The Peace Corps and the Making of Korean Studies

In the 1970s to 1980s, a small yet significant number of the Peace Corps-Korea volunteers returned to the United States entered academia, forming the core of a second wave of Korean studies scholars. How did their experiences in an impoverished nation still recovering from war influence their intellectual orientation and choice of study—and Korean studies itself?

Please join KEI, the University of Washington Center for Korean Studies, Indiana University Institute for Korean Studies, and The Friends of Korea for a discussion about how the Peace Corps-Korea influenced its volunteers for the rest of their lives. The contributing authors of the recently published Peace Corps Volunteers and the Making of Korean Studies in the United States (University of Washington Press) will share their experience that led to a lifelong passion for the country. In addition to discovering more about Peace Corps Korean Studies scholars, we will also have an opportunity to learn more regarding volunteers’ experiences working with North Korea.

This event will be livestreamed on Zoom with an interactive Q&A session. Please RSVP to receive the webinar link. When you register for the event, you will receive a special 30% discount code to purchase the book at the University of Washington Press website.