Habib Institute for Asian Studies

On his way home after the Youth Movements symposium at Chonnam National University, Director Jeff had the opportunity to meet with Adam Hennings, public diplomacy officer with the U.S. Embassy to Korea, to discuss deepening University of Idaho cooperation with educational institutions in Korea. Of particular note, they met at the Habib House! Yes, the same Habib, Philip C. Habib, distinguished University of Idaho alumni and ambassador to Korea from 1971-74, whose name now graces not only our Institute but also the ambassador's residence in Seoul!

A trip to Seoul would not be complete without a check in on the punk scene in Hongdae; in this case, to Club Bbang to see all-star bassist Namyoung play her last show with Moscow Idaho's favorite K-punk band, God of Universe, along with a host of other great bands there to honor Namyoung with their music: Kosfits, Suspix, LIF, and Daddy O Radio (includes two members of Crying Nut!).

32 University of Idaho students are at Hiroshima University for two weeks, being the first UI-HU Ambassadors Program student delegation from Idaho to Hiroshima! Also known as the "Mega Exchange" due to the number of students who will travel between our schools, they are studying peace and sustainability in and around the city. A delegation from HU come to the U of I last October and another will arrive in September. In addition to classroom study, students are touring important sites in the region, will hear from Keiko Ogura, and had the opportunity to visit the U of I's first ever overseas campus, the headquarters of the MESA engineering program at HU. The Habib Institute is delighted to cooperate with the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Natural Resources on this transformative program! Habib Japanese language instructor Azusa Tojo and Habib program specialist Jami Redmon are among the co-leaders of the group. If you are interested in opportunities like this, stay tuned to this station!

Summer has already been very busy at the Habib Institute! Our director, Professor Kyong-McClain, was a co-organizer of the East Asian Student and Youth Movements in Comparative Perspective symposium at Chonnam National University (CNU) in Gwangju, Korea. The symposium brought together scholars from around the world to discuss the last hundred years of student activism in the region.

• Images 1 & 2: Presenters gather to hear Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, speak on the democracy movement in Korea.
• Image 3: Professor Kyong-McClain delivers opening remarks at the symposium.
• Image 4: Professor Ho-fung Hung of Johns Hopkins University engages in discussion with Professor Sungwon Lee of CNU.
• Image 5: Professor Hyungju Kim of the 5.18 Institute at CNU gives a tour of the national cemetery honoring the martyrs of the 5.18 Democratization Movement to his symposium co-organizers: Professor Kyong-McClain and Professor Jen-Shuo Hsu of Hokkaido University.

Participants left the symposium energized to push forward research on this important and timely topic. They also left with deep admiration for Chonnam National University and for the all the people of Gwangju. If you want to study in Korea (and you should), make an appointment with Professor Kyong-McClain to discuss the possibility.

Huge congratulations to Dr. Yuta Kaminishi on his new position as Assistant Professor of Cinema and Media Studies at the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo! Some of you may remember Yuta, he was the inaugural East Asian Cinema and Media Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at the Habib Institute from 2022-2024. During his time here he taught the U of I's first Anime course, curated a film series at the Kenworthy, co-organized an ecocinema symposium, and published widely on Japanese film. Can't wait to see what is next! Trip to Waseda, anyone?

Want to work for the U.S. Government AND make extra money while doing so? Then sign up to study Chinese at the University of Idaho stat! Chinese is one of the federal government's top "critical need languages," and several major federal agencies prioritize and pay extra to applicants who have studied the language. The U of I is offering first-, second-, and third-year Chinese this coming fall semester, so what are you waiting for?

The Looking East, Looking West film symposium and accompanying photography exhibit are now in the past. It was a real delight to welcome Professor Christina Klein to deliver the keynote address, to hear all the panels, and to view the compelling photos of Colin Fox and Nguyen Chi Thanh. In addition to participating in the symposium, the delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University, Hanoi were able to meet with UI scholars and administrators to discuss possible areas of future cooperation; and, on their last day, they got to see some local sights! Anyone know where the delegation is in the first photo?

Check out this scholarship for U of I undergrads and grads interested in Asian American studies! Application due May 4, 2026. Questions: [email protected]

Hear the compelling story of Keiko Ogura, a survivor of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima. On Thursday, April 16, at 5 PM (Pacific), Ms. Ogura will share her testimony on a Zoom webinar. The session is geared for University of Idaho students, but it is free and open to all, though you must register in advance to attend: https://uidaho.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JatDcfJ7SfOe9Xh6yjsaDQ

Vandal Giving Day is here, April 7-8, 2026! Your contribution to the Habib Institute for Asian Studies will help keep the University of Idaho at the forefront of the engagement with Asia and will assure the continuation of our high quality programing, like bringing acclaimed speakers to campus such as award-winning director Justin Chon, providing life-changing, faculty-led study abroad opportunities, maintaining the renowned AsiaPOP! symposium, and so much more.

From the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences Vandal Giving Day 2026 page, click on the link that says "Support the program in CLASS that means the most to you." From there, search "Habib Institute" in the "Search funds" bar and make your donation to Bring Asia to Idaho!

Today in the Reflections Gallery in ISUB!!!! And don't miss the Artists' Talk, moderated by Professor Ariana Maki, at 5pm! Light refreshments served.