Global Korea Research Hub

About

The Global Korea Research Hub is about increasing stability, security, literacy and careers between Australia and South Korea, and the Asia-Pacific region.

We aim to produce world-class Korea-related research in the fields of Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, Business, and Engineering.

We also aim to become the central venue for Korea-related engagement by fostering collaboration right across the University of Melbourne.

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Republic of Korea – University of Melbourne engagement at a glance

16

Formal agreements with Korean institutions

16

Inbound visits to the university from the Republic of Korea (2014 - 2023)

354

Korean students enrolled in 2024

353

Alumni recorded as currently residing in Republic of Korea (2023)

31

Outbound mobility experiences to the Republic of Korea (2019 - 2023)

52%

52% of Korean students study at an undergraduate level (2023)

298

Co-authored publications (2018 - 2024)

72

Collaborating institutions (2018 - 2024)
  • More engagement information

    Most popular courses studied by students from Republic of Korea (2011 - 2023)

    • Bachelor of Science
    • Bachelor of Commerce
    • Bachelor of Arts

    Top institutions for research collaboration

    • Seoul National University
    • Yonsel University
    • Hanyang University
    • Sejong University
    • Konkuk University

    Top fields of research collaboration with institutions in Republic of Korea

    • Medicine
    • Engineering
    • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • Environmental Science
    • Computer Science

News and events

Research

The Global Korea Research Hub has four main research goals:

Futuristic city

1. Research Korea in the world in regionally leading and interdisciplinary ways

This will address past and contemporary issues related to Korea and Australia, such as the roles of North Korea and South Korea in North-East Asia, Korean migration, and educational policies related to the Korean language in the Australian context.

A hand raised to ask a question

2. Develop intercultural understanding through public engagement

This will increase intercultural understanding of Korea in Australia and vice-versa, both within and outside academia. This goal will be achieved through the organisation of academic events such as seminar series, public lectures, and conferences open to the general public. Such events will be also open to our students.

Graduating class

3. Foster the next generation of Koreanists

This will increase Australia’s capabilities to engage with Korea by training future Korea-experts (i.e. “Koreanists”). This goal will be achieved primarily by promoting PhD candidates’ interaction with the activities of Global Korea.

Big city

4. Become an international hub for Korean Studies research by attracting international scholars

This will foster academic exchanges between the University of Melbourne and South Korean universities by nurturing and building collaborations with Korean scholars. This goal will be achieved by promoting visiting fellowships and projects with international partners.

Our people

Profile picture of Nicola Fraschini

Dr Nicola Fraschini

Director of the Global Korea Research Hub

Dr Nicola Fraschini is the Director of the Global Korea Research Hub and a Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies. His research interests are teachers’ and learners’ individual differences in Korean language education and Q methodology.

nicola.fraschini@unimelb.edu.au +613 8344 7685
Profile picture of Jonathan Glade

Dr Jonathan Glade

Lecturer In Japanese Studies

Jonathan Glade is a Lecturer in Japanese Studies whose research explores intersections between Korean and Japanese culture.

jon.glade@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Edward Goldring

Dr Edward Goldring

Lecturer, Political Science (Comparative Politics)

Dr Edward Goldring is a Lecturer in Political Science. His research examines North Korea and comparative autocracy.

edward.goldring@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Sin Ji Jung

Dr Sin Ji Jung

Lecturer in Korean Studies

Dr Sin Ji Jung is the representative for the theme Teach and Learn Korea and a Lecturer in Korean Studies at the Asia Institute. Her research focuses on heritage language acquisition and bilingualism.

sinji.jung@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Haeun Kim

Dr Haeun Kim

Lecturer, Applied Linguistics

Haeun (Hannah) Kim is a Lecturer in Applied Linguistics in the School of Languages and Linguistics. Her research focuses on applying technology to second language learning, teaching, and assessment.

haeun.hannah.kim@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Hyun Jin Kim

Prof Hyun Jin Kim

Professor in Classics

Prof Hyun Jin Kim took his D Phil in Classics from the University of Oxford. He is currently a Professor of Classics and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. He is the author of nine books.

kim.h@unimelb.edu.au +61390357461
Profile picture of Sejeong Kim

Dr Sejeong Kim

Senior Lecturer

Dr Kim is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a physicist and engineer who is passionate about investigating photons at nanoscale.

sejeong.kim@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Maria Rost Rublee

Prof Maria Rost Rublee

Professor in International Relations

Prof Maria Rost Rublee is Professor of International Relations. As Chair of the International Security Studies Section of the International Studies Association, Maria created the ISSS Taskforce on Diversity in Security Studies.

maria.rublee@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Dongryeol Ryu

Prof Dongryeol Ryu

Professor

Prof Ryu is the representative for the theme Future Korea. Prof Ryu is the Head of the Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Melbourne. He is an internationally recognised expert in hydrological remote sensing.

dryu@unimelb.edu.au +61383447115
Profile picture of Iain Sands

Dr Iain Sands

Lecturer in Korean Studies, Teaching Specialist

Dr Iain Sands is a Lecturer in Korean Studies. His research focuses on live performance and art-based peacebuilding on the Korean Peninsula.

Iain.Sands@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Alex Seo

Dr Alex Seo

Lecturer Architectural History and Theory

Dr Alex Seo is a Lecturer in Architectural History, Theory, and Design at the Faculty of Architecture, Building, and Planning, and an Affiliated Researcher at the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research at the University of Cambridge.

alex.seo@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Adam Zulawnik

Dr Adam Zulawnik

Senior Tutor, Korean Studies

Dr Adam Zulawnik is Teaching Specialist at the Asia Institute, where he specialises in the Korean and Japanese languages. His research focuses on the function of language in society and politics as seen through translation.

adam.zulawnik@unimelb.edu.au

Publications

Books & Book Chapters

Fraschini, N., Lundberg, A., & Aliani, R. (2024) Q Methodology, Subjectivity and Language Research. In N. Fraschini, A. Lundberg & R. Aliani (eds.), Advancing language research through Q methodology (pp. 1–21). Multilingual Matters.

Caruso, M. & Fraschini, N. (2024) Vision and motivation of adolescent language learners in Australia. In N. Fraschini, A. Lundberg & R. Aliani (eds.), Advancing language research through Q methodology (pp. 44–62). Multilingual Matters.

Fraschini, N. & Lundberg, A. (2024) Australian-Korean multicultural family members’ emotions about their family language policy. In N. Fraschini, A. Lundberg & R. Aliani (eds.), Advancing language research through Q methodology (pp. 83–101). Multilingual Matters.

Fraschini, N. & Kim, H. (2023) Mission Accomplished: Korean 2. Hawoo.

Cha, H. and Kim, H.J. (2022) South Korea’s Origins and Early Relations with the United States: The Lynchpin of Hegemonic Power. Routledge.

Kim, S., Yoon, E., & Yoo, D. (2022). 대학원생 때 알았더라면 좋았을 것들 2 [Things I wish I had known as a postgrad student 2]. Cloud Nine

Seo, A. (2022). Walkerhill resort: A space of exception in postwar South Korea. In S. Bozdoğan, P. Pyla, P. Phokaides (eds), Coastal Architectures and Politics of Tourism. Routledge.

Reports

Fraschini, N., Cho, H., Kim, H. (2024) Report on fostering the provision of Korean language education in Victoria (2024). Zenodo.

Journal Articles

Fraschini, N. & Park, M. Y. (2024). Introduction: The linguistic challenges facing and increasingly diverse Korea. Melbourne Asia Review 20.

Jung, S. J. (2024). Can Korean speakers in remote areas of Australia retain their language? Melbourne Asia Review 20.

Zulawnik, A. (2024). Hanguk or Joseon? ROK vs DPRK and the complex nature of reference to ‘Korea’. Melbourne Asia Review 20.

Kim, S. (2024). 저절로 입혀지는 아이언맨 슈트 가능케 하는 '나노로봇' [‘Nanorobots’ enable self-dressing Iron Man suits]. Dong-A Science.

Song, J., Yoon, B., Kim S. & Zulawnik, A. (2024) Everyday Bribery in North Korea as Moral Economy, Communist and Post-Communist Studies. Communist and Post-communist Studies, 57(2), 92–111.

Goldring, E. & Ward, P. (2024) Elite Management Before Autocratic Leader Succession: Evidence from North Korea. World Politics. 76(3): 417-456.

Zulawnik, A. (Trans.) & Kim, S. (Ed.) (2024) <페미니스트>: “여자에게 친절한 남자” – 대한민국 언어 개정에 대한 시민단체의 활동 [‘Feminist-A man who is kind to women’: Civil society’s involvement in language reform in South Korea]. Melbourne Asia Review.

Glade J. (2024). Colonial Hero: Son Kijŏng in Narratives of Popular and National Korean History. Asian Studies Review, 48(2): 389–409.

Kim S., Fraschini, N., & Park, H. (2023) Defining competencies for training non-native Korean speaking teachers: A Q methodology approachInternational Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching.

Goldring, E. & Matthews, A. S. (2023) Brothers in Arms No Longer: Who Do Regime Change Coup-entry Dictators Purge? Journal of Conflict Resolution: 1-28.

Jung, S. J. (2023) Language shift and maintenance of the Korean community in Australia: An update with the 2021 census. Korean Linguistics19 (2): 121-139.

Kim, H.J. & Horesh N. (2023) Plato in East Asia? Open Journal for Studies in Philosophy, 7(1): 9-18.

Fraschini, N. & Tao, Y. (2023) How epistemic anxiety and curiosity link perceived value and intended efforts in the language classroomAnnual Review of Applied Linguistics, 43:1–18.

Glade J. (2023) Korean Restaurant: Beyond Violence in Zainichi Korean Film. Seoul Journal of Korean Studies, 36(1): 117–138.

Fraschini, N. (2023) The Korean language is booming at Australian universities. What needs to be done to keep the momentum going? Melbourne Asia Review, 13.

Goldring, E. & Matthews, A. S. (2023) To Purge or Not to Purge? An Individual-level Quantitative Analysis of Elite Purges in Dictatorships. British Journal of Political Science. 53(2): 575-593.

Barrett, J. (2022) Fortress North Korea and the battle against COVID-19. Melbourne Asia Review, 11.

Editorships

Fraschini, N., & Park, M. Y. (eds) (2024). Korean language, society and identity. Melbourne Asia Review 20

Contact us

If you are interested in finding out more about our Hub or our research, please email the Director Nicola Fraschini.