I am a Ph.D. student in Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University. I received my Bachelor’s degree both in Tourism and Geography from Kyung Hee University, South Korea, and a Master’s degree in Geography from the same institution.
My current research interests are focused on the whaling industry in East Asia, especially in Japan and South Korea, to examine multi-scalar historical and geographic relationships with Western whaling countries through the lenses of environmental geopolitics, colonialism, and post-colonialism. Currently, I am working on building more concrete and salient frameworks to develop these interests for my doctoral dissertation project.
Before joining the Ph.D. program at Temple University, I pursued a range of academic activities in South Korea. I have published work on the political ecology of ecotourism, cold war landscapes, Official Development Assistance (ODA), comparative studies on Japan and South Korea under the broad themes of tourism and geography. I also served as a research and teaching assistant at Kyung Hee University for more than 3 years and worked as a project coordinator in a nonprofit organization.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Thomas