Lead supervisor:
Dr Elaine Wing Tung Chung 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Xuan Wang
Start date: October 2025 (Full time)
Subject Pathway:
Politics, International Relations and Global Language Based Area Studies
Thematic Cluster:
Rights and Governance Cluster
Inflows of foreign languages into South Korean society and their impact on politics, international relations, and diplomatic strategy
South Korea has historically been a largely monolingual society. However, over time it has experienced the inflow of various foreign languages through missionary activities led by French- and English-speaking missionaries, as well as major historical events such as Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, which formed part of the broader Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. These developments facilitated the introduction of foreign languages into Korea and influenced Korean society in numerous ways.
This proposed research aims to explore the relationship between the inflow of foreign languages into South Korea and their implications for the country's domestic politics and international relations.
Specifically, the study seeks to examine how different foreign languages have shaped political discourse in South Korea and influenced the country's diplomatic strategies on the global stage. In doing so, the research aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the role of language in shaping political and international outcomes, while providing insights that may inform future policymaking in South Korea and in countries that engage closely with it.
Research Impact
This project aims to establish a foundational framework for domestic and international policymaking, specifically for South Korea and its global partners. Historically, academic discourse has been dominated by Western perspectives, leaving a noticeable research deficit concerning non-Western regions.
By addressing this imbalance, the proposed study seeks to bridge the academic gap between Western and non-Western contexts. Furthermore, by elucidating the link between foreign language inflows and political shifts, this project will contribute to the development of new theoretical frameworks and/or the refinement of existing ones, to be utilised in future interdisciplinary research.