Gem Fox

Major: East Asian Languages & Civilizations

Year: 2024

I am a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences studying East Asian Languages & Civilizations with a concentration in Korea. I was originally drawn to Korean language through my appreciation for K-pop, and I began studying Korean language from my first semester at Penn and have continued ever since. I studied abroad at Yonsei University in fall 2022, where I was not only immersed in Korean culture and language, but also had the opportunity to take courses on subjects such as international politics of the Korean peninsula, Korean modern art, and the history of K-pop. After returning to Penn, I was introduced to the study of gender and sexuality in the East Asian context by the course Queer Chinas: Sexuality and Politics in the Sinophone World. My current research interests include gender in Korea, particularly its role in shaping the everyday lives of people in the Choson Dynasty. I enjoy interdisciplinary and comparative approaches to Korean studies, and I am excited to hear from diverse scholars within the field at the weekly Kim Center colloquia. 

Outside of the classroom, I am an avid lover of the arts, always visiting galleries, museums, and shops to appreciate art and design. I am currently working as the student designer for a Korean language textbook project.