Korean Studies

About Us

All of our academic staff are international experts on Korea. The scope of research expertise is wide-ranging, spanning politics, law, economy, film, music, popular culture, gender studies, migration, history, and religion. We bring our research into the classroom, enriching learning with the latest perspectives and new resources. 

We are committed to developing and sharing research with the wider communities in and outside the university. We provide commentaries for national and international media outlets. We work with students to curate themed exhibitions. We work with cinemas, community events, government bodies, and international organisations to have a greater impact on the public understanding of Korea.  

Research Expertise

Our academic staff examine both historical and contemporary perspectives on Korea from a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Mike Prentice examines work cultures and new communication platforms in corporate South Korea. Kahee Jo deals with economic policy making in South Korea, with a focus on the electric vehicle sector. Sarah Son examines inter-Korean relations, with an emphasis on North Korea and human rights issues. Yookyeong Im explores the intersection of law and social movements in contemporary South Korea. Gemma Ballard focuses on contemporary South Korean cinema and its relationship with urban space. Sojin Yu, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, researches migration, ‘race’/ethnicity, and nation in South Korea.

Kate Taylor-Jones examines Korean films in a postcolonial perspective, in addition to engaging with contemporary topics in Korean film studies. Hannah Hyun Kyong Chang researches religious, popular, and art music of Korea in a transpacific framework. Derek Kramer focuses on the history of science and technology in Cold-War and postcolonial Korea. Owen Stampton, a Centre for Korean Studies postdoctoral associate, looks at early-twentieth century literary genres.

Research Projects

Staff researching Korea are active researchers, securing grants with British, European, Korean and international funding organisations on a range of projects. Below is a sample of research projects and awards in recent years.

• Pacific Voicings: Korean Hymns and Prayers in the Age of Empires, 1884-1945 led by Hannah Hyun Kyong Chang, funded by the AHRC
• Unification Policy Study Trip, led by Sarah Son, funded by the UniKorea Foundation
• Sociolinguistic Futures between the UK and South Korea, led by Mike Prentice, funded by UKRI
• ‘A New Kind of Energy: Fantasies of an Atomic Age in the Cold War Koreas’ led by Derek Kramer, funded by the British Academy
• Bilingualism in a Monoethnic Nation: migration and language in South Korea led by Sojin Yu as a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
• International Circle of Korean Linguistics (ICKL) 2026 Conference, led by Mike Prentice, Yookyeong Im and Kook-Hee Gil (School of English), funded by the Academy of Korean Studies
• K-pop Memorabilia: Creative Industry and Fandom Exhibition, led by Youn-hi Hughes (East Asia liaison librarian) and Hannah Hyun Kyong Chang, funded by the National Library of Korea

Staff researching Korea also regularly participate in and have taken leadership roles in international organisations focused on Korean Studies including the following:

• British Association for Korean Studies (BAKS) 
• Association for Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE) 
• Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 
• Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) 
• Korea Foundation (KF)        
• Korea Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) 

Korea around campus

The University of Sheffield is home to many unique Korea-related resources and artifacts. 

• Korea Society, a student organisation promoting all things Korea
• Centre for Korean Studies based in Jessop West building
• Two jangseung Korean totem poles outside of the Information Commons created by artist Jinsik Kim to celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2019
• Window on Korea space at the Western Bank Library funded by the National Library of Korea
• Alan Winnington Papers, a special archival collection containing the works of the British journalist who covered the Korean War
• Annual Korea Day, co-sponsored by the KCC held in April every year
• K-pop Worlds, a virtual exhibition curated by staff and students