Acclaimed novelist Crystal Hana Kim brought her powerful stories of love, loss and Korean history to the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�. The hosted her as the featured speaker in the Hee Kyung Lee Kwon Speaker Series.

About 60 students and faculty gathered on September 18, for the event at the Center for Korean Studies, where Kim read from her two novels, shared her research process, and spoke about writing between two cultures and languages. She also reflected on her interest in Korean history and her experiences as a Korean American author.

“I’m deeply honored to have been selected as the second Hee Kyung Lee Kwon Speaker. Hee Kyung Lee Kwon’s life story inspires and resonates with my lineage,” said Kim. “To arrive here as a picture bride hoping for a greater education, to build a life in a new country and contribute to the Independence Movement of Korea—what an admirable, formidable figure.”

Award-winning author

During her visit to UH ����ԴDz�, a crew from the Korean Broadcasting System filmed her lecture for a documentary on the Korean diaspora that will air in November in South Korea.

Kim authored The Stone Home, a finalist for the Maya Angelou Book Prize, and If You Leave Me, which was named a best book of the year by more than a dozen publications. She received the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Award and the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.

Honoring lineage

On campus, Kim included time with graduate students in Assistant Professor David Krolikoski’s Korean literature seminar, where she spoke about translation, craft and her inspirations.

“It has been comforting to be in an academic space where my culture is so deeply valued,” said Kim. “On a personal level, when my father immigrated to the United States, he first landed in �鶹��ý. To finally visit this land while pregnant holds much meaning to me as I think of the history and lineage of the Korean diaspora.”

Campus partners

The Hee Kyung Lee Kwon Speaker Series is co-sponsored by UH ����ԴDz�’s Center for Korean Studies, Department of English, Creative Writing Program, and Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

A University of �鶹��ý researcher says he may have found a new human species called Homo juluensis, which includes mysterious groups like the Denisovans—ancient human relatives whose histories are still being uncovered.

Professor Christopher J. Bae from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s in the has been studying human ancestors across Asia for more than 30 years. His recent research, , helps clear up some of the confusion about the different types of ancient human-like species that co-existed in the region during the late Middle and early Late Pleistocene, a period roughly 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.

Homo juluensis lived approximately 300,000 years ago in eastern Asia, hunted wild horses in small groups, and made stone tools and possibly processed animal hides for survival before disappearing around 50,000 years ago. Importantly, it was proposed that the new species include the enigmatic Denisovans, a population known primarily through DNA evidence from a few physical remains found in Siberia, and a few fossils found in Tibet and Laos. More research is clearly needed to test this relationship, which is primarily based on similarities between jaw and teeth fossils from these different sites.

Organization breakthrough

Bae credits a new way of organizing fossil evidence for the breakthrough. Some may think of it as organizing an old family photo album where some pictures are blurry or hard to identify. Bae and his research team have essentially created a clearer system for sorting and understanding these ancient human fossils from China, Korea, Japan and southeast Asia.

“This study clarifies a hominin fossil record that has tended to include anything that cannot easily be assigned to Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens,” Bae said. “Although we started this project several years ago, we did not expect being able to propose a new hominin (human ancestor) species and then to be able to organize the hominin fossils from Asia into different groups. Ultimately, this should help with science communication.”

This work is important because it helps scientists—and the rest of us—better understand the complex story of human evolution in Asia, filling in some of the gaps in our understanding of our ancient relatives.

������’s Nature Communications co-author is Xiujie Wu, a senior professor from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, China, and lead author on the taxonomic assignment and description of Homo juluensis.

Bae also talks about Homo juluensis in his book, “,” published in September 2024 by UH Press.

Bae also currently serves as director of the UH ����ԴDz� in the .

North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its fight against Ukraine. Associate Professor Cheehyung Harrison Kim from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� is an expert in East Asia, particularly North Korea. He shared his thoughts on the implications of North Korea’s decision to send troops into the Russia-Ukraine War.

What is your reaction to North Korea’s decision?

I was, of course, very alarmed and my instant reaction was, wow, the deterioration of diplomacy that’s been happening the past two years has really culminated at this point where the tension and the conflict in East Asia has escalated to a new level.

Why would Russia tap into North Korea’s military? And why would North Korea support Russia? Could it be that North Korea is also gaining military intelligence from Russia?

Last September, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin met in Russia and that’s when they began talking about military cooperation in exchange for technical and scientific assistance, especially with rocket launches. Then this June, they met again, and that’s when they kind of put everything down on paper. In the long run, North Korea has actually a lot to gain. Being part of the Russia and also China alliance, being part of this Eastern European, northern Central Asian alliance could provide them with energy and new trade market routes. This is also a sign of clearly withdrawing from the South Korea, Japan and U.S. frontier that North Korea tried to be part of.

What military capabilities or specializations would North Korean troops potentially bring to this conflict?

One thing that was very alarming to me and somewhat terrifying is that this means that this war will go on for an unforeseen time. I can see this war lasting a few more years. The North Korean troops being there, it’s not really about numbers. But it is a huge boost in morale which this war, especially the Russian forces, definitely need. It is also a sign of solidarity, not to mention that North Korea has been providing Russia with ammunition and small rockets for a couple of years now. This is not just a material assistance but also a psychological and moral boosting kind of event as well.

On October 31, North Korea fired its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test and claims it was a success. What are the ramifications of this?

This missile is designed to deliver nuclear warheads a very long distance, even to the U.S. continent. This technology is also part of the deal that North Korea made with Russia, so in exchange for providing support for the war, Russia would provide rocket technology to North Korea. This all seems very fast, but this is all part of the same context. The rocket firing the latest one is also another sign that we are seeing a major turning point in the geopolitics of East Asia where North Korea is no longer even trying to work with South Korea or the U.S. North Korea also destroyed the road that goes to South Korea across the border.

How might this impact the broader geopolitical dynamics in East Asia, particularly regarding South Korea?

The broader context of North Korea sending its troops and heightening its nuclear weapons program is a kind of geopolitical moment when these two countries North and South are really moving away from each other and away from unification. Until recently, the two countries did not see each other as official separate states.

What potential diplomatic or economic consequences could North Korea face from the international community?

We could expect more isolation, more heightened rhetoric of conflict and tension coming from South Korea. South Korea is already saying that it is committed to providing Ukraine with weapons now. Thinking about all this also reminded me about when the U.S. asked South Korea to send its troops to Vietnam. The largest number of troops after the U.S. in Vietnam was from South Korea—300,000 troops. The two countries are always kind of engaged in this possibility of a proxy war, always under pressure to join military conflicts that other countries are waging and now being forced to be part of for economics, survival, technology and more.

How might this affect the U.S. military’s posture and commitments in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific?

My big fear is that, with North Koreans being there, who knows? This could prompt other countries on the Ukrainian side to join the war, and this could mean a very prolonged, escalated and more devastating type of war. With the North Korean troops being there, this could be also a moment for the U.S. to really think about stopping the war on a more direct level through diplomacy. U.S. President Biden has talked about this need to stop the war, at least a cease fire before the war gets out of control.

The untold stories of Korean immigrants in �鶹��ý from the plantation era through the 1970s were highlighted at an international conference, hosted by the University of �鶹��ý.

Led by UH ����ԴDz� Associate Professor Cheehyung Harrison Kim, the research team uncovered documents revealing Korean immigrants’ involvement in key historical events, including Korea’s independence movement, the World War II Honouliuli Internment Camp in Waipahu and the Kalama Valley protests in the 1970s. Along with Kim, the project team consisted of four UH ����ԴDz� doctoral candidates (Wonkeun Lee, Sulim Kim, Eun Bin Ladner-Seok and Chiyeon Hwang) specializing in history, performance studies and Korean literature.

The joint conference from October 30 to 31 between the UH ����ԴDz� and South Korea’s National Institute of Korean History (South Korea’s top archival agency) marked the culmination of a six-month research project examining collections across multiple �鶹��ý institutions, including UH ����ԴDz�’s Hamilton Library, Center for Korean Studies and the Center for Oral History, as well as the Japanese Cultural Center of �鶹��ý and the �鶹��ý State Archives.

“The history of the Korean diaspora in �鶹��ý and elsewhere in the world is at a crucial and necessary point of going beyond the topic of identity and cultural preservation to the domain of solidarity and integration—how the Korean people all over the world forged solidarity with local peoples,” Kim said. “For example, in �鶹��ý, our archival project shows that the Koreans actively participated in the Kalama Valley protests of the early 1970s, standing alongside other groups to fight for the rights and justice of Hawaiians and local residents.”

The conference featured findings from various collections, including the Hawaiian sugar planters’ archives, �鶹��ý war records and multiple personal collections donated by Korean American families. Researchers and organizers highlighted how the conference addressed the critical role of archives in our globalized world.

“These archives tell us not just about preserving Korean identity, but reveal how early Korean immigrants in �鶹��ý built meaningful connections across ethnic and cultural lines,” Kim said. “By digitizing and sharing these collections globally, we’re ensuring these powerful stories of cross-cultural solidarity and integration reach audiences far beyond our islands.”

The research initiative positions UH as a leading institution in preserving and studying Korean diaspora history, particularly focusing on themes of solidarity and integration with other communities in �鶹��ý.

Three prominent figures in Korean literature and art highlighted an event hosted by the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (EALL) in September. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from feminist poet Kim Hyesoon, visual artist Fi Jae Lee and poet and translator Jack Jung.

Kim, a recipient of literary honors, including the Griffin Poetry Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, performed a bilingual poetry reading in both Korean and English. She was joined by Jung, who is currently translating her collection Thus Spoke No (forthcoming from Ecco, 2026). The reading was followed by an art talk from Lee, whose work is regularly featured in Kim’s books and has been showcased in exhibitions worldwide. Lee discussed the inspirations and themes behind her installations, drawings, and paintings.

“As a literature major, I enjoyed getting to know people in the literary circle and hearing from authors as they reflected on their own works,” said Dasom Han, an EALL graduate student who attended the event. “It was great to hear also from the illustrator and the translator at the poetry reading. Learning about how a book is published and translated to another language reminded me that publishing is a collective work and that the writer is not the only authority of a book.”

The event, held at the Center for Korean Studies Auditorium, also included a Q&A session, where community members and students could interact with the speakers. Following the presentations, there was a book signing with the poet and translator.

The next day, a translation workshop offered EALL graduate students a deep dive into the complexities of translating Korean poetry, led by Jung. Kim also attended to listen to and respond to student translations of her poetry.

Hee Kyung Lee Kwon Speaker Series

This speaker series is dedicated to the celebration of Korean women’s literature and culture. It will feature individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field as authors, artists, translators, scholars, etc. The series was made possible thanks to the contribution of Esther Arinaga to commemorate her mother, Hee Kyung Lee Kwon. Lee Kwon was born in Daegu in 1894 and emigrated to �鶹��ý in 1912, where she supported the Korean Independence Movement abroad from 1915 to 1945.

For further details, inquiries can be directed to event coordinators David Krolikoski or Emily Yoon at dkroli@hawaii.edu or ejyoon@hawaii.edu.

EALL is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

Hugh Hi-Woong Kang—emeritus professor at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, a trailblazing Korea historian in the U.S., a visionary builder of the Korean studies discipline, and a loving partner, father and grandfather—died on July 16, at the age of 92, in South Korea.

As a scholar of ancient and medieval Korea, he was one of the first Korea historians to become a faculty member in a history department in the U.S. when he joined UH ����ԴDz�’s in 1965. With Yong-ho Ch’oe, who joined the history faculty in 1970, Kang helped UH ����ԴDz� become the first university in the U.S. to grant a PhD in Korean history.

In 1971, Kang organized a historic international conference on Korean studies in Honolulu, the earliest conference of its kind in the world and an event reported widely in �鶹��ý and South Korea. He was also a principal figure in the founding of the Center for Korean Studies at the university in 1972, the first Korean studies center outside of South Korea. In 1990, he helped to establish the International Society for Korean Studies, the only global Korean studies organization that is regularly attended by scholars from South Korea and North Korea. Even after retirement in 2003, Kang remained committed to building Korean studies worldwide.

Kang penned the seminal historical work Institutional Borrowing: The Case of the Chinese Civil Service System in Early Koryoŏ. In collaboration with his former student and Emeritus Professor Edward Shultz, he translated and edited some of the most important foundational books in premodern Korean history, including The Silla Annals of the Samguk Sagi, The Koguryŏ Annals of the Samguk Sagi, The Essentials of Koryoŏ History and Sources of Korean Tradition.

In an interview with South Korea’s daily The Kyunghyang Shinmun in 2012, Kang spoke about the role of scholars in the development of Korean studies.

“Our role is to discover how Korean culture and history are connected to universal values of truth, goodness, and aesthetics and to explain the connections in a systematic way. If we can find the universal values from our culture, then our culture can resonate anywhere in the world,” he said.

Kang’s brilliance, generosity and camaraderie will be dearly missed, colleagues said. He was dedicated to his family and friends. He relished seafood and enjoyed tennis, golf and walks in nature. Kang is survived by his two daughters, nieces, nephews and their families. A memorial will be held at the UH ����ԴDz� Center for Korean Studies in the fall.

For more on Kang’s legacy, .

Yong-ho Ch’oe, emeritus professor at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, a pioneering scholar of Korean history, a devoted husband, and a loving father of two sons, died peacefully on May 15, 2024, in Honolulu. He was 93.

Ch’oe joined the UH ����ԴDz� in 1970, where he served for 30 years. He was a trailblazing scholar of Korean history and Korean American history, as well as an early advocate of Korean studies. With Ch’oe and Hugh Kang (emeritus professor) on the history faculty, UH ����ԴDz� became the first university in the U.S. to grant a PhD in Korean history. Ch’oe was also a founding member of the UH ����ԴDz� , the oldest and largest center devoted to Korean studies outside of Korea, established in 1972.

His commitment to advancing Korean studies is further reflected in his involvement in launching two seminal academic journals—Korean Studies based at UH ����ԴDz�, in 1975, and Acta Koreana based at Keimyung University in his hometown of Daegu, in 1998.

“All must live together in peace and harmony with mutual respect for each other.”—Yong-ho Ch’oe

In an interview with Acta Koreana in 2010, Ch’oe said the following when asked about what the East and the West should to learn from each other: “Too often in the encounters between the East and the West, the latter has exhibited its ugly inclinations, such as misconceived racism and a predatory appetite toward the former, taking advantage of its military and industrial power. But, fortunately, such a conception has fast dissipated in the last several decades. Globalization is inevitable and is here now, and regardless of one’s origin or belief, all must live together in peace and harmony with mutual respect for each other.”

Ch’oe’s research, represented by three books, traversed time periods and regions. His first book, published in 1987, was The Civil Examinations and the Social Structure in Early Yi Dynasty Korea, 1392-1600, a groundbreaking book about the society of Korea’s Joseon Kingdom. Another major contribution was Sources of Korean Tradition, Volumes 1 and 2 (1993 and 1996) and Sources of Korean Tradition, Volumes 1 and 2 (1997 and 2000). Later in his career, he wrote about the history of Koreans in �鶹��ý, penning From the Land of Hibiscus: Koreans in �鶹��ý, 1903-1950, published by in 2006.

A capacity for hard work, a sense of duty for a greater cause

Born in 1931 in the city of Gyeongsan in southeastern Korea during the tumultuous colonial period, Ch’oe grew up in a family deeply involved in the Korean independence movement, an upbringing that brought hardship but also equipped him with the capacity for hard work and a sense of duty for a greater cause. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Ch’oe enlisted in the South Korean army, eventually becoming an intelligence officer and serving until 1958. A part of his duty was to work with the U.S. military, a job that opened an opportunity for him to go to college in the U.S. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Arizona and his graduate education at the University of Chicago.

Colleagues remember Ch’oe as a person filled with kindness, generosity, humor and courage. He was a brilliant historian, a wonderful colleague and a champion of underrepresented peoples of �鶹��ý. He is survived by his spouse, Minja Kim Ch’oe (a renowned population studies scholar), their two sons, Dan and Yun, and a granddaughter. For more about Ch’oe and his work in the community, .

Edward J. (Ned) Shultz, a professor emeritus of at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, will receive one of the highest honors bestowed upon Korean studies scholars around the world, the Yongjae Award on March 10.

“When I was informed that I had received this award, I must confess surprise, and then thinking this is a real honor but there are many other people deserving of this award,” said Shultz. “My specific area of interest is Koryŏ history (918–1392), which is an overlooked period in Korea’s history, so in that respect, I was pleased that the Koryŏ kingdom was getting some focus.”

Shultz has spent nearly 50 years teaching UH students about Korea’s compelling history. His teaching career started in 1975 at and would expand to and then the ����ԴDz� campus.

The Yongjae award, bestowed by , was created to pay homage to the institution’s first president who served as a minister of education during the Korean War.

From �鶹��ý to Korea

Shultz, a Boston native, first came to �鶹��ý in 1966 and received training in Hilo to become a Korea Peace Corps volunteer. He was assigned to serve in the city of Pusan in South Korea and worked at Kyongnam High School. Upon returning to the islands, Shultz earned an MA and PhD at UH ����ԴDz�.

Through the years, his teaching path at three UH campuses paralleled work to uplift civic and cultural programs that focus on Korea and Koreans in �鶹��ý. Shultz is currently president of the Korean American Foundation, and served as director of the at UH ����ԴDz� (1998–2004).

“In many respects my involvement in Korea and its history is very much thanks to �鶹��ý’s centrality in the study of Asia,” Shultz said.

He has authored numerous Korean studies articles, and in 2000, published Shultz’ book, , which was translated and published in Korea in 2014.

Future works

Shultz is currently working on a number of projects related to his area of expertise. Yonsei University just published his translation of Koryŏsa chŏryo (Essentials of Koryŏ History). He is also a member of an editorial team working on the translation of works on Koryŏ dynastic history which is set to be published by UH Press.

The first wave of 102 Korean immigrants arrived in �鶹��ý on January 13, 1903 to work in the pineapple and sugar plantations. In the last 120 years, Korean Americans have become a vital part of �鶹��ý’s diverse island culture, and today, more than 50,000 residents identify as Korean.

The early Korean community was enriched by several women whose roles were not much known, but they were active leaders in education, social work and promoting Korean culture.
—Tae-Ung Baik

In commemoration of the 120th anniversary of Korean immigration to �鶹��ý, the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (CKS) hosted a symposium on January 26 focusing on early Korean women immigrant leaders in �鶹��ý. The event is part of a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of the Culture and the Arts.

“Korean immigrants in �鶹��ý were living as stateless people for a long time, but they were special because they did not just stay at home only to earn living, but they organized themselves through the churches, establishing schools and social organizations, and actively supporting the independent movements by sending donations to the Korean provisional governments and activists,” said Tae-Ung Baik, director at CKS and professor of law.

“The early Korean community was enriched by several women whose roles were not much known, but they were active leaders in education, social work and promoting Korean culture. The 120th celebration of Korean immigration is the appropriate occasion to learn about the accomplishments of these leaders,” he said.

Stories of inspiration

“This symposium featured rich discussion on the life stories of four Korean women and their struggles, accomplishments, dedication and contribution to the �鶹��ý community,” said Seunghye Hong, associate professor at the , who organized the symposium.

• Nodie Kim (1898–1972), who arrived with her parents and siblings in 1905 and became the first Korean woman principal in �鶹��ý
• Ha Soo Whang (1892–1984), who came to the U.S. as a student in 1911 and was the first Korean social worker in �鶹��ý
• Halla Pai Huhm (1822–1994), who married a second-generation Korean, arrived in 1950 and was the founder of the oldest Korean dance studio in the U.S.
• Chun, Yun Hee (1896–1997), who came as a “picture bride” in 1915 and recorded her life through 24 audio tapes and seven notebooks

A panel of current Korean women leaders shared their stories, including Duk Hee Lee Murabayashi, president of the Korean Immigration Research Institute Hawaii; Jeomsook Kim, associate professor, Myongji University; Trina Nahm-Mijo, retired faculty, ; Mary Jo Freshley, director of the Halia Huhm Korean Dance Studio; and Yelee Ann, associate professor, Academy of Korean Studies.

A short documentary, Songs of Love from �鶹��ý, was also screened during the symposium, and demonstrated the history of Korean immigrants with Violinist Iggy Jang’s performance.

Related: Lt. Gov. credits UH with launching public service career, January 25, 2023

Recognizing current female Korean leaders, Baik added, “We are very proud that Ms. Sylvia Luke became the first Korean American woman elected to the highest state government position throughout the country!”

This symposium was supported by the Korean American Foundation Hawaii, the Asia Research Foundation, and the Academy of Korean Studies Strategic Research Institute Program (AKS-2020-SRI-2200001).

Photo exhibit, displays at Honolulu Hale

Also part of the 120th commemoration is a photography exhibition that spotlights Korea’s postwar period and the Korean immigration to �鶹��ý, which is currently on display at the Honolulu Hale courtyard through February 10. In addition, on display in the city’s Lane Gallery are 40 rubbings from the tombstones of early Korean laborers, taken from cemeteries on Oʻahu and Maui.

The public is invited to attend a commemoration ceremony planned for the (CKS) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� campus on Thursday, September 22, 1–4 p.m. at CKS’ auditorium. Established in 1972, the center is recognized as the oldest and largest in the U.S. and Canada, serving as an educational, research and cultural hub. �鶹��ý’s geographic location has propelled the center to play a key role in bringing together scholars and intellectual leaders.

“The Center for Korean Studies aspires to become a new icon that leads the changes in the modern world,” said Tae-Ung Baik, director at CKS. “Along with the global spread of Hallyu, the Korean Wave, and popular culture in the international community, the center will continue its efforts to serve as a hub for the Korean studies networks fostering international cooperation, academic exchanges, and economic and social developments across the borders.”

Located on the Diamond Head end of the UH ����ԴDz� campus, the center’s distinctive stonework, painting and dark green glazed ceramic tiles set an authentic ambiance. The main building is modeled after Kunjŏngjŏn, a traditional Korean palace throne hall and was completed in December 1979.

Today, CKS is made up of more than 40 affiliate members from UH in a variety of fields such as language, history, literature, economics, anthropology, media broadcasting, music, architecture, and law. It hosts art and performance exhibitions, workshops and a wide array of lectures.

• Related UH News story: S. Korean president, UH leaders honor ‘women patriots,’ Korean immigrants, September 23, 2021

The commemorative ceremony will award plaques to Duk Hee Lee Murabayahi, Bong Youn Choy, Roberta Chang and the late Dae-Sook Suh, CKS’ founding director and a UH ����ԴDz� emeritus professor in political science. The ceremony will also feature a workshop based on stories of Korean immigrants’ education and CKS educators.

A historical photo exhibition will be on display through September 28, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. To RSVP for in-person attendance, email coord@hawaii.edu.

Immigration to the islands

�鶹��ý’s rich history with Korea traces back to January 13, 1903 when 102 Koreans first entered Honolulu aboard the S.S. Gaelic. Within two years about 7,400 immigrated to the islands, many eager to work on �鶹��ý’s plantations and send their earnings back home.

In 1954, UH ����ԴDz� responded to a collective push to strengthen Korean language studies and launched its very first course on campus. In 1967, more than a dozen UH ����ԴDz� professors advocated for a Korean studies-focused center to develop programs and resources at UH and around the world.