[KS] CFP: 2025 SNU International Conference for Contemporary Korean Studies (August 22-23, 2025)

[이승철Lee, Seung Cheol]

Dear Korean Studies Colleagues,

I am pleased to share the Call for Papers for the *2025 SNU International
Conference for Contemporary Korean Studies*, to be held at Seoul National
University on* August 22-23, 2025*.

We warmly invite you to submit a panel or paper proposal and encourage you
to share this CFP with others who might be interested. Thank you for your
support, and we look forward to your participation!

Best,
Seung Cheol Lee

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*2025 SNU International Conference for Contemporary Korean Studies*



*Date:* August 22-23, 2025
*Location:* Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea



*Korea as Symptom: Perspectives on the Future*

The SNU Institute for Contemporary Korean Studies is delighted to announce
the 2025 Annual International Conference, to be held at Seoul National
University on August 22-23, 2025. Building on the success of last year’s
inaugural international conference, this event has now been established as
an annual tradition.



This year’s theme, *Korea as Symptom: Perspectives on the Future*, invites
an exploration of contemporary Korean society as a dynamic intersection of
global forces and historical experiences—including (de)colonization, the
Cold War, modernization, globalization, financialization, and
digitalization. Far from being isolated phenomena, many of South Korea’s
recent developments—such as the crisis of democracy, an extremely low
fertility rate, regional depopulation, entrenched competitive environments,
the dominance of financial capitalism, rising multiculturalism, innovative
cultural practices, and emerging youth cultures—should be understood as
‘symptoms’ of broader global transformations. This conference aims to
examine these phenomena as entry points to imagine the future of Korean and
global societies. What do these symptoms reveal about larger structural and
historical processes? Do they simply signal crises within current systems
or do they offer pathways toward alternative futures? Can Korea serve as a
critical vantage point for analyzing and understanding global
transformations?



We welcome submissions that engage with, but are not limited to, the
following themes:

   - Narratives and imaginaries of Korea’s past, present, and future
   - Theoretical and empirical explorations on Korean futurity
   - Korean modernity and developmental trajectories
   - Historical and comparative analyses of the Korean political economy
   - Comparative perspectives on Korean politics and statehood
   - Korean identity, values, and their transformations
   - Shifts in Korean religion and spiritual practices
   - Contemporary Korean music and art
   - The global rise and influence of Korean popular culture
   - Other themes relevant to contemporary Korean studies





*Languag**e*

The official languages of the conference are English and Korean. Abstracts
must be submitted in English. Interpretation services will be available
during the conference as needed.



*Registration Fee*

There is no registration fee for this conference. Additionally, financial
support may be available for graduate students presenting at the conference.



*Submission Types*

   - *Individual Papers:* 15-20 minute presentations
   - *Panels:* 3-5 papers plus a discussant and a chair



*Word Limits*

   - Panel abstracts: 250 words (accompanied by 3-5 individual paper
   abstracts of 200 words each and short bios of the presenters)
   - Paper abstracts: 200 words (accompanied by a short bio of the
   presenter; only one paper presentation is allowed per person)



*Submission Deadline*

Please submit panel and paper abstracts by *February 28, 2025*, to the
following email address: *snucks2025 at gmail.com <snucks2025 at gmail.com>*



The program committee will notify applicants of acceptance decisions by *March
20, 2025*. For inquiries, please contact the same email address.
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