UNSW Canberra Korea Research Initiatives

Our research

2023-02-kri-004

KRI conducts research projects in all areas of Korean Studies with specialisations in Political Studies, Economics, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Language and History.

In its disciplinary specialisations, KRI identified four key interdisciplinary research areas as Politics and Public Administration; Economic Development and International Business; Society, Culture and Cultural Industries; and Korean Language Education and Linguistics.

The majority of research projects at KRI are conducted through its collaborative research networks with research partners in Australasia, Korea and Southeast Asia, and through regional hubs around the globe. Distinctively, there are two major collaborative research networks in operation. The first is the Universities Network (also known as Ten Strategic Partner Universities) and the second is the Universities-Government Institutions Network (also known as CPPR Forum).

 

Research areas

KRI specialises in and carries out research projects in politics, public policies, state capacities, development studies, public administration and reform policies of global political systems. Although it contributes to the field of political studies on a global scale, more emphasis is placed on Southeast Asia, Korea and Australasia. KRI conducts comparative studies of its focus countries and contributes its research outputs to policymakers of their corresponding governments.

Research projects

  • State Capacity and Policy Implementation for National Development: A Comparative Study of Korea and 8 Southeast Asian Countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar) (2015-19, The Academy of Korean Studies LAB Project, Korea).
  • Promotion of Social Sciences within Korean Studies: the Korea-ASEAN Comparative Policy Research Community with 8 Leading National Universities in ASEAN as National Hubs: State Capacity for Public Sector Reform for National Growth (2015, Korea Foundation, Korea).
  • Promotion of Social Sciences within Korean Studies: the Korea-ASEAN Comparative Policy Research Community with 8 Leading National Universities in ASEAN as National Hubs: A New Dimension of Reform in Asia: Commonality, Diversity & Policy Implications (2014, Korea Foundation, Korea).

KRI is one of the leading institutions in the region for research fields of economics, development studies, public entrepreneurship, institutional developments, state-owned enterprises, economic policy reforms and international business studies. Together with its geographical specialisations and interdisciplinary approaches, KRI conducts large-scale collaborative and comparative research projects.

Research projects

  • Making Reform Happen (MRH) in Southeast Asia: Comparative Analysis between Korea and Southeast Asia & Policy Workshop (2013-15, Korea Development Institute, Korea).
  • Knowledge Sharing and Development in SE Asia & Korea (2012, Korea Development Institute, Korea).
  • The Korean Model of Growth and Development and Implications for Southeast Asia (2011-15, The Academy of Korean Studies, LAB Project, Korea).
  • An Analysis of the Need and Feasibility to Development a Worldwide Total Supply Chain Security (TSCS): Focusing on Port Security Systems (2007, Research Institute for International Affairs, Korea).
  • KAREC International Collaborative Research Projects and KAREC Infrastructure Research Projects (2006-10, The Academy of Korean Studies, Korean Studies Institution Grant, Korea).

With a surge of Korean Wave breaking the paradigm of Hollywood-dominated popular culture around the globe, new forms of cultural integrations, cultural diplomacies and regionalisation of cultural industries spawn out. Although countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australasia differ significantly in cultural diversities and consequentially cultural identities are apparent, there are also commonalities. As culture is a forefront medium of intangible institutions, how culture shapes the societal structures of different countries requires much attention. KRI recognised this phenomenon and led the development of research areas in this new age field since its inception. It now produces significant research outputs.

Research projects

  • Cultural Industry and its Development in Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam: A Comparative Perspective (2015, Korea Development Institute, Korea).
  • Analysis of the Korean Culture, Industry and Foreign Direct Investment in Southeast Asia (2005-07, The Academy of Korean Studies, Korea).

KRI plays a pivotal role in the development of Korean Language Education not only at UNSW but throughout Southeast Asia. KRI conducts research of pedagogical development in Korean Language Education and Korean Studies Programs. KRI doesn't confine its key strengths to tertiary levels but also reaches out to primary and secondary schools as they form the foundation for tertiary-level programs. KRI helped partner universities in Southeast Asia to initiate and develop Korean Studies and Korean Language Programs with support from the Korean Government.

Research projects

  • Korea-Australia Collaboration in Higher Education Project: Strategic Implications and Guidelines on Enhancing Opportunities and Strengths in Future Australia-Korea Joint Education and Research Collaborations (2015, Dept. of Industry Innovation Science Research & Tertiary Education, Australia).
  • Korean at Secondary Schools – A First Step Towards a Better Environment for Australia's Korean Language (2014-15, Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia: Australia Korea Foundation, Australia).
  • Toward the Establishment of Centre of Excellence for Korean Language and Studies Education and Research (2009-11, National Languages and Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP), Dept. of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Australia).
  • An analysis of errors related to Korea in the Australian Primary and secondary textbook and policy implications for the correction process (2007-08, The Academy of Korean Studies, Korea).
  • KF-UNSW Korea Week: Korean Film Nights, Korean Studies Colloquium, and Korean as a Foreign Language Pedagogy Workshop (2006, Korea Foundation, Korea).