By Honorary Reporter Ishani Ghosh from U.S.

Photo = UCLA International Institute

Jennifer Jung-Kim is a lecturer at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) who teaches Korean history, politics, pop culture and gender dynamics as well as East Asia and Asian America. Having received her doctorate from UCLA, she is also an instructor at the Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles run by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The following are excerpts from an interview with her.

Jennifer Jung-Kim earned her Ph.D. in Korean studies from UCLA, where she works as a lecturer. (UCLA International Institute)

You studied Korea from the U.S. As an ethnic Korean, what motivated you to do this?
In college, I wanted to study Korea abroad because I thought that being outside of Korea would allow me to look at Korean historiography more critically. It worked and gave me a broader theoretical framework because I could get out of the Korean nationalist discourse.

What issues do you face as a scholar of Korea?
Hallyu (the Korean Wave) has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has brought so much attention to Korea, especially the language and culture. I know that many students want to learn Korean history and literature, but some shy away from these topics to focus on the language and culture.

Another task is to dispel misunderstanding of Confucianism. For example, some say the reason so many Korean students died in the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry was Confucianism, which made them listen to adults who told them to stay put. Or that Korea has effectively handled the coronavirus thanks to Confucianism. I argue that we need to dig more deeply to understand situations and their contexts.

Interest in Korean pop culture is at an all-time high. Your research studies how popular understandings of history and identities reflect and reconstruct pop culture. What aspect of Hallyu strikes you as surprising?
I am fascinated by the active role of fans in the expansion of Hallyu. If we look back at Psy's hit "Gangnam Style," the music and dance were catchy but the flash mobs and fan-created parody videos took it to a new level. I'm also amazed at the role of BTS' Army (the group's fan club) in promoting the group and supporting philanthropy, like how Army matched the group's donation of USD 1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in just over 24 hours. K-pop fans are self-empowered, share a virtual space spanning the globe and want to make a positive difference across borders.

Do you consider Hallyu an effective influence in generating interest in Korean studies in academia?
I think K-pop and K-dramas are the gateways to the world of Korean pop culture. As people watch Korean dramas and listen to K-pop, they often want to learn the language to better understand the dialogue and lyrics. Students also want to learn other aspects of Korean culture such as films, food, or more academic aspects such as history and literature. So I do think the Korean Wave has done more to spread interest in Korean studies than anything else thus far.

What are your aspirations in your field?
I hope to see greater diversification in Korean studies. The field is well established throughout Asia, North America, Europe and Australia but it's also growing in Latin America and the Middle East. I think this global interest will enrich the field through more diverse viewpoints and new connections between Korea and elsewhere.

What advice do you have for those wishing to pursue undergraduate or graduate study in Korea?
I would urge students to take the time to learn the language thoroughly. Many universities in the U.S. offer several levels of Korean, but students can also learn the language in Korea over the summer or perhaps for a semester or two. I think students will gain much from learning Korean regardless of their specific interest in Korea. To be able to talk to Koreans in their own language opens up an entirely new world.

enny0611@korea.kr


*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.