Fellows (4th-term)

Biography

Education:

Mar 2004: Sophia University, B.A. in Psychology

Feb 2011: Seoul National University, M.A. in International Studies (Korean Studies)

Aug 2021: Seoul National University, Ph.D. in Sociology



Position:

Oct 2022 – Present: Ibaraki University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Assistant Professor(tenured)

Sep 2024 – Present: Seoul National University, Graduate School of Public Health, Population Policy Center, Visiting Assistant Professor

Sep 2022 – Aug 2023: Seoul National University, Institute for Asian Studies, Visiting Research Fellow

Sep 2021 – Aug 2022: Seoul National University, Institute for Asian Studies, Visiting Researcher

Mar 2012 – Aug 2022: Seoul National University, Institute for Asian Studies, Korea Foundation Global e-School, Teaching Assistant

Research Outline

My research focuses on a comparative sociological approach to family, population, and gender studies. While I have primarily conducted my work in South Korea, concentrating on population issues between Japan and South Korea, I have increasingly expanded my scope to include comparative studies involving Western and other East Asian regions.

My current research project aims to elucidate the underlying causes of declining birth rates in five major Asian cities: Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This study specifically addresses the "acceleration of declining birth rates," a phenomenon not adequately explained by existing Western theoretical frameworks. It identifies the rapid societal transformations unique to East Asia, termed "compressed modernity," as a key contextual factor. Through a comprehensive analysis of the values, realities, and policies in each city, the study explores the interactions between these elements and the phenomenon of declining birth rates.

A focal point of my analysis is the "explosive rise in women's educational attainment," which I posit as a critical explanatory variable. I am particularly interested in how these shifts in young women's life courses and gender relations create tensions with traditional societal norms and institutional structures across the studied regions.

The ultimate goal of this research is to identify the commonalities and differences in the underlying factors driving accelerated birth rate declines in East Asia and provide policy-relevant insights tailored to the specific contexts of each city.

What is my goal as a transborder researcher?

As a transborder researcher, I seek to transcend the boundaries of nations and cultures, playing a role that connects different societies and academic fields. Transborder, in my view, is not limited to merely crossing physical borders, but also involves linking various disciplines, cultures, and values, enabling us to approach issues from a broader perspective.

In my research, I focus on family, population, and gender, with particular emphasis on comparing issues such as declining birth rates and gender dynamics in Japan, South Korea, and other East Asian countries. Through comparative research in Asia, I aim to introduce new perspectives to the theories on declining birth rates, which have predominantly been developed from a Western standpoint. To achieve this, my goal is to actively incorporate diverse viewpoints that transcend both national and disciplinary boundaries, and through dialogue with individuals from various backgrounds, generate new knowledge that contributes to building sustainable societies.

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