Our events and external engagement

We regularly host conferences, symposia, seminars, workshops, and other types of networking events covering diverse Korea-related topics, often featuring esteemed scholars from Korea and around the world.

Tourism, Mobility, and Cross-cultural Marriage – The Case of Japanese Women in Bali

Presenters: Dr Ni Nengah Suartini, University Pendidikan Ganesha

Date: March 4 2025

Location: University of Auckland

Korean Studies Colloquia Series at the University of Auckland: "Tourism, Mobility, and Cross-cultural Marriage – The Case of Japanese Women in Bali". Dr Ni Nengah Suartini discusses how tourism and mobility influence cross-cultural marriages, with a specific focus on Japanese women who choose Bali as their home.

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Indonesia–Korea Partnership in the Context of Public Diplomacy

Presenters: Dr. Sukma Sushanti, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia

Date: February 20 2025

Location: The University of Auckland

Dr Sukma Sushanti examines Indonesia–Korea relations, highlighting the role of pop culture and public diplomacy in fostering cooperation and mutual engagement between the two countries.

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From Creativity to Ideology – How Autocracy Removed Artistic Freedom in North Korean Music

Presenters: Prof. Keith David Howard, SOAS University of London

Date: February 13 2025

Location: The University of Auckland

In this Korean Studies Colloquium at the University of Auckland, Professor Keith David Howard examines the transformation of North Korean music under political autocracy, focusing on how ideological mandates replaced artistic freedom. Drawing on archival material and scholarly commentary, he traces the evolution from the 1955 ‘juche speech’ to the current landscape of conformity in North Korean artistic production.

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Economic Growth and Democratization in South Korea

Presenters: Prof. Dong Woo Yoo, University of Ulsan

Date: January 29 2025

Location: The University of Auckland

In this Korean Studies Colloquium at the University of Auckland, Professor Dong Woo Yoo analyses how South Korea’s democratic development has been shaped by its decentralised electoral system. Focusing on the structure and function of National Assembly elections, the talk highlights how institutional constraints helped curb authoritarian tendencies and contributed to sustained democratic governance.

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Immigrant Identity Through Stories and Imagery in Australian and NZ Children’s Books

Presenters: Dr. Hai-suk Kim (University of Queensland)

Date: January 16 2025

Location: The University of Auckland

In this Korean Studies Colloquium at the University of Auckland, Dr. Hai-suk Kim explores how children’s literature shapes understandings of immigrant identity, using content and visual discourse analysis to examine portrayals of immigrant characters. Her research highlights how such narratives reflect social ideologies, promote or marginalise immigrant voices, and influence young readers’ perceptions of multiculturalism.

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Incremental Mindset Strengthens Consumer Responses to In-kind CSR Contributions

Presenter: Yuri Seo (University of Auckland)

Date: December 6 2024

Location: Business Building, Room 630, Yonsei University

This marketing seminar, hosted by the Yonsei Business Research Institute, features Professor Yuri Seo from the University of Auckland. His presentation discusses how an incremental mindset enhances consumer responses to in-kind corporate social responsibility (CSR) and cultural appropriation in K-pop industries.

NZAI – KSMS Joint Symposium

Presenters: The University of Auckland, Korea University, and Nanjing University

Date: November 23 2024

Location: Korea University Business School

The 4th New Zealand Asia Institute and Korean Scholars of Marketing Science Joint Symposium on “Asian Perspectives in Consumer Research” took place at Korea University Business School. This year, we also invited marketing scholars from Nanjing University in China to join the symposium.

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Korean American Hip Hop Music and Contemporary Korean Youth Identity

Presenters: James An

Date: 12-13 August 2024

Location: The University of Auckland

This project focuses on the musical world of a Korean American artist who migrated to Canada, the US, and then returned to South Korea. It is related to the University of Auckland A Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) project since it features the construction and expression of the identity of a Korean American (Canadian) hip-hop artist.

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Between Foreigners and Compatriots: Social Integration of Ethnic Koreans in Korea

Presenter: In-Jin Yoon (Korea University)

Date: 10 May 2024

Location: CLL Seminar Room (207-519), The University of Auckland

This K-Diaspora colloquium seminar, led by Sociology Professor In-Jin Yoon from Korea University, discusses the social integration status of overseas Koreans (ethnic Koreans) residing in Korea and identifies the factors that affect their social integration.

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Presenter: Dai Kaneda (The Nishinippon Shimbun)

Date: 3 May 2024

Location: Pat Hanan Room (207-501), The University of Auckland

This K-Diaspora colloquium seminar, led by Mr Dai Kaneda from the Nishinippon Shimbun, shared his personal journey as a Zainichi Korean in Japan. His talk covered the migration of his ancestors to Japan, the racial discrimination faced by Zainichi Koreans, the complexities of their social dynamics, and the evolving perceptions of Korea within Japanese society.

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Connections: Creating Resonance through a Graphic Novel

Presenter: Patsy Y. Iwasaki (University of Hawai‘i at Hilo)

Date: 19 April 2024

Location: Pat Hanan Room (207-501), The University of Auckland

This K-Diaspora colloquium seminar, led by Associate Professor Patsy Y. Iwasaki from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, featured her graphic novel Hamakua Hero: A True Plantation Story, which brings to life the story of Katsu Goto, a Japanese migrant in Hawai‘i.

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Digital Curation of Humanities Data: Embracing Creative Culture and Art in the AI Era

Presenter: Hyeon Kim (The Academy of Korean Studies)

Date: 4 April 2024

Location: Humanities Building 201-Room 311, The University of Auckland

The K-Curricular colloquium seminar by Professor Hyeon Kim from the Academy of Korean Studies, titled “Digital Curation of Humanities Data: Embracing Creative Culture and Art in the AI Era,” explores how the digital curation of humanities data can foster creative culture and art in the AI era.

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Diaspora is the Future

Presenter: Joseph Juhn, Esq.

Date: 15 March 2024

Location: Pat Hanan Room (207-501), The University of Auckland

The K-Curricular colloquium seminar by lawyer-turned-filmmaker Joseph Juhn, titled “Diaspora is the Future,” focuses on Juhn’s personal journey exploring the multiplicity and intersectionality of diasporic identity.

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Forging Pathways: Understanding and Empowering the New Zealand Workforce in South Korea

Presenters: Yuri Seo (The University of Auckland), Amy Errmann (Auckland University of Technology), and Tony Garrett (The New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea).

Date: 27 February 2024

Location: The Northern Club

This breakfast launch event was organised for a research project commissioned by the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (NA-CAPE), aimed at exploring the experiences of New Zealand professionals in South Korea. The report was prepared by Associate Professor Yuri Seo and Dr Amy Errmann. We also welcomed special guest Professor Tony Garrett, the Chair of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, who shared his personal experiences of building a career in Korea.

East Asia Culture Power Research Workshop: Reconciliation and Coexistence of East Asian Countries

Presenters: Ria Shibata (University of Auckland), Rumi Sakamoto (University of Auckland), Changzoo Song (University of Auckland), SeokWon Song (Kyunghee University), Jihye Chae (Hallym University), Miae Lee (Hallym University)

Date: 22-24 January 2024

Location: Building 206 – Room 201, The University of Auckland

This international workshop on East Asia, hosted as part of the K-Diaspora Colloquia Series, involved prominent scholars in Asian Studies from the University of Auckland, Kyunghee University, and Hallym University in South Korea.