News

Congratulations to Dr. Yoonbin Cho on Her New Appointment

June 21, 2025

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Dr. Yoonbin Cho, who was a graduate student in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory and served as a Graduate Fellow at the Kim Center for Korean Studies during the 2021–22 academic year, has accepted a faculty position as Assistant Professor of Korean Studies in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago.

She will begin her new role this fall semester.

James Joo-Jin Kim Center Executive Committee Update

June 21, 2025

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Professor Christopher Atwood (EALC) and Assistant Professor So-Rim Lee for their dedicated service as members of the Executive Committee for the Kim Center for Korean Studies. Their insight, leadership, and commitment have been invaluable to the Center’s growth and programming.

Congratulations to Dr. Juyoung Lee on Her New Appointment

June 19, 2025

We are delighted to share the wonderful news that Dr. Juyoung Lee, our 2024–25 Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kim Center for Korean Studies, has accepted a new position as Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica. She will begin this prestigious role on August 1, 2025.

2nd Call for Course Development Grants 2024-2025

March 25, 2025

Funded by the AKS (Academy of Korean Studies), the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies will award grants of $1,000 to support members of the University of Pennsylvania faculty, lecturers, and graduate students for the development of new courses or the significant revision of existing courses related to Korea. The proposed course can be Korea-focused or comparative with substantial coverage of Korea. An additional $1,000 will be awarded upon the successful completion of the course. The grant will be dispersed as additional pay.

New Assistant Director of Administration

January 27, 2025

Please join us in welcoming Derek Schozer, our new Assistant Director of Administration.

Derek Schozer is the Assistant Director of Administration at the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies. Previously, Derek worked in Human Resources at NYU Langone Health. Prior to this, he has also held positions in elementary education and higher education. In his free time, he enjoys playing piano and staying active. Derek is excited to contribute his knowledge to the Kim Center and looks forward to collaborating with the team!

Kim Center Executive Committee Member Update

January 23, 2025

The Kim Center extends its heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Josephine Nock-Hee Park, School of Arts and Sciences President’s Distinguished Professor of English, for her five and a half years of dedicated service as an Executive Committee Member. Her commitment and contributions have been invaluable to the growth and success of the Center. We are delighted to share that Prof. Park has recently been named Associate Dean for Arts and Letters in the School of Arts and Sciences, effective January 1, 2025.

Spring 2025 Colloquium Series Schedule

December 19, 2024

Please join us for the Korean Studies Colloquium Series for Spring 2025! Lunch will be provided.

“Sociologist Hyunjoon Park of the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies and political scientist Soosun You discuss the country’s challenges after a short-lived martial law declaration and pending presidential-impeachment vote”

December 6, 2024

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-sas-south-korea-crisis-explained

Now Accepting 2025-26 Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications

November 15, 2024

The James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies at the University of Pennsylvania announces a Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2025–26 academic year. The postdoctoral fellowship is open to scholars from any discipline with a research and teaching focus on Korea.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Korea Conference

October 30, 2024

Supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2023-OLU-2250002), the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies will host the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Korea Conference at the University of Pennsylvania on April 25, 2025. The conference aims to serve as a multidisciplinary platform that brings together digital scholarship on Korean studies across the humanities and social sciences.