Stony Brook University Faculty of Sciences and Humanities

Fall 2026 SUNY Korea FSH Seminar "Hooray for Hollywood: American Cinema Conquers the World"   1. Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 2. Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM 2. Venue: Academic Building C103 3. Speaker: Prof. Steffen Hantke (Sogang University)   About the Speaker: Steffen Hantke has edited Caligari’s Heirs: The German Cinema of Fear after 1945 (2007), American Horror Film: The Genre at the Turn of the Millennium (2010), and, with Agnieszka Soltysik-Monnet, War Gothic in Literature and Culture (2016). He is author of Monsters in the Machine: Science Fiction Film and the Militarization of America after World War II (2016) and Cloverfield: Creatures and Catastrophes in Post-9/11 Cinema (2023). He teaches in the American Culture Program at Sogang University in Seoul. About the Seminar: For the better part of a century, Hollywood has taught audiences around the world how to be cool, funny, or heroic, how to fight or sing and dance or how to fall in love. Long before visitors ever set foot in the U.S., many of them already know all about the country and its people from what they have seen in movies. There is a global audience which is deeply familiar with the stars, the characters, and the heroes and villains of American cinema. But is the goal of this global reach simply to illustrate and educate, or is it to project U.S. power around the world by other means? Together, we will think about what it means to watch American films in a global context, to study and understand them, and to love--or maybe even to resist?--the power of Hollywood.      

  Fall 2026 SUNY Korea Distinguished Seminar "What if This Isn't a Detour?" - Finding Meaning in the Places You Never Planned to Be   1. Date: Wednesday, October 28 2. Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM 2. Venue: Academic Building C105 3. Speaker: Sejin Kim •    SUNY Korea Business Management Graduate •    Inclusive Fashion Model •    Online Content Creator - YouTube Channel About the Speaker: Sejin Kim is a fashion model, former national team swimmer, and Asia’s first game accessibility specialist. He earned his B.S. in Business Management from SUNY Korea and has built a career across sports, business, accessibility, and fashion. His professional experience includes corporate accessibility initiatives, public speaking, and advocacy, and he currently continues his work across fashion and media. About the Seminar: We often see unexpected turns as detours, but they can become the experiences that shape who we are. Drawing on Sejin Kim’s journey from a national team swimmer to an ordinary college student, and from Asia’s first game accessibility specialist to a fashion model, this seminar explores how unexpected paths can create new possibilities and reveal meaning over time.      

2026 Spring SUNY Korea Distinguished Seminar "Tech on a Slice of Pizza"   Date: Friday, May 15, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105 Speaker: Prof. Seung-Hyun Lee   About the Speaker Seung-Hyun (Sean) Lee is Ashbel Smith Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. He earned his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and specializes in international business and nonmarket strategy. His research has been published in leading journals, and he has held key editorial and leadership roles in global academic associations.   About the Seminar This seminar explores how Domino’s Pizza transformed its struggling brand through bold transparency and technology innovation. By embracing digital platforms, data-driven decision making, and creative customer strategies, the company successfully repositioned itself as a tech-driven business. The case highlights how innovation beyond products can drive competitive advantage.    

  Spring 2026 FSH Seminar I "Jazz and America: The Complicated Story Behind the Funky Music"   Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C103 Speaker: Professor Donald Bellomy   Abstract: A century ago, Americans were experiencing what they called the Jazz Age. From the 1920s to the 2020s, they – and the rest of us – have continued to live in America’s jazz age. This is partly because jazz has shapeshifted into many of the musical styles popular today, but, even more significantly, because jazz has symbolized and helped shape and define the enduring tensions within American culture – Black and white; group and individual; high culture and low; national exceptionalism and global cosmopolitanism; music we listen to, and music we dance to.      

  Fall 2025 FSH Special Seminar & Music Performance "The History of Western Music through Cello Works"   Date: Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Lounge (Building A, 1st Floor) Guest Lecturer & Cellist: Dr. Sae Rom Kwon Collaborative Pianist: Dr. Hyo Jung Song   Abstract: This special lecture, “The History of Western Music through Cello Works,” presents the evolution of Western classical music from the Baroque to the twentieth century through live cello performances. Professional cellist Dr. Kwon will introduce masterpieces by Bach, Haydn, Chopin, and Piazzolla, illustrating how musical styles, forms, and expressions have developed over time. Blending performance and discussion, the lecture offers an engaging experience that connects music, history, and emotion through the beautiful sound of the cello.          

  Fall 2025 FSH Special Seminar "Who is the Protagonist? - Film Characters and Their Worlds"     Date: Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105 Speaker: Professor Sun Park   Abstract: Are the main characters in movies true heroes who rise above ordinary people? Or are they just temporary fantasies that help us escape our dull everyday lives? This lecture explores how movie characters have changed over time in response to shifting social realities. They reflect the social, cultural, and political issues of their eras. From this point of view, the lecture also considers what movie heroes mean to us today—in this age of extremes.      

2025 Spring FSH Special Seminar "Cyber Persistence: Aligning Cyber Strategy in the U.S. and South Korea"   Date: Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C103   Speaker: Dr. Richard J. Harknett Dr. Richard J. Harknett is Professor and Director of the School of Public and International Affairs and Chair of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy at the University of Cincinnati. He co-directs the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, a state-wide organization supporting education, workforce, economic, and research development in cybersecurity. He is a Board member and Faculty Liaison for the Portman Center for Policy Solutions. He served as Scholar-in-Residence at U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency. He has presented both policy briefings and academic research in 13 countries, on Capitol Hill, and to various US Federal and State government agencies. Professor Harknett has held two Fulbright Scholar appointments: in Cyber Studies at Oxford University, UK and in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy, Vienna, Austria, where he holds a nonresident professor appointment. He has authored over 60 publications including the coauthored book Cyber Persistence Theory: redefining national security in cyberspace (Oxford Univ Press, 2022) and has contributed to raising over $50 million in institutional and research grant and philanthropic support.  

2025 Spring SUNY Korea Distinguished Seminar "Korean Wave, Why the Global Craze?"   Date: Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:45 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105   Speaker: Dr. Ki-pung Yoo Dr. Ki-pung Yoo is currently an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sogang University. He previously served as the 4th President of KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School and the 14th President of Sogang University. He has also held invited professorships at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, as well as at Purdue University and Washington State University in the United States. Dr. Ki-pung Yoo earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from Korea University and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut, USA, supported by a government scholarship.   Abstract From the personal perspective of a senior Korean engineer, born in a post-war impoverished nation and living here, this lecture introduces 'Korea and Koreans' as if to his grandchildren living overseas. It offers an overview of how today's Korean youth are leading the K-culture wave and captivating audiences worldwide, encompassing Korea's history, traditions, passion for education, food, music, arts, lesser-known realities, and current challenges.          

2024 FSH Fall Special Seminar I The "August 15 Unification Doctrine" and Human Rights Situation in North Korea Date: Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: IGC Small Theater Speaker: Yung Ho Kim (Minister of Unification), Hyeon Soo Lim (Pastor Emeritus, Canada Light Presbyterian Church)   This special event features a lecture by Minister of Unification Kim Yung Ho and a discussion with Minister Kim Yung Ho and Pastor Lim Hyeon Soo to promote the values of freedom and human rights. It invites students and faculty from five universities at Incheon Global Campus, as well as students from the Community College and local residents, providing a unique opportunity to gain in-depth insights into the lives and perspectives of North Koreans. Through discussions addressing the human rights situation in North Korea, this event aims to provide a deeper understanding of the significance of freedom and human rights. Furthermore, it seeks to raise awareness about the necessity for enhanced social recognition of Korean unification and the protection of human rights.    

2024 FSH Spring Seminar III GREAT TRANSFORMATION OF THE SECURITY PARADIGM_Economic Security and Technology Alliance   Date: Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105   Speaker: Dr. Soyoung Kwon Dr. Soyoung Kwon is associate professor of Global Affairs and director of the Center for Security Policy Studies - Korea of Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University. As a political scientist and security expert, Dr. Kwon has led numerous research projects on the pressing contemporary security issues and policies, producing policy reports and recommendations for the government and think tanks. Her recent works involve the intensifying US-China competition in critical and emerging technology, the restructuring of semiconductor supply chains, and the trust and regulation dilemma in artificial intelligence. Dr. Kwon holds a B.A in Political Science and Diplomacy from Ewha Women’s University and M.Phil and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Cambridge (UK).   Abstract During rapid technological advancement, the security paradigm is undergoing a profound transformation. The convergence of economic security, technological innovation, and geopolitical competition has challenged traditional notions of defense and resilience, leading to rethinking of strategic alliance between the United States and South Korea. This talk outlines the complexities of modern security dynamics to explore the relationship between technological competition, economic stability, and the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China in key emerging sectors. It also highlights the critical role of strategic partnerships in safeguarding national interests in this fast-changing security landscape.    

2024 FSH Spring Seminar II Smart Textile Electronic Systems for Future IOT Applications   Date: Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105   Speaker: Dr. Jong Min Kim 1999 – 2012:  Samsung Group Fellow, Senior Vice President, VP, Samsung Elect. Corp R&D (SAIT) 2012 – 2015: Chair Professor (Head) of Electrical Engineering, Fellow of St. Hugh’s College, Dept of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, UK 2016 – 2023:  The 1944 Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering, Fellow of Churchill College, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK 2024 – Present: Emeritus Professor, Director of Research, Fellow of Churchill College, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK Professor Kim has various world-first inventions and publications: Smart textile displays/ lighting with fibre sensor/ energy (Nature Comm. 13, ’22, /Cambridge News) Machine learning embedded Smart QD lighting (Nature Comm. 13, ’22, /Cambridge News) Textile Integrated electro-optics networks (Science Advances, 9, 2023) Samsung QLED display initiated in 2000 and was first in the market in 2015 under my leadership Samsung Foldable display initiated by me in 2004 and was first commercialized in 2019   Abstract The first smart textile electronics systems woven by various sensors semiconductor transistors, LEDs, and batteries, will be presented with foldable, bendable, rollable, and stretchable large area displays and lightings. Each fibre type of electronic devices are integrated into the smart textile electronic system by way of conventional textile weaving technology and advanced semiconductor technologies. The future applications of this smart textile electronic system as technology convergence will be further discussed for Smart Home with ubiquitous sensor networks, AR/VR embedded displays, form factor free indoor/outdoor automotive display/lighting systems, smart wearable electro-photonics systems in ambient assisted living and eco-friendly bio environments.       

2023 FSH Spring Seminar I GLOBAL DEVELOMPENT AGENDA: From MDGs to SDGs Date: Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C107   Speaker: Dr. Booyuel Kim Booyuel Kim is an associate professor of Graduate School of B.A. In Economics at Handon University in 2003, and a Master of International Affairs and his Ph.D. In sustainable Development both from Columbia University in 2009 and 2014, respectively. After completing his Ph.D. he worked as a post-doctoral research scholar at the Earth Institute of Columbia University while participating in the Millennium Villages Project and the One Million Community Health Workers Campaign. From January 2015 to February 2020 he worked as an assistant professor at KDI School of Public Policy and Management.   Abstract After the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) were introduced in 2015 as a comprehensive global initiative. The international community is actively working towards meeting these objectives by the 2030 deadline. This lecture aims to briefly review the MDGS accomplishments and shortcomings and to discuss about the progress and future outlook of the SDGs.    

2023 FSH Fall Seminar II Decline of The Liberal International Order and South Kroea   Date: Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C105   Speaker: Dr. Young-Kwan Yoon Dr. Young-kwan Yoon is Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, at Seoul National University. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea from 2003 to 2004. He taught at Seoul National University from 1990 to 2018. Professor Yoon also worked as a Visiting Scholar at various universities including Harvard University (2021), Stanford University (2005) and Johns Hopkins University (1997-1998). Professor Yoon worked as Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Parliamentary Diplomacy of the Korean National Assembly (2019-2020), and as Korea’s Eminent Representative to, and co-chair of, the East Asia Vision Group II (ASEAN+3 Summit) (2011-2012). Before joining the faculty of Seoul National University in 1990, Professor Yoon taught at the University of California at Davis for 3 years. He published a dozen books and some 80 articles in the fields of international political economy, Korea’s foreign policy, and inter-Korean relations. Professor Yoon received his doctoral degree from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.   Abstract The liberal international order has faced significant challenges in recent years, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the escalating confrontation between the United States and China. This lecture aims to provide an analysis of the nature of these challenges and their implications for South Korea, as well as strategies for how South Korea can effectively address them.    

2023 FSH Fall Seminar I Global Poverty and Korea's ODA   Date: Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C103   Speaker: Dr. Chang, Hyun Sik Prof. CHANG, Hyun sik, former Vice President of KOICA, has received his Ph. D. in Political science at Pennsylvania State University in 1991. He had joined KOICA as a founding member and has served many posts including Chief Representative office in China. He also served at OECD/DAC secretariat as a visiting scholar for two years. After his retirement in 2014, he has taught in Seoul National University, Incheon National University and   Ewha womans University as a visiting professor. In addition to numerous papers and books, he is the author of "A Comparison of Management Systems for Development Cooperation in OECD/DAC Members" (OECD, 1999).   Abstract Korea has achieved economic, social, and political development in a short period of time with the support from other countries. Now that Korea is a member of the OECD, she is making great efforts to eradicate the global poverty by expanding ODA volume and sharing Korea's development experience. This lecture will talk about ODA's policies, organizations, and strategies that share Korea's experience including Korea’s Saemaul Movement ODA.    

2023 FSH Spring Seminar II   Scientific Approach in Social Studies: Inter-Korean Relations with Big Data Analysis   Date: Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Venue: SUNY Korea Academic Building C103   Speaker: Dr. Yi, Seong Woo Dr. YI is a research fellow of the Gyeonggi Research Institute(GRI). He received his Ph. D. in international relation at University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. His academic specialty is the interstate cooperation particularly in relation with quantitative analysis methods.  Abstract Political Science in Korean academia has been relying on case-gathering and descriptive explanation rather than analytic and scientific method, although the name of the subject is political science. There are several questions regarding scientific approach: what is science? what is knowledge? what is purpose of science; explanation, understanding, or prediction? As an example of using a big data, GDELT data for inter-Korean relations shows the direction of social science with computer science and statistics.