Research at the KRC

While the Australian and Korean general public might think that the ROK-Australia agricultural engagement is relatively new development, the roots of such farming exchanges  go much further than the recent trade agreements. This research project focuses on Australian agricultural aid program to South Korea in the 1970s which included, among other things, 2,500 sheep from New South Wales and two kelpies called Mick and Monty. Read more...

Project team: Farida Fozdar, Jin Lee and Jo Elfving-Hwang

Australia is an established ‘multicultural’ nation that has recently begun to represent its diversity more visibly in media advertising. Korea is moving towards identifying as intercultural, recognising growing numbers of mixed marriages, migrants and international students as integral to its contemporary identity. This project considers how racial and cultural diversity are represented in a small sample of television advertisements in each country, and the nature of the relationships represented.  

Project team: Jae-Eun Noh

South Korea is the 15th largest donor in its aid volume, sharing a history of experiencing colonial exploitation and poverty with developing countries. This research project explores how South Korea's aid policies and practices have been shaped by the history, socio-cultural norms and values, and the interplay of global and domestic policies. 

This project has identified the role of 'emotions' in public attitudes, aid policies, and NGO workers' practices, drawing on policy documents and interviews. Findings were published in highly-ranked journals, including Third World Quarterly, Community Development Journal, Development in Practice, and Thesis Eleven. 

This project now focuses on examining Korean aid and development through the lens of gender, human rights and global justice.