PhD Applicant in Sociology | Migration ยท Cultural Sociology ยท Intercultural Communication
Seoul, South Korea | soojung.lee@[email] | 010-9198-8145
Languages: Korean (Native) | Japanese (JLPT N1) | English (TOEFL iBT 110)
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๐ About Me {#about}
I am a Master's student in Information and Communication Studies at Meiji University (Tokyo), where I research the career identity formation of Korean working holiday participants in Japan. My work bridges quantitative survey methods and qualitative interviewing across three languages, with a focus on how migration structures social networks, life course trajectories, and cross-cultural understanding among young Asians.
Having lived in Tokyo for six years, participated in Japanese-Korean government youth exchanges, and served as an official interpreter at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I bring both scholarly rigor and lived intercultural experience to my research.
๐ Education {#education}
Meiji University โ School of Information and Communication | M.A. (In Progress)
๐ Tokyo, Japan | April 2026 โ Present
Advisor: Prof. Reiko Nebashi
Thesis Topic: Career identity formation and institutional functions among Korean working holiday participants in Japan
Methods: Mixed-methods approach โ quantitative survey design + qualitative in-depth interviews; analyzing how participation motives, work experience, and social networks shape career consciousness and life course choices.
Meiji University โ School of Information and Communication | B.A.
๐ Tokyo, Japan | April 2020 โ March 2024
Key Coursework: Intercultural Communication, Migration Sociology, Media Studies, Social Theory
Undergraduate Research: Qualitative study on how Japanese cultural soft power shapes Korean international students' motivations for studying abroad and their adaptation processes in Japan.
Jamsil Girls' High School | Diploma
๐ Seoul, South Korea | March 2017 โ February 2019
๐ฌ Research Interests {#research-interests}
Area | Keywords |
Global Migration | Working holiday, international students, labor migration |
Cultural Sociology | Soft power, identity, cross-cultural acceptance |
Intercultural Communication | DMIS framework, MZ generation, JapanโKorea dynamics |
Social Networks | Source of social support, wellbeing, transnational ties |
Life Course & Youth Studies | Career formation, transition to adulthood, mobility |
๐ Publications & Presentations {#publications}
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
Lee, S. (2025, September). A Study on the Characteristics of Intercultural Understanding among the Korean MZ Generation: Focusing on Japanese Otaku Culture. Asia-Pacific Journal of Convergence Research Interchange, 11(10), 979โ989. Korean Convergence Technology Research Association.
Conference Presentations
Lee, S. (2025, August). A Study on the Characteristics of Cross-Cultural Acceptance among The MZ Generation: Focusing on Japanese Otaku Culture. 2025 Summer Conference, Korean Convergence Technology Research Association.
Lee, S. (2025, September). A Comparative Study on University Admissions for International Students: Toward Improved Acceptance of Highly Skilled Foreign Talent [็ๅญฆ็ใฎๅคงๅญฆๅ
ฅ่ฉฆใฎๆฏ่ผใซใใ้ซๅบฆๅคๅฝไบบๆใฎๅใๅ
ฅใใฎๆนๅ็ญใซใคใใฆ่ๅฏ]. 2nd Korea-Japan Future Generation Forum. Korea-Japan Friendship Association. Seoul Press Center, Seoul. [Award: Encouragement Prize]
Working Paper (In Preparation)
Lee, S. (Expected June 2026). Social Support and Subjective Wellbeing among Foreigners Residing in Japan [ๆฅๆฌใซๅฑ
ไฝใใๅคๅฝไบบใฎ็คพไผ็ๆฏๆใจๅนธ็ฆใซ้ขใใ็ ็ฉถ]. Quantitative study examining how source of social support (home country vs. Japan) differentially predicts subjective wellbeing across visa categories (students, workers, working holiday participants).
๐งช Research & Academic Experience {#experience}
Teaching Assistant โ International Exchange Program
๐ Meiji University Surugadai Campus, Tokyo | April 2026 โ Present
- Competitively selected as TA for intercultural exchange course
- Facilitates cross-cultural exchange activities between Japanese and international students
Independent Researcher โ Korea-Japan Youth Friendship Exchange Program
๐ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Korea) & Cabinet Office (Japan) | 2023 โ Present
- 2023: Official participant in joint government youth exchange; served as translator/interpreter; awarded Minister's Commendation (Excellence Prize) by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
- July 2025: Participated in preparatory training; facilitated debates on social issues with Japanese youth
- November 2025: Participated in Meiji University-hosted Korea-Japan exchange event
Human Library โ 'Living Book' Speaker
๐ Book of Leaf Green (Kawaguchi, Saitama) | Nakano Diversity Festa (Tokyo) | 2025 โ 2026
- Delivered talks on multicultural experience and identity at two community diversity events
- Facilitated dialogues on intercultural understanding and minority experiences
๐ Honors & Awards {#awards}
Year | Award | Issuing Body |
2025 | Encouragement Prize โ 2nd Korea-Japan Future Generation Forum | Korea-Japan Friendship Association |
2023 | Excellence Prize (Minister's Commendation) โ Korea-Japan Youth Exchange Program | Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Korea) |
๐ Fieldwork & Interpretation Experience {#fieldwork}
Lead Interpreter & MC โ Korea-China-Japan Fairy Tale Exchange Competition
๐
2026 (Scheduled) | Trilingual cultural exchange program
Official Interpreter โ 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held 2021)
๐
JulyโAugust 2021
Volunteer interpreter for the Korean Women's National Volleyball Team and coaching staff (Kim Yeon-koung, Coach Lavarini)Official press zone interview interpreterOfficial Japanese Interpreter โ NATURE Online Fan Meeting
๐
October 2020
Wanna be friends with NATURE for Japan โ Live official interpreter for K-pop group NATURE's Japan fan meetingInterpreter & Translator โ Youth Overseas Volunteer Corps
๐
JuneโOctober 2022
๊ฟ๊ณผ ์ฌ๋์์ผ๋ก โ Ministry of Gender Equality and Family / Korea Youth Activity Promotion Agency; remote bilingual (Korean-Japanese) volunteer activities
๐ Research Skills {#skills}
Quantitative Methods
Survey design ยท SPSS (multiple regression, one-way ANOVA) ยท Descriptive statistics
Qualitative Methods
In-depth interviewing ยท Thematic analysis ยท DMIS framework application
Multilingual Data Collection
Trilingually capable field research in Korean, Japanese, and English
Academic Writing
Peer-reviewed publications and conference papers in Korean, Japanese, and English
๐ International Experience
Cambridge Summer Intercultural Program โ Certificate from Cambridge University-affiliated program (AugโSep 2022)- 6 years in Tokyo โ Deep immersion in Japanese social and institutional contexts
๐ฏ Target PhD Programs {#programs}
University | Department |
University of Southern California | Sociology |
University of California, San Diego | Sociology |
University of Chicago | Sociology |
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Sociology |
Michigan State University | Sociology |
University of California, Berkeley | Sociology |
University of California, Los Angeles | Sociology |
Last updated: April 2026
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