The Division of International Support for Korean Studies held the 194th Colloquium on Korean Studies Abroad at the Grand Conference Room of Munhyeongwan Hall on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The recipients of the 2025 AKS Fellowship presented the findings of their fellowship research, which served as a venue for scholarly exchange.

Prof. Benoit Berthelier (University of Sydney) presented his research on the topic of “Beyond Ideology: Scientific Discourse and Technocratic Authority in North Korea.” By examining how scientists and technical experts in North Korea have influenced national policy and the process of legitimacy construction, Prof. Berthelier offered a new perspective for interpreting North Korea’s political power structure. While previous North Korean studies have primarily focused on the charismatic authority of political leaders, this presentation enabled a more diverse understanding of North Korea’s political structure through the new analytical framework of “technocratic authority.”

Prof. Bubbles Beverly Asor (De La Salle University) continued with a presentation on the topic of “Caring for Migrants and More?: The Role of Appropriable Religious Organisation in Migrant Integration in South Korea.” Based on research into Filipino migrant communities, Prof. Asor analyzed how the Catholic Church plays a pivotal role in the migrant integration process that extends beyond its simple religious function to provide welfare, form care networks, and build community. In particular, by applying James Coleman’s concept of “appropriable social organization,” Prof. Asor conducted an in-depth discussion of how the Catholic Church is reconstructed and utilized within the field of migrant integration in Korean society.

Many researchers and graduate students attended the colloquium, sharing diverse opinions. The Division of International Support for Korean Studies will continue to provide such opportunities for communication between researchers from Korea and abroad.