Introducing Jeehun Kim, SEAC Visiting Professor. Jeehun is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Social Studies Education, and Director of the Center for Global Korean and Asian Studies, Inha University, South Korea. He is a sociologist-cum-[Southeast/East] Asianist of contemporary Korean and Asian societies and global mobilities.
1.What will you be working on during your time as SEAC Visiting Professor?
I will analyze my field data and write up a book, tentatively titled “Pricing Flexible Citizenship, Practicing Transnational Retirement: Korean elders in Singapore, Seoul and Los Angeles”. It is basically a comparative study on where, when, how the first-generation Korean immigrants in Singapore (& Southeast Asia) and the United States ‘retire’ or ‘plan to retire’ in this globalised world.
2.What led you to your field of study/what inspired your interest in these topics?
My own life course stage and my research foci. Also my family members’ transnational journeys over three decades in three or four continents led me to think and rethink about transnationalism of Asians. Also, some books on this topic inspired me that maybe I can write a story of a case of contemporary Koreans, whose stories are seldom researched and known.
3. How do you like to relax and unwind?
Watching several comedy channels of YouTube with caffeine and nicotine, but not with alcohol relaxes me. Listening to music calms me. Watching good play of Son Heung-Min lead me to a good sleep.
