[KS] The North Korea Watchers: Between Reality and Fiction (Seminar by Dr Jeffrey Robertson, at the University of Melbourne, 11 Nov.)

[Jasmine Barrett]

Hi Everyone,

Korean Studies Seminar Series at the University of Melbourne
*"The North Korea Watchers: Between Reality and Fiction"*
Presented by Dr Jeffrey Robertson - Associate Professor of Diplomatic
Studies at Yonsei University

Date: Thursday 11 November 2021
Time: 18:00 - 19:00 (Melbourne time +11GMT)
(16:00 in Seoul; 07:00 in London)
Venue: Zoom
Enquiries: jasmine.barrett at student.unimelb.edu.au

During 2017-18, the risk of conflict on the Korean peninsula increased.
Between Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in, and Donald Trump, a perfect storm of
populism and strategic change saw a frantic rhythm of events. This led to
an explosion in the growth of 'North Korea watchers' – the community of
scholars, analysts, government officers, NGO advocates, and journalists who
for one reason or another, commit a portion of their lives to watching
North Korea.
They are online, at conferences, workshops, and at impromptu events
addressing emerging crises. They share a very real cultural identity – a
sense of common understanding; recognition of familiar language, symbols,
and narratives; and in broad terms, even a shared sense of mission. They
play a vital role in public debate on a critical strategic issue. They
inform both the public and government on issues that could lead to
cataclysmic conflict - but who are the North Korea watchers?
This seminar explores the distinctiveness of English language policy
discourse on North Korea; the widely used narratives and implications for
policy discourse on North Korea; and how ethnographic fiction presents the
ideal means to communicate research on the unique expert community of the
North Korea watchers.

About the Presenter
Dr Jeffrey Robertson is an Associate Professor of Diplomatic Studies at
Yonsei University. Before moving to academia, he worked for the Australian
Government in the field of diplomacy, foreign policy and North Asia. His
research and writing interests include diplomatic practice and North Asia.
He is the author of Diplomatic Style and Foreign Policy: A Case Study of
South Korea (Routledge 2016) and is currently completing The North Korea
Watchers, an academic monograph using ethnographic fiction to reconstitute
the diverse stories of the North Korea watcher community into a cohesive
and engaging study of espionage, foreign policy and folly.

Bookings are essential for this event. You will receive a Zoom link via
email following registration.
https://unimelb.zoom.us/meeting/register/
tZ0odu2oqj8tGt2AmfAND3jqgMga0GaQEW-G

Event Details
Date: Thursday 11 November 2021
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm (Melbourne time +11GMT)  (4PM in Seoul; 7AM in London)
Venue: Zoom
Enquiries: jasmine.barrett at student.unimelb.edu.au
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