Join the Korean Studies Research Network (KoRN) for a virtual lecture by sociologist Dr. Junghyun Nam exploring the relationship between protesters and police during South Korea's 2016-17 Candlelight Protests. The event, Police as Allies: Protester Perceptions and Cooperation in South Korea's Candlelight Protests, will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. (CDT) via Zoom.
Although these protests have been widely celebrated for their peaceful, civic, and democratic character, particularly the harmonious relationship between protesters and police, the process through which this cooperation emerged remains underexplored. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and supplementary sources, Nam examines how protesters came to perceive police as allies rather than adversaries. She explores how cultural understandings of police legitimacy, knowledge of the auxiliary police system, and collective memories of past repression helped shape cooperation between protesters and law enforcement.
About the speaker
Dr. Junghyun Nam is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and a research affiliate at the Movement Engaged Hub, both at George Mason University. She is currently working on a book project that examines the emergence of civility as a normative-regulatory system and its influence on boundary-work within protest events. She is also coordinating a collaborative working paper project on data center development and community resistance in the United States. Her work has been published in Mobilization: An International Quarterly.
The Korean Studies Research Network aims to bring together scholars whose research focuses on Korea-related topics and to provide mentoring to the younger generation of scholars. It serves as a platform to facilitate collaborative and interdisciplinary research among scholars and graduate students at the University of Iowa and institutions of higher education in the Midwest through seminars, speaker series, and workshops.
These events are made possible through generous support from International Programs and The Stanley-University of Iowa Foundation Support Organization at the University of Iowa.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Daniel Vorwerk in advance at 319-497-1619 or daniel-vorwerk@uiowa.edu.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.