GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Program 2024-2025
Application Deadline: Friday, May 3rd, 2024
The Institutes for Korean Studies at the George Washington University and Indiana University Bloomington invite undergraduate students to apply for the GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Program. We are seeking to select students who are interested in conducting research about Korea. All students receive mentoring from faculty at the Institute for Korean Studies.
Selected students participate in research workshops during the fall and spring semesters, take part in a mini-conference, and present their papers at the annual GW-IU Korean Studies Undergraduate Research Exchange Conference in the spring semester. The conference alternates locations between Washington, D.C. and Bloomington, Indiana. This academic year’s conference will be held at George Washington University.
Benefits of the Program
Get close mentoring by faculty through monthly meetings
Produce a 15-20 page research paper on any Korea-related research topic such as politics, inter-Korean affairs, literature, film, K-pop, history, sociology, anthropology and more!
Participate in the annual GW-IU Korean Studies Exchange Conference to be held in Washington DC this academic year (expenses paid!)
Volunteer at the Institute for Korean Studies events
Earn 3 credits toward the fall 2024 semester
Eligibility:
Undergraduates (juniors and seniors preferred)
Research proposal on any Korea related topic
How to Apply:
IU students send an email to iks@indiana.edu with a short personal statement explaining why you are interested in participating, your resume, and a one-page research proposal with the following information:
What is the title of your project?
Research questions: What questions will you be asking in your research?
Background information: Provide a list of potential sources.
Methods: How are you going to conduct your research? Using what data?
Significance: Why is your research important?
Past GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Fellows
The Institutes for Korean Studies at George Washington University and Indiana University Bloomington invite students to apply for the GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Program. We select students who are interested in conducting research about Korea. All students receive mentoring from faculty at the Institute for Korean Studies.
Selected students participate in research workshops during the fall and spring semesters, take part in a mini-conference, and present their papers at the annual GW-IU Korean Studies Undergraduate Research Exchange Conference in the spring semester. The conference alternates locations between Washington, DC, and Bloomington, IN. This academic year's conference will be held at Indiana University.
2023-2024 GW-IU Undergraduate Research Fellows:
Julia Beechler
Major: Political Science and East Asian Languages and Cultures Year: Junior Research Project: The South Korean Government and the Use of K-Pop as Soft Power Research Explanation: The research examines how the South Korean government leverages the popularity of K-pop to positively influence its national image. The study will also explore the government's interactions with non-governmental individuals in the United States to achieve this objective.
Hannah Katinsky
Major: Linguistics Minor: Korean, Spanish, and Second Language Acquisition Year: Sophomore Research Project: Noun Incorporation and the Korean Light Verb Construction Research Explanation: Investigating the various applications of the Korean Light Verb Construction (LVC) through data collected in Seoul. The project focuses on noun incorporation within the context of the Korean language, contributing valuable insights to the field of Linguistics.
Bella Packowski
Major: East Asian Languages & Cultures (Korean) Minor: Political Science Year: Senior Research Project: Stalinism's Role in Inspiring and Shaping North Korea's Juche Ideology Research Explanation: North Korea, among the world's most isolated governments, offers a distinctive case in international politics due to its adoption of Juche, an ideology centered on self-reliance. This study analyzes various World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era archival data, and delves into how Stalinism, within the context of Soviet Communism, influenced this ideology, and how it directed North Korea's domestic and international political affairs.
Julianne Hatcher (Sophomore, International Studies, Environmental Sustainability) "Nuclear Energy in South Korea"
Yongxing Tang(Junior, Business (Finance and Marketing)) “Infinite Challenge - Societal Lessons Behind the Korean Reality Show"
Kaelyn Klatte, (Sophomore, International Law and Legal Institutions) “Pessimism: South Korean Youth’s Perceptions of the Likelihood of a Korean Reunification"
Lillian Rogers (Junior, International Studies) “K-pop and the Sewol Ferry Tragedy: Protest and Activism in K-Pop"
Alex Vensel (Junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Management and Human Organization) “Organized Chaos: Fanchantsn and the Accessibility of K-pop to International Fans"
Haleigh Nightenhesler (senior, East Asian Studies) “From Kimchi to Airplanes" BTS and Anti-Hallyu in China in 2020 and 2021"
Dakotah Meadows (senior, English, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Domestic Materiality in 1970's Korean Short Stories"
Toby Huter (senior, English, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Traditional Symbols in K-pop Music Videos"
Veronica Coffey(junior, International Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures) "Understanding the Influence of Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 in the Time of #MeToo”
Natalya Cohen(senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) “Rural Migrant Worker Advocacy and Organization in South Korea”
Tony George(senior, Media and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “LGBTQ+ K-Pop Fans and Gender Performance of K-Pop Idol Celebrities"
Katherine Lawrence (senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Marketing tradition: Globalization of Korean cuisine and preservation of 'hansik' as a symbol of Korean culture, heritage, and identity in the 21st century"
Toby Huter (sophomore, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “The Transformative Effect ofHallyuon Korean History”
Caitlyn Ranieri (junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) “A Shift in Reunification Sentiment”
Callie Rhoades (senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Perfectly Imperfect Koreans:The Return of Superman’s Park Family and Multicultural Representations in South Korean Media”
Summer Snyder (sophomore, Political Science and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “The Developmental State of North Korea and Its Reluctant Marketization”
Yvonne Thomason (senior, Biochemistry and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “TheSampoGeneration: Socioeconomic Contributions and Repercussions”
Paola Flores(senior, International Studies) "The Marginalization of Elderly Women in 21st Century Korea"
Emily Gibson(senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) "North Korean Perspectives on Democracy, Human Rights and Capitalism: The State vs. Migrants"
Chaewon Lee(junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International studies) "Perceptions and Dimensions of Peace: The Divergent Discourse of Inter-Korean Peace between Hankyoreh and Chosun Ilbo in South Korea"
Lucas Maurer(junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) "Identifying Phonological Patterns Underlying Korean Orthography Revision"
Margaret Suh(senior, Political Science and International Studies) "South Korea's Energy Choice and Climate Diplomacy"
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies