Oxford Korea Day
An afternoon of events to celebrate Korea’s role in digital culture, technology, and creativity.
Beginning at 4pm with tea and coffee, the College President, Professor Jonathan Michie, will then give a short welcome to participants, followed by three sessions exploring literature, culture and technology in South Korea.
The event opens with Born digital: Korean web novels and the new aesthetics of creative writing, delivered by Dr Seunghye Sun FRSA, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK. Addressing the question “Where does the future of literature lie?”, Dr Sun examines the global impact of Korean web novels as a born-digital genre. From participatory storytelling with online fandoms to the rise of ‘super IP’, the talk explores how Korean writers are redefining creative writing for the digital age.
The second session, Cyber defence culture in Korea – defending the K-digital border, is presented by Professor Jiwon Yoon, School of Cybersecurity and Department of Cyber Defence at Korea University and visiting fellow at Kellogg College. Professor Yoon explores how South Korea protects its advanced digital ecosystem in the face of constant cyber threats, drawing on real-world cases and regional geopolitical tensions. The session also highlights why closer cooperation between Korea and the UK is increasingly vital in today’s interconnected digital world.
The final session, Gugak in the epoch of artificial intelligence, is led by Yoonseo Jung, Project Manager at the Korean Cultural Centre UK. Focusing on the use of generative AI in composing Gugak, Korea’s traditional music, the talk considers whether AI can or should take on creative roles traditionally held by artists. It examines recent experiments in AI-supported composition and preservation, and reflects on what these developments mean for musicians and cultural heritage.
