Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Language studies, Historical studies, Comparative and cross-cultural education, Culture, representation and identityBiography
I am a Lecturer in Korean Studies in the School of Humanities and Languages at UNSW, Sydney and a Sociolinguist whose research adopts a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to Korean minority communities in diasporic and transnational contexts.
My research focuses on how political, cultural, and linguistic factors, alongside language education, shape identity, belongings, and intercultural communication. My work has particular relevance...view more
I am a Lecturer in Korean Studies in the School of Humanities and Languages at UNSW, Sydney and a Sociolinguist whose research adopts a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to Korean minority communities in diasporic and transnational contexts.
My research focuses on how political, cultural, and linguistic factors, alongside language education, shape identity, belongings, and intercultural communication. My work has particular relevance to Korean ethnic schools in Japan managed by a pro-North Korean organisation, Chongryon. Using a combination of multimodal discourse analysis and digital methods. I examine how language practices shape identity, belonging, and bilingual experiences in these contexts.
I have an established record of teaching and program coordination for learners from highly diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds across tertiary institutions in Australia and China, and have contributed to curriculum development in Korean language and culture at advanced levels.
My Grants
- 2024: Sun Guangdong Provincial Government, Textbook Publication Support Grant
- 2020: Korea Institute for National Unification, International Publication Grant
- 2018: Australian Government, Research Support Grant
- 2017: Japan Foundation, International Research Grant
- 2017: Australian Government, Research Support Grant
My Qualifications
- PhD UQ Brisbane
- MEd in Gifted Education UNSW Sydney
- BA in English Language and Literature US S. Korea
My Research Activities
I am strongly engaged in research on Korean minority and diasporic communities, with a specific focus on political, cultural, and linguistic identity. My work seeks to advance scholarly understanding of Korean diasporas and minority education through research that closely aligns with my core academic interests. This field often presents challenges, including limited access to communities and archival materials, which have required the development of innovative methodological approaches and sustained, ethical engagement with community groups. To address these challenges, I have developed long-term relationships with relevant organisations and communities to facilitate access to data. I employ interdisciplinary methods including media analysis, film studies, and ethnographic approaches. My research has resulted in peer-reviewed publications with international presses as well as presentations at leading global conferences. My work contributes to Korean Studies while informing educational practice, reflecting my capacity to lead research projects and develop innovative, cross-disiplinary approach.
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
I am interested in supervising HDR candidates working on diasporic and transnational minority communities, particularly in relation to language, culture, education, and identity. I have a strong commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that integrate methods from sociolinguistics, education, media and cultural studies, and qualitative and quantitative research. I also welcome supervision in Korean Studies, with a focus on the Korean peninsula, including issues related to language, education systems, political leadership, and contemporary Korean culture. My supervisory interests emphasise projects that explore how identity, policy, and cultural production intersect across North and South Korea, as well as within global Korean diasporas.
My Engagement
Membership
- Member, Korean Studies Association Australasia
- Member, European Centre for North Korean Studies, University of Vienna
Research Reviewer
- Reviewer, Multimedia-Assisted Language Learning (Journal)
- External advisor, Research students' dissertations on Korean Studies (China)
Advisor
- Advisor, Sydney's Young Korean community
- Advisor, Students' Korean Culture Club (China)
My Teaching
I very much enjoy teaching discourse analysis and the ways language reflects and shapes social issues, identities, and cultural meanings. I am particularly interested in how linguistic practices intersect with broader societal and political contexts, especially in relation to contemporary Korean language and culture.
I teach and coordinate Advanced Language Core Courses offered annually, as well as Korean Professional Studies Courses offered biennially. In these roles, I support students in developing high-level proficiency in Korean while engaging with complex cultural texts and communicative contexts.
- ARTS3660 Advanced Korean A (Korean 5)
- ARTS3661 Advanced Korean B (Korean 6)
- ARTS3662 Korean Popular Culture and Language
- ARTS3663 Professional Korean
- ARTS3664 Korean Translation
- ARTS3665 Korean Interpreting
- ARTS3667 Insights into Korean as a Second Language
Location
School of Humanities and Languages,
Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture
UNSW Sydney 2052