Education (NIU), will deliver a talk on the Republic of Korea’s unification policy, specifically the 8.15 Unification Doctrine. He will also provide insights into the North Korean political system, drawing from his extensive experience as a North Korean diplomat and interpreter for Kim Il-sung.

President Ko defected to the Republic of Korea in 1991 after over a decade of service in central and East Africa, including his first posting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since his defection, he has held several key positions in the Republic of Korea, including special aide to Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho and vice president of the Institute for National Security Strategy.

*This event will be in Korean. Interpreters will be on standby for Q&A.

Renowned for their remarkably active, passionate, and omnipresent fanbase, K-pop artists enjoy unparalleled exposure and engagement on the global stage. From sold-out world tours to staggering album sales, K-pop is making its mark.

Behind the Scenes of K-pop is an exciting, all-day symposium featuring insiders and experts who will foster conversations about the art, culture, business, and future of the international music sensation.

Join us on the front lawn of the Ahn House as we celebrate Hangul Day! This event brings together students as well as people from the community to celebrate the Korean language. The Hangul Day event is co-organized by the Korean Language Program, Korean Heritage Library, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles, and the USC Korean Studies Institute.

The USC Korean Studies Institute will be hosting an orientation at the Ahn Family House for our Undergraduate Research Fellow program on Sept. 3rd, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

We will recognize the KSI Undergraduate Fellows who have successfully completed the Fellows program and congratulate graduating seniors. This event will take place at the Ahn Family House.

KSI SPEAKER SERIES

Join us for a talk by Professor Da Wei, the director of the Center for International Security & Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University. He will share his insights on China-U.S. relations and U.S. security/foreign policy. Professor Da Wei’s guest lecture will take place at TCC Room 227.

RSVP open to USC students, staff, and faculty only.

KSI SPEAKER SERIES

Susan Hwang, an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, came to the USC Korean Studies Institute to give a talk about the culture and politics of South Korean protest music.

The USC Korean Studies Institute hosted its 12th Graduate Student Symposium on February 9th, 2024. Participants from many different schools came to present on topics related to Korea, East Asia, and Asian diasporas. The panels of the symposium were “Now & Future Culture,” “Diasporas, Boundaries, & Identities,” and “Education & Culture.”

Following the symposium, the participants were able to attend a professionalization panel where they heard from representatives of USC Annenberg, USC Dornsife, and Stand Together Foundation.

Learn more about the annual USC KSI Graduate Symposium here.

KSI SPEAKER SERIES

Jenny Town, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson’s 38 North Program came to the USC Korean Studies Institute to talk to us about her journey of how she became involved in North Korean issues, how she founded 38 North, and also her take on the recent tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Dr. Victor Cha, Professor of Government, and D.S. Song-KF Chair in the Department of Government and School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University talked to us about his new book Korea: A New History of South and North. The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from his experience writing the book, his time working in the White House, and his own knowledge of North and South Korea.

KSI SPEAKER SERIES

Professor Sixiang Wang, a historian of Choson Korea and early modern East Asia at UCLA shared key insights from his book Boundless Winds of Empire. He challenged misconceptions of the historical relationship between China and Korea.

The USC Korean Studies Institute co-hosted an event to celebrate the Korean language Hangul! Korean language students joined us for fun Hangul-themed crafts and contests and learned about Korean culture. This annual event is organized by the USC Korean Language department and co-hosted by USC East Asian Languages and Cultures, USC Korean Studies Institute, USC Korean Heritage Library, and Korean Cultural Center LA.

KSI SPEAKER SERIES

What is going on with North Korea these days?

Mr. Bob Carlin, a long-time expert on North Korea, along with Dr. David Kang, the Director of the Korean Studies Institute discussed what has been going on in North Korea since the Trump-Kim summit and the state of North Korea-US relations.