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Address: 123 Naberezhnaya Kanala Griboedova, room 322
190068 St Petersburg
Phone: 8 (812) 644-59-11 *61289
Recent Highlights from the HSE Department of Korean Studies
Over the past academic year, the Department of Korean Studies at HSE University’s Institute for Asian and African Studies (St. Petersburg) has hosted a number of academic, educational, and cultural events, bringing together scholars, students, alumni, and international partners. These initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to advancing Korean Studies, encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue, and supporting a vibrant academic community.
Advancing Korean Studies: International Academic Conference
On December 11–12, 2025, the department hosted the international conference “Culture, Identity and Values in a Changing Korea.” The event brought together scholars from leading universities and research centers in Russia and abroad to discuss key developments in contemporary Korean Studies.
Held in a hybrid format with Russian and English as working languages, the conference addressed a broad range of topics, including historical memory, cultural identity, urban transformation, digitalization, media environments, and Korean diaspora communities.
Presentations examined subjects such as marriage practices within the ruling house of the Goryeo dynasty, representations of Korea in the memoirs of European physicians, and everyday life during the Korean War as reflected in photographic archives. Other discussions focused on urban renewal in South Korea, cultural metaphors in Korean cinema, the digitalization of everyday life in North Korea, and the reinterpretation of traditional artistic forms in contemporary Korean culture.
Researchers from institutions including HSE University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, MGIMO University, Ural Federal University, Far Eastern Federal University, the Academy of Korean Studies, Seoul National University, Korea University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University took part in the conference, which served as an important platform for international scholarly exchange.
Gender Studies and East Asian Societies: Round Table Discussion
On March 11, 2026, the Institute hosted an interdepartmental round table titled “Women and Women’s Movements in East Asia.” The discussion focused on China, Japan, and Korea and provided a platform for young researchers to present their work on gender and social change in East Asian societies.
Student presentations explored topics such as the South Korean “4B movement,” the emergence of childfree discourse in contemporary Korean literature, the historical role of women educators in China, and the influence of feminist activism on legislative developments in Japan.
The round table highlighted the growing interest of students in gender studies and demonstrated the interdisciplinary nature of research at the Institute, bringing together perspectives from history, cultural studies, linguistics, and political science.
Digital Humanities and Area Studies: Alumni Lecture on AI Tools
On February 17, 2026, the Institute welcomed Konstantin Kornetov, a graduate of the Korean Studies program (Class of 2023), for a guest lecture titled “AI Tools for Area Studies.”
Drawing on his professional experience at the intersection of technology and international research projects, Konstantin demonstrated how artificial intelligence can assist scholars in analyzing large volumes of information, processing textual and audiovisual materials, structuring data, and building personalized research knowledge bases.
Particular attention was devoted to effective interaction with AI systems, including prompt design, task formulation, and contextual interpretation of results. The lecture sparked lively discussion about the growing role of AI in academic research and highlighted the department’s efforts to integrate digital competencies into the training of future specialists in Asian Studies.
Strengthening International Partnerships
International academic cooperation remains a key priority for the department. On October 21, 2025, representatives of the Institute met with Professor Sung DongKi, Deputy Director of the Center for International Studies at Inha University (Republic of Korea).
During the meeting, participants discussed opportunities for expanding academic and educational collaboration between the two institutions. Professor Sung presented the activities of the Center for International Studies, as well as the work of the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center, a project dedicated to promoting Korean Studies worldwide.
The meeting highlighted strong potential for joint research initiatives, academic exchange, and future collaboration between the institutions.
Alumni Pathways: From Korean Studies to International Business
The department also follows the professional trajectories of its graduates. Anna Gusarevich, a 2024 graduate of the Korean Studies program, has begun her career at a Korean engineering company, where she works in the Department of Organizational Development supporting Korean expatriate employees in Russia.
In an interview for the department’s website, she reflected on how her interest in the Korean language began during her school years and eventually led her to pursue Korean language and culture studies at HSE University. According to Anna, the knowledge and skills gained during her studies – including courses in business Korean – have proved directly applicable in her professional work.
Her experience illustrates the diverse career paths available to graduates of Korean Studies programs and highlights the importance of linguistic competence and intercultural communication in today’s global professional environment.
Student Community: Celebrating East Asian Traditions
Student initiatives also play an important role in the life of the Institute. On February 28, 2026, students organized an interactive cultural event titled “East Asian New Year,” held in the format of a team quest that brought together participants from different Asian language programs.
Teams traveled through thematic stations dedicated to China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, completing cultural and intellectual challenges related to the traditions and history of each country. The event concluded with a quiz competition inspired by the popular television format Jeopardy!, where teams tested their knowledge of East Asian cultures.
Organized by student clubs and volunteers, the event created a lively and collaborative atmosphere, encouraging cultural exchange and informal interaction among students.
