SNU Contemporary Korean Studies will host the “2026 Seoul National University International Conference on Contemporary Korean Studies” for two days, from Friday, August 21, to Saturday, August 22, 2026, on the second floor of the Seoul National University Asia Center (Building 101).
Now in its third year, the conference explores Korea not simply as an empirical case, but as a methodological and theoretical lens for rethinking wider social, political, economic, cultural, and historical questions. The conference examines how Korean experiences can generate new concepts, comparisons, and critiques for rethinking modernity, democracy, culture, and global knowledge production. It will also provide a platform for domestic and international researchers to build networks of academic exchange and collaboration. We warmly invite all members of the university community to participate.
The conference will feature a total of 17 panel sessions, one keynote speech, one book talk, and one roundtable across three tracks. Please refer to the attached final program for the detailed schedule.
Date: August 21 (Fri)–August 22 (Sat), 2026
Venue: Seoul National University Asia Center (Building 101), 2nd Floor
Contact: snucks2026@gmail.com
- There is no registration fee for this conference; however, registration is required to ensure the smooth operation of the event. On-site registration will open at 8:30 AM on the first day in the second-floor lobby of the Asia Center. Name badges and conference proceedings will be provided at registration.
- Lunch will be provided on both days, and dinner will be served at the closing reception on the second day. Snacks, fruit, and drinks will also be available throughout the conference, including vegan options.
- Korean-English simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the keynote speech, the roundtable, and all Track 1 sessions, with the exception of the “East Asian International Relations from the Perspectives of Small State’s History” session. AI interpretation may be available for the remaining sessions.
- Track 1 sessions will be live-streamed on YouTube, while Track 2 and Track 3 sessions will be video-recorded. Certain sessions may be excluded from live streaming or recording based on presenters’ prior requests. Recorded sessions from all three tracks will be uploaded to the official YouTube channel of SNU Contemporary Korean Studies after the conference.
https://www.youtube.com/@SNUCKS2026
