Korea Research Centre of Western Australia
About us
Established with support from the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Research Centre of WA is a hub for Korean Studies teaching and research in the Perth metropolitan area and Western Australia, aiming to train future scholars in Korean Studies through a strong focus on facilitating postgraduate and postdoctoral research opportunities, as well as research-led teaching.
In addition, the Centre seeks to foster collaboration among researchers engaged in Korea-related research in West Australian higher education institutions, and connect them with key stakeholders in the WA business community, state government and non-profit organisations with Australia-Korea interests.
Current projects
The Centre focuses on three core research themes, which examine Korean society and culture: Emotions, Bodies and Identity. Each theme makes up a strategic research cluster helmed by a leading scholar, and includes postgraduates and postdoctoral fellows from UWA and other universities in WA, building on existing and established research excellence in these areas, with hopes of increasing high quality Korea-related research in the State.
Centre activities
- Perth Metropolitan Korea Research Seminar Series: A program of seminar talks and workshops to consolidate and build on the existing research excellence in Western Australia across all universities in the state, as well as with collaboration partners (including the Australia Korea Business Council of WA).
- Korea Research Collaboratory: Targeted collaborations between leading scholars to work on specific thematic areas under the Centre’s key themes of The Body, Emotions and Identity. Each one of the Collaboratories will result in a collaborative publication, and research exchanges with leading scholars around Australia and the immediate region (also in collaboration with the UWA Institute of Advanced Studies and the ARC Centre for History of Emotions).
- The Emerging Experts in Korean Studies program: A program that involves scholarship and mentoring to encourage the fostering of new and emerging Koreanists in WA and beyond to undertake Master of Research, Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy studies in Korean Studies. The program also includes MPhil/MRes and PhD scholarships, as well as Postgraduate and Early Career Training Workshops, Fellowships, and Postgraduate and Fieldwork bursaries.
- Targeted education and training: This undertaking will include the development of a suite of short course offerings in a broad range of topics designed to attract a broader student base outside the traditional student body.
- Industry and key stakeholder engagement in Korea-related research, consultancy and training: A research and training program that will leverage joint-funded grants, consultancy, and other opportunities.
Our researchers
Project team
Project staff
- Younghye Whitney, Centre Manager
- Caleb Kelso-Marsh, Teaching Fellow
