Manchurian Modern: The Diasporic Link between Manchukuo and the 1960s South Korean Developmental Regime

Ajia Express in 1930s (provided by speaker)

Prof. Suk-Jung Han, Dong-A University

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
4:00 PM

Bunche Hall, Rm 10383

This lecture traces the current economic and cultural dynamism in Korea through the lens of Manchukuo, the Japanese puppet state in northeast China. Prof. Han argues that this historical context influenced the emergence of the South Korean developmental regime, which has been key to rapid economic growth and Cold War mobilization.     

Suk-Jung Han is author of The Origin of the 1960s Korean Developmental Regime: Manchurian Modern. He served as advisory committee member at the Northeast Asian History Foundation and also served President of Don-A University. He is a professor emeritus at Dong-A University. 

This is part of the "Koreans in the World" project hosted by UCLA's Center for Korean Studies. This event is supported by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS Award Number: AKS-2023-SRI-2200001) as part of its Strategic Research Institute Program for Korean Studies. 

Sponsor(s): Center for Korean Studies, Academy of Korean Studies