Korea: Polarized Societies in a Globalized World

Over 40 prominent scholars from 12 different countries participated in “Polarization in Divided Societies: Korea in a Global Context,” a conference hosted by CEU’s Department of International Relations and European Studies (IRES).

The conference, held Sept. 2-4, was supported by the Korea Foundation’s Global E-School in Eurasia Project and marks the second gathering of academics at CEU to discuss Korea-related issues that stimulate critical dialogue and engagement amongst the East Asian studies community.


CEU IRES associate professor Matteo Fumagalli participates in the Polarization in Divided Societies: Korea in a Global Context conference. Image credit: CEU/Daniel Vegel

“Last year we assessed the quality of South Korea’s democracy and security issues in East Asia, with particular attention to North Korea,” said IRES Assistant Professor Youngmi Kim, who is the director of the Global E-School in Eurasia Project. Kim was one of the primary organizers of the conference, alongside Matteo Fumagalli, associate professor and department head of IRES. “We found this year’s focus on polarized societies to be particularly relevant in light of economic, social, and political changes brought about by globalization and deepened by the multiple crises we have all experienced over the past five years or so,” Kim said.

Throughout the duration of the conference, panelists presented papers and research presentations, which were then followed by interactive feedback and discussion. Diverse topics were presented, including the rise of social inequality in Korea, political behavioral patterns including labor activism and online politics, and contemporary societal issues that spanned from niche topics such as the divorce revolution to new masculinity ideals. Engagement and inter-Korea relations were also discussed.

“The question of Korea is one that isn’t going to go away,” said James Hoare, former British chargé d’affaires to North Korea, who is now a research associate at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and opened the first UK Emb


Lecture at Polarization in Divided Societies: Korea in a Global Context conference / Image credit: CEU/Daniel Vegel

assy to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). “It’s not just the nuclear issue. It’s the fact that there are two heavily armed states in a rather dangerous part of the world with big powers all around them – China, Russia, Japan, and the United States – which is both distant and local. So conferences that help to explain that world, to analyze the relationship between the two Koreas and to explain the tensions that exist in those two societies are important in helping the people to understand the world of east Asia.”

Hoare, whose focus is on engagement within the Korean peninsula, appreciated the fresh perspectives offered at the conference. “It’s always interesting to hear the views of new scholars in the field, but it’s also been rather more interesting than I thought to hear the views of those who come outside the field.”

Robert Cribb, a historian from Australian National University was one such scholar whose area of expertise lies outside Korea. Cribb, who specializes in southeast Asian studies, raised the aspect of how divided societies deal with ethnic and national identities. The notion of preserving authenticity within a country lies in contrast to one that accommodates a global cosmopolitan culture. “South Korea has become enormously cosmopolitan and is a serious exporter of culture,” Cribb said, citing the virality of K-Pop as an example of South Korea’s rise in global popular culture.

Hyung-A Kim, the world’s most renowned scholar of former South Korean President, Park Chung Hee, and associate professor at the School of Culture, History, and Language College of Asia at the Australian National University said that CEU was an ideal location to host the conference as it encouraged a truly global experience with so many countries in proximity. “With CEU being located in the heart of Europe and being next to so many countries, we are creating a two-way dialogue between a host university and its international participants. It’s a multifaceted network of research and teaching.”

The conference was made possible by the Korea Foundation, whose mission it is to promote better understanding of Korea within the international community and to increase friendship and goodwill between Korea and the rest of the world through various exchange programs. To learn more about the Global E-school Project in Eurasia, visit https://kfglobaleschool.hu/. For more information about the Korea Foundation, visit https://www.kf.or.kr/eng/main/index.asp