Email address: anissa91300[at]gmail.com

2023 Sorbonne Université (History, B.A.) 

2025 Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Contemporary History, M.A.)

Research Interests: traumatic memories, history of political violence, cultural studies

| About Anissa | I hold a bachelor’s degree in History from Sorbonne University and a master’s degree in Contemporary History of International Relations from Panthéon-Sorbonne, which included a year abroad at University College London and a semester at Seoul National University. My MA thesis examined the scenography of a museum, with a particular focus on the striking differences in how the display reflects the memories and reappropriations of the colonial and postcolonial periods. My main research interests lie in the memories of a recent and violent past, the ways in which this past is narrated through cultural forms, and how younger generations engage with these memories. During my PhD, I aim to continue exploring memories of political massacres in East Asia through the interdisciplinary lens of the Critical Global Studies program.

(MA Student)

E-mail: inewie[at]sogang.ac.kr 

2024 University of Bremen (Linguistics and Cultural Studies, B.A.)

Research Interests: Nationalism, Migration, Inter- and Multicultural Communication in a Global Society, Linguistic Anthropology

| About Isabelle | I completed my undergraduate degree with a major in Linguistics and minor in Anthropology and Cultural Studies, with my thesis focusing on the linguistic landscape of Indonesia and the challenges that such an ethnically and linguistically diverse country faces in the era of globalization. Through my studies in these fields, I have developed an interest in intercultural and multicultural communication, and I am now focusing my research on ways to reduce misunderstandings and conflicts arising from this phenomenon.

(MA Student)

E-mail: benzramita[at]gmail.com 

Chulalongkorn University (Communication Arts, majoring in Communication Management, B.A.)

Research Interests: Media Role in Global Capitalism, Media Studies

| About Ramita | I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts, majoring in Communication Management, in Thailand. After graduating, I worked in communication and management, which gave me hands-on experience and helped me understand how messages and strategies shape the way organizations operate. These experiences sparked my interest in the global issues behind everyday practices, and eventually led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Critical Global Studies. Through this program, I hope to broaden my perspective, improve my critical thinking skills, and gain a deeper understanding of today’s complex world. I’m especially interested in connecting theory with real-world challenges and using what I learn to make a meaningful impact in both academic and everyday life.

julia8813@naver.com

| About Jinhee | I have a master’s degree in European social studies, which was fully funded by the European Council. This dual master’s degree was taught by universities in Maastricht and London. I also have a master’s degree in applied linguistics from University College London. Furthermore, I have a degree in TESOL.

My career includes experiences in both academic and commercial environments. I have worked, for instance, in the field of English education as a lecturer at universities and governmental institutions, as a CEO of a private language school and at a consulting firm. 

Being a mature student allows me to study based on my intrinsic values, which makes me more motivated and grateful to be part of the Department of Critical Global Studies at Sogang University. It is a wonderful experience due to the high quality of the lectures and the freedom to pursue a wide variety of research interests. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is intellectually passionate and genuinely interested in humanities and social sciences.

E-mail: irzhanovaa[at]gmail.com 

Chelyabinsk State University (State and Municipal Management, B.A.)

Research Interests: Soft Power and International Diplomacy, Game Development, Communication and Media Studies

| About Aliia | I earned my Bachelor’s degree in State and Municipal Management at Chelyabinsk State University, Russia. After graduating, I gained diverse professional experience, primarily focusing on international recruitment and talent management within the gaming industry. In this role, I worked closely with global teams, coordinated cross-cultural projects, and developed a deep understanding of how communication and media strategies influence international collaboration and organizational success.

I have also studied Korean at the KLEC, Seoul National University, which enhanced my cross-cultural communication skills and fueled my interest in the ways media, games, and cultural exchange shape global perceptions. Through the Master’s program in Critical Global Studies, I aim to explore the intersection of soft power, digital media, and interactive entertainment, combining theoretical insights with practical applications to address contemporary global challenges. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to the understanding of how media and gaming can influence diplomacy, culture, and international relations.

Kim, Yeseul

(PhD Student)

E-mail: yeislkim[at]sogang.ac.kr

2016 Kyungpook National University (German Literature, B.A.)

2022 Kyungpook National University (German Literature, M.A.)

Research Interests: 19^th and 20^th Century German Literature and Philosophy, German Intellectual History, Transnational Literatures

Advisor: Yeon-Sin Kim

Academic Advising Committee: Yeon-Sin Kim (CGS), Sang-Hyun Kim (CGS), Dong Min Choi (Professor, Dept. of German Language and Literature, Chonnam National Univ.)

| About Yeseul | Yeseul Kim is currently a PhD Student at Critical Global Studies at Sogang University. She received her MA and BA in German Literature at Kyungpook National University. She is mainly interested in German intellectual history with an emphasis on German philosophy of language at the end of the nineteenth century.

| Conference Presentations and Publications |

- 2024 "Anarchism and Religion in modern Germany and Korea: Gustav Landauer (1870-1919) and Sok-Hun Ham (1901-1989)" (1st Sogang-Sophia Ph.D. Workshop: New and Critical Perspectives on Global Studies)

- 2023 "A Study on the Meaning of Self-sufficiency in Gustav Landauer's Literature/Die Bedeutung der Selbstversorgung in der Literatur Gustav Landauers - Am Beispiel von Landauers Aufruf zum Sozialismus (1911)" (Koreanisches Gesellschaft fuer Deutsche Sprache und Literatur)

- 2023 "Friedrich Kittler's Philosophy of Language/Friedrich Kittlers Sprachphilosophie: Vergegenwaertigung der Schrift bei Kittlers Aufschreibesysteme 1800·1900"  (Koreanische Gesellschaft fuer Germanistik (KGG)

- 2022 “Representing Memory of TCK” (“Ethics, Evaluation and Emerging Methodologies in Digital Exhibitions and Complex Heritage”, University of Liverpool)

- 2022 “A Study on Gustav Landauer/Eine Studie zum anarchistischen Denken Gustav Landauers ” (Koreanische Gesellschaft fuer Deutsche Sprache und Literatur)

- 2022 10^th Korean-German Junior Forum (Korea Foundation, Public Diplomacy Center Ewha Womans University)

- 2021 DAAD Humboldt Uni zu Berlin 2021 Sommerkurs

Kim, Youree

E-mail: butterflyindream286[at]gmail.com

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Bachelor of Fine Arts)

Adler University (Master of Public Policy with Concentration on Human Rights)

Research Interests: Neocolonialism, Critical Disability Studies, Spatial Justice and Politics, Transnational Solidarity 

| About Youree | Youree received Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and pursued a Master's degree in public policy and Human Rights at Adler University. Their thesis was the zine project, “#AcceptUs #NotKillUs,” tracing the history of police violence against people with disabilities and community resistance between 2012 and 2018. Their work seeks to navigate the complicated realities of how disabilities are produced, perceived, and represented in the face of critical sociopolitical issues. Their current research interest is how transnational solidarity may be practiced and conversed in the contemporary society where our realities are intricately connected beyond borders. Along with their research work, they have been actively participating in intersectional and interdisciplinary activities, facilitating alternative time and space to re-imagine, restore, and redress by critiquing power dynamics and systems existing between dis/ability, remembrance and oblivion, and non/human beings. 

| Conference Presentations and Publications |

- 2024: Special Issue: Rage, Struggle, Freedom: Politics of Hope and Love. The Scholar and Feminist Online, Bernard Research Center on Women

- 2022: Our Fight for Disability Justice Must Also Confront War and Militarism

- 2020-2021: Alternatives to Policing Based on Disability Justice, In collaboration with The Abolition and Disability Justice Coalition

- 2020: More Trainings Are Not the Answer to Police Violence Against Disabled People. Publisher: Truthout.

- 2019: #AcceptUs #Not KillUs.

- 2017: Cartel of Silence. Publisher: Riksha Magazine.

E-mail: leamiddell[at]gmail.com

2021 Leipzig University (History, B.A.)

2022 London School of Economics (Global Economic History, M. Sc.)

2023 Ghent University (and Leipzig University) (Global Studies, M.A.)

Research Interests: 19th and 20th century, history of (economic) colonialism, history of knowledge production and geographical societies, divided nations, protest movements

Advisor: Jie-Hyun Lim

| About Lea | Right after high school, I started studying history at Leipzig and Sheffield University. After accomplishing my B.A. in (European) history, I turned my interest towards transnational and global history hence my decision to continue my studies with an M.A. in global studies with a strong focus on historical globalization processes. This M.A. programme funded under the Erasmus Mundus scheme of the European Commission allowed me to study at two European Universities, the LSE and Ghent University which further strengthened my interest in doing my own research in the field of global history, now specialising in the examination of divided nations and their possible unification processes by looking at the cases of Germany, Korea and Ireland.

E-mail: Alexis.j.ogle@gmail.com

Yonsei University - Underwood International College (Political Science & International Relations, B.A.)

Research Interests: Community Building, Environmental Activism, American Constitutional Studies, Educational and Scientific Accessibility 

| About Alexis | Alexis received her B.A. in Political Science & International Relations from Yonsei University. During her time as an undergraduate student, she participated in Yonsei University's Foreign Student Union, helping foreign students access resources and highlighting the struggles of international students in South Korea. She also volunteered extensively with the Americorps NCCC, as well as the Itaewon Global Center, focusing her time on environmental issues such as invasive plant removal, sustainable farming, and habitat restoration. She is interested in making science and education at large freely accessible, as well as using environmental issues to empower communities.  

E-mail: faizalalistp [at] gmail.com 

2018 Bandung Institute of Hospitality and Tourism

(Hospitality Administration, B.A)

Research Interests: Sustainable Development for Emerging Market, Multilateral Economic Partnership Organization roles in modern societies, Regional and Middle Power Foreign Policy making in Multi-Polar World.

| About Ali | Growing up in Indonesia, I have always been aware of how interconnected the world is and how decisions made in one country can ripple across borders. Over the years, following global news became more than a hobby. It became a personal habit that shaped the way I understand society and politics. I naturally gravitated toward international affairs, especially the economic and diplomatic relationships between developed and developing nations. This has motivated me to look beyond national boundaries and explore how policies are formed in response to global trends. My work experiences strengthened this interest further. In the hospitality industry, I interacted with international guests and observed firsthand how global tourism, migration, and economic stability influence people’s movement across countries. At the international recruitment agency, I gained a clearer understanding of labor mobility and how governments regulate foreign workforce needs—an area that is often shaped by broader socio-economic conditions. Later, working in a media production house exposed me to how narratives and information shape public perception of international events. These experiences made me more sensitive to the subtle and often overlooked factors that influence decision-making at national and global levels. They also convinced me that understanding global relations requires more than surface-level observation; it requires analytical skills, theoretical grounding, and the ability to think critically across disciplines. This is why I am drawn to SOGANG UNIVERSITY’s Critical Global Studies program. I am particularly interested in studying how policies can be crafted to support cooperation between nations, creating solutions that are not only mutually beneficial but also sustainable. The program’s emphasis on critical thinking, interdisciplinary analysis, and global interconnectedness aligns closely with my academic curiosity and long-term professional goals. I believe that learning under faculty members who specialize in global governance, international development, and socio-economic analysis will equip me with the knowledge I need to contribute meaningfully in the future

E-mail: anigin0910@gmail.com

2019 Youngsan University (Airline and Tourism, B.A.)

Research Interests: Soft power and diplomacy, public diplomacy, media influence in international relations, cultural diplomacy, political communication, global governance

Advisor: Jeesoon Hong

| About Niginabonu | Rasuljonova Niginabonu received her B.A. in Airline and Tourism, with a minor in Hotel and Hospitality, from Youngsan University. During her undergraduate studies in South Korea, she gained experience working in education and the hospitality industry, further developing her cross-cultural communication skills.

Currently, she is pursuing an M.A. in Critical Global Studies at Sogang University. Her research interests include soft power, public diplomacy, media influence in international relations, and global governance. She aims to explore how governments leverage cultural and media strategies for political influence on the global stage.

Rutkauskaite, Egle

E-mail: rutkauskaite.egle[at]gmail.com

2010 University of Westminster (English Literature and Cultural Studies, B.A.) 

2014 Goldsmiths University of London (Gender, Media and Culture, M.A.)

Research Interests: Gender, Sexuality, Feminist Research Methodologies, 'Anti-Gender' Movement, Media Studies

| About Egle | After graduating from university I worked within the charity and creative sectors. Seeking ways to apply social research skills to create impact outside of academia led me to a role in Diversity and Inclusion, where I had an opportunity to define the company's DEI framework and develop policies that improve the employees' workplace experience. Seeing how quickly such progress can be rolled back following the recent global trend, I became interested in exploring new sets of tools, strategies and forms of imagination that could shape a more inclusive future. At Sogang University, I look forward to engaging with current critical debates surrounding gender in the global context, investigating localised manifestations of the 'anti-gender' movement and examining how media is used to amplify the pushback against progress in human rights and freedoms.

Woo, Seunghoon

(PhD Student)

E-mail: swoo.africa[at]gmail.com

2014 Hanyang University (Political Science and Diplomacy, B.A.)

2016 University of Bradford (African Peace and Conflict Studies, M.A.)

Research Interests: Postdevelopment, History of development, Anthropology of development, The history and ecosystem of Korean International Development Cooperation, Politics and society in Eastern and Southern Africa

Advisor: Sang-Hyun Kim

Academic Advising Committee: Sang-Hyun Kim (CGS), Dae-oup Chang (Global Korean Studies, Sogang University), Jae Kwang Han (Global Governance, Kyung Hee University)

| About Seunghoon | Seunghoon Woo is an experienced development practitioner and a PhD student in Critical Global Studies at Sogang University. He graduated from Hanyang University with a BA in Political Science and earned his MA in African Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Bradford. His MA dissertation examined the challenges and opportunities for democratic consolidation in Tanzania from the perspective of the opposition parties. He has engaged in numerous development projects in Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Philippines for their design, operation and evaluation. He is currently interested in postdevelopment, the history of development, and the history of Korean international development cooperation.

| Conference Presentations, Publications, and Other Activities |

- 2025 "Climate Crisis and K-Defense: How Korean Arms Exports Affect Climate-Vulnerable Countries", Financing for Peace: National Consultation, Korea Center for UN Human Rights Policy & PEACEMOMO & Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (Seoul, Korea)

- 2025 "Becoming a Donor? South Korea’s Development Cooperation and Encounters with the Global South during the Cold War", 23rd International Summer School of the Graduate School Global and Area Studies, Leipzig University (Leipzig, Germany)

- 2024 "Writing a History of International Development Cooperation Policies: Critical Perspectives and New Directions", 2nd Sogang-Sophia Graduate Student Workshop: Doing Global Studies in Asia (Seoul, Korea)

- 2024 "South Korea's Involvement in the Vietnam War and the Politics of International Development", 1st Sogang-Sophia Ph.D. Workshop: New and Critical Perspectives on Global Studies (Tokyo, Japan)

- 2024- Member of Steering Committee, PIDA(People's Initiative for Development Alternatives)

- 2023 “Unlocking Africa’s Potential: Opportunities for Young Koreans” (Discussant), The 6th Seoul Dialogue on Africa.

- 2022 Africa for Tomorrow, Hilde and Sophie Publishing [in Korean]

- 2020 "Study of the working conditions and sustainable activism of development practitioners in their 20s and 30s in Korean civil society" (co-present), 2020 KAIDEC Annual Winter Conference, South Korea [in Korean]

E-mail: yuyiqian_amy@foxmail.com

Academic Background:

Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics(English, B.A.)

Peking University(Law, M.A.)

| About Yiqian | I received my bachelor’s degree in English from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, and later pursued a master’s degree in law at Peking University. After graduation, I joined the legal department of a multinational corporation, where my work focused primarily on intellectual property protection. Working closely with colleagues from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds sparked my interest in the cultural dimensions both within and beyond the field of law, and motivated me to further explore issues of multiculturalism. Through my research, I hope to contribute to building greater mutual understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.