Current Projects
K-Unity Language Map: A Vital Tool for Bridging Linguistic Gaps for Unification
Biography
I am a journalist with over two decades of experience at major Korean media outlets, including JoongAng Ilbo, Kukmin Ilbo, Joongang Economist, Newsweek, Forbes Korea, and Fortune Korea. My reporting has primarily focused on economic policy and major corporations. I also have a deep interest in the evolution of the Korean language. Over the past 20 years, I have observed significant linguistic changes in Seoul influenced by social media, the internet, and English. My interest in North and South Korean language differences is rooted in personal history—both of my parents are from Pyongan Province in North Korea, and I grew up in Seoul speaking a northern dialect at home. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition to journalism, I have authored books on Korean language and media, including a study of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalism and Timemagazine’s coverage of Korea. I would describe myself as a journalist specializing in economics with a strong interest in inter-Korean linguistics.
Research Interests
Language is constantly evolving. More than 70 years have passed since the division of Korea, and during that time, many words and expressions have changed. To understand these shifts, I have been meeting with North Korean defectors and analyzing the language they use in everyday life. My research focuses on identifying the changes and unique features of contemporary North Korean language. Through this work, I hope to contribute to creating a linguistic bridge that will help future generations in both South and North Korea communicate and understand one another. Change will continue, and I believe it is both important and meaningful to document and analyze this linguistic evolution.
