There is a certain level of imposter syndrome you feel when attending a conference as a junior scholar, and especially as one between degree programs. My thesis data collection was nowhere near finished when the call for papers deadline approached, so I knew I wouldn’t be presenting, but wanted to attend the Association for Asian Studies 2024 Conference this month. I won’t lie, the idea of returning to Seattle for yet another trip to the gorgeous Washington scenery helped encourage me, but as someone currently researching Ph.D. programs and wanting to get more involved with my field, booking my ticket was a no-brainer.
I have this amazing dopamine rush in academic settings like this, specifically those within my field of study. Not only do you get to sit in on panels reporting the newest research on relative topics, but the networking and discussions you have with fellow scholars are invaluable. This was not my first conference as I attended and presented at the Society for Social Work Research conference in 2023, but I can say this experience was even more exciting, mainly due to some of the big names in Korean studies that I was able to meet.
First, the panels themselves. There were hundreds at the conference overall, so I had most of my days booked back-to-back. Something that shouldn’t have really surprised me (but still did) was the lower number of Korea-focused panels available. I guess it shouldn’t have come as a shock that two much larger players in the global domain, China and Japan, had the largest concentration of scholars, but with Korea continuing to progress as a modern economic power and cultural exporter, I expected a bit more. However, there is something refreshing about all of the uncharted territory and opportunities for academic exploration.
The panels that I felt the most immersed and enlightened in were covering topics from racial othering in media (”Theorizing Korean Popular Culture’s Blackness and Affective Society”), to nationalism and global perception/tourism (”Branding the nation: selling Korea for domestic, diasporic, and foreign audiences”). I found myself furiously writing both new information and leads for continued reading and research that I was inspired to do based on the content. Needless to say, I was making frequent trips to my “notes” app on my phone, writing silly little imaginary titles for the blog posts and research papers of my dreams (that I hope will see the light eventually).
Second, and once again, I still found the networking experience to be the most valuable aspect of the conference. If I were to give any advice to new graduate students (and I frequently do), it would be to put yourself out there and go out of your way to not only make your name known but also get to know the names in your textbook’s bibliography. I stumbled into a few meetings that I did not expect to have at this conference, with some of them hopefully turning into partnerships and even professional work. I don’t know how to describe this little nerdy moment, but imagine quoting an article by a professor you admire…just to find out they were in the room and heard you…then you’ll be right in my shoes. Through this blunder of sorts, I was able to meet Professor CedarBough Saeji of Pusan National University and tried my best to not act like I was meeting a celebrity. There is a certain joy as an academic when you meet someone whose work you have been reading for a while, and this was that moment for me. Professor Saeji, technically my senior at Yonsei GSIS, was incredibly personable, helpful, and impressive in her domain. Korean studies majors don’t necessarily make it to the professor track in large numbers, so it’s great to have a role model to know it is indeed possible.
Beyond meeting academic idols, it was truly a joy speaking with other junior academics, researchers, and industry professionals. I also somehow managed to open my big mouth (In a good way, I guess) at a committee meeting within my field, essentially volunteering to assist in internal projects. This is the opposite of a problem for me, though, as I am investing in 2024 as a year for growth and experience to move into the next phase of my life and career. I am looking forward to whatever develops from these interactions and will continue to approach every opportunity with the drive and assertiveness needed to continue my journey.
Beyond the conference, I had an amazing time running around Seattle for the third time, revisiting some favorite spots and exploring some new ones. This definitely won’t be my last trip to the Emerald City!
As a heads up, this entry establishes one of two (or a few) formats I will utilize in writing on this blog. While some of my entries will be more academic and exploratory or informative, I also want to throw in plenty of more casual and conversational posts, allowing me to connect with whoever is reading. Let’s use this opportunity to open up discussions, get to know each other, and feel free to make suggestions about any topic you’d like to see me possibly discover!
As always, thank you for reading.
