Bio


Gi-Wook Shin is the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea in Sociology; senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; the director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center since 2005; and the founding director of the Korea Program, all at Stanford University. As a historical-comparative and political sociologist, his research has concentrated on social movements, nationalism, development, democracy, and international relations.

Shin is the author/editor of twenty-five books and numerous articles. His recent books include Korean Democracy in Crisis: The Threat of Illiberalism, Populism, and Polarization (2022); The North Korean Conundrum: Balancing Human Rights and Nuclear Security (2021); Demographics and Innovation in the Asia-Pacific (2021); Shifting Gears in Innovation Policy from Asia (2020); Strategic, Policy and Social Innovation for a Post-Industrial Korea: Beyond the Miracle (2018); Superficial Korea (2017); Divergent Memories: Opinion Leaders and the Asia-Pacific War (2016); Global Talent: Skilled Labor as Social Capital in Korea (2015); Criminality, Collaboration, and Reconciliation: Europe and Asia Confronts the Memory of World War II (2014); New Challenges for Maturing Democracies in Korea and Taiwan (2014); Asia’s Middle Powers? (2013); Troubled Transition: North Korea's Politics, Economy, and External Relations (2013); History Textbooks and the Wars in Asia: Divided Memories (2011); South Korean Social Movements: From Democracy to Civil Society (2011); One Alliance, Two Lenses: U.S.-Korea Relations in a New Era (2010); Cross Currents: Regionalism and Nationalism in Northeast Asia (2007); Rethinking Historical Injustice and Reconciliation in Northeast Asia (2006); and Ethnic Nationalism in Korea: Genealogy, Politics, and Legacy (2006). Due to the wide popularity of his publications, many have been translated and distributed to Korean audiences. His articles have appeared in academic journals including American Journal of Sociology, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Political Science Quarterly, International Sociology, Nations and Nationalism, Pacific Affairs, Asian Survey, and Journal of Democracy.

Shin is currently writing two books– Next Korea (in Korean and English) and Talent Giants in the Asia-Pacific Century. The former is based on his monthly columns published in Shindonga, Korea’s oldest monthly magazine, that addressed main challenges and solutions for Korea’s future. The latter is a comparative study of talent strategies of Japan, Australia, China, and India that were instrumental to their rise. In Summer 2023, Shin will launch the Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) which is a new initiative committed to addressing emergent social, cultural, economic, and political challenges in Asia. Across four research themes– “Talent Flows and Development,” “Nationalism and Racism,” “U.S.-Asia Relations,” and “Democratic Crisis and Reform”–the lab will bring scholars on Asia to produce interdisciplinary, problem-oriented, policy-relevant, and comparative studies and publications.

Shin is not only the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, but also continues to actively raise funds for Korean/Asian studies at Stanford. He gives frequent lectures and seminars on topics ranging from Korean nationalism and politics to Korea's foreign relations and historical reconciliation in Northeast Asia and to talent strategies. He serves on councils and advisory boards in the United States and South Korea and promotes policy dialogue between the two allies. He regularly writes op-eds and gives interviews to the media in both Korean and English.

Before coming to Stanford in 2001, Shin taught at the University of Iowa (1991-94) and the University of California, Los Angeles (1994-2001). After receiving his BA from Yonsei University in Korea, he was awarded his MA and PhD from the University of Washington in 1991.

Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Founding Director, Korea Studies Program (2001 - Present)
  • Director, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center (S-APARC) (2005 - Present)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Guest Columnist, Sindonga (in Korean)- “Shin’s Reflections on Korea” (English) (2022 - 2023)
  • Guest Columnist, Munhwa Daily (Korea) (2018 - 2020)
  • Member, Global Advisory Board, Jeju Forum (2018 - Present)
  • Guest Columnist, The Korea Times (USA) (2017 - 2019)
  • Guest Columnist, Maeil Economic Daily (2016 - 2017)
  • Guest Columnist, Nikkei Asian Review (2014 - 2015)
  • Guest Columnist, Dong-a Ilbo (2013 - 2014)
  • Senior Advisor to the Center for Asia-Pacific Future Studies, Kyushu University (Japan) (2014 - 2015)
  • Member of the Editorial Collective, Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique (1992 - 2008)
  • Member, Evaluation Committee, Chong Moon Lee Scholarship (2002 - 2003)
  • Guest Columnist, The Korea Times (US and San Francisco editions) (2002 - 2002)
  • Member, Overseas Advisory Board, Institute of Modern Korean Studies (Seoul, Korea) (1997 - 2001)
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Committee for East Asian Library, UCLA (1995 - 2001)
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Committee for the Center for Korean Studies, UCLA (1994 - 2001)
  • Member of the Editorial Advisory Committee, Tradition and Modernity and Trends and Perspectives (Seoul, Korea) (1997 - 2000)
  • Colloquium Coordinator, the Center for Korean Studies, UCLA (1997 - 2000)

Program Affiliations


  • Center for East Asian Studies

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., University of Washington, Sociology (1991)
  • M.A., University of Washington, Sociology (1985)
  • B.A., Yonsei University, Sociology (1983)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


Korean democratization; Korean nationalism; U.S.-Korea relations; North Korean politics; reconciliation and cooperation in Northeast Asia; global talent; multiculturalism; inter-Korean relations

Projects


  • Asia-Pacific Wars: Elite Memory in China, Japan, Korea, and America, Shorenstein APARC (2008 - Present)

    Location

    China, Japan, Korea

    Collaborators

    • Daniel C. Sneider, Associate Director for Research, Shorenstein APARC
  • Comparative Policy Responses to Demographic Change in East Asia (1/1/2011 - Present)

    Location

    China, Japan, Korea

2024-25 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • SOUTH KOREA'S DEMOCRATIC DECAY JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Shin, G. 2020; 31 (3): 100–114
  • Skilled Migrants as Human and Social Capital in Korea ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Choi, J., Moon, R. J. 2019; 59 (4): 673–92
  • Korea's Migrants: From Homogeneity to Diversity An Asian Survey Special Section ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Moon, R. J. 2019; 59 (4): 595–606
  • 1919 in Korea: National Resistance and Contending Legacies JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES Shin, G., Moon, R. 2019; 78 (2): 399–408
  • International student networks as transnational social capital: illustrations from Japan COMPARATIVE EDUCATION Moon, R. J., Shin, G. 2019
  • North Korea in 2018 Kim's Summit Diplomacy ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Moon, R. J. 2019; 59 (1): 35–43
  • THE BURDEN OF THE PAST Problems of Historical Perception in Japan-Korea Relations Foreword BURDEN OF THE PAST: PROBLEMS OF HISTORICAL PERCEPTION IN JAPAN-KOREA RELATIONS Shin, G., Kimura, K. 2019: VII-+
  • Park Chung Hee and Modern Korea: The Roots of Militarism, 1866-1945 (Book Review) HISTORIAN Book Review Authored by: Shin, G. 2018; 80 (2): 420-+
  • North Korea in 2017 Closer to Being a Nuclear State ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Moon, R. J. 2018; 58 (1): 33–42
  • South Korea in 2016 Political Leadership in Crisis ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Moon, R. J. 2017; 57 (1): 103-110
  • Aid as Transnational Social Capital: Korea's Official Development Assistance in Higher Education PACIFIC AFFAIRS Moon, R. J., Shin, G. 2016; 89 (4): 817-837

    View details for DOI 10.5509/2016894817

    View details for Web of Science ID 000389560900004

  • Asymmetry of power and attention in alliance politics: the US-Republic of Korea case AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Shin, G., Izatt, H., Moon, R. J. 2016; 70 (3): 235-255
  • PAST ACTIVISM, PARTY PRESSURE, AND IDEOLOGY: EXPLAINING THE VOTE TO DEPLOY KOREAN TROOPS TO IRAQ MOBILIZATION Kim, S., Chang, P. Y., Shin, G. 2013; 18 (3): 243-266
  • The Election That Could Reorder South Korea's Politics CURRENT HISTORY Shin, G. 2012; 111 (746): 223-228
  • Identity Politics and Policy Disputes in U.S.-Korea Relations POLITICAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY Shin, G. 2012; 127 (2): 289-310
  • Troubled Transition: North Korea's Politics, Economy and External Relations Straub , D. edited by Shin, G., Choe, S. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. 2012
  • “Racist Korea?: Diverse but not tolerant of diversity Race and Racism in Modern East Asia: Western and Eastern Constructions Shin , G. Brill . 2012: 369–390
  • Anti-American and Anti-Alliance Sentiments in South Korea ASIAN SURVEY Shin, G., Izatt, H. J. 2011; 51 (6): 1113-1133
  • U.S.-DPRK Educational Exchanges: Assessment and Future Strategy edited by Shin , G., Lee, K. J. Shorenstein APARC. 2011
  • Beyond North Korea: Future Challenges to South Korea's Security edited by Shin , G., Kim, B. K., Straub , D. Shorenstein APARC, distributed by the Brookings Institution Press. 2011
  • History Textbooks and the Wars in Asia: Divided Memories History Textbooks and the Wars in Asia: Divided Memories edited by Shin , G., Sneider , D. C. Routledge . 2011
  • South Korean Social Movements: From Democracy to Civil Society Shin, G., Chang , P. Routledge. 2011
  • Historical Disputes and Reconciliation in Northeast Asia: The US Role PACIFIC AFFAIRS Shin, G. 2010; 83 (4): 663-673
  • Values and History in U.S.-South Korean Relations Issues of History, Values, Memory, and Identity in the U.S.-South Korea Relationship Shin, G. Cambridge University Press. 2010
  • One Alliance, Two Lenses: U.S.-Korea Relations in a New Era Shin , G. Stanford University . 2010
  • First Drafts of Korea: The U.S. Media and Perceptions of the Last Cold War Frontier edited by Shin , G., Macintyre, D., Sneider, D. C. Shorenstein APARC, distributed by Brookings Institution Press. 2009
  • North Korea and Identity Politics in South Korea Brown Journal of World Affairs Shin , G. 2008; 15 (1)
  • Paradox or Paradigm? Making Sense of Korean Experience Korea Confronts Globalization Shin, G., Choi , J. N. ROutledge. 2008 : 250–272
  • Journal of Korean Studies Shin, G., Duncan , J. Rowman & Littlefield. 2008; 13
  • Cross Currents: Regionalism and Nationalism in Northeast Asia edited by Shin , G. Shorenstein APARC, distributed by Brookings Institution Press. 2007
  • Journal of Korean Studies Shin , G., Duncan , J. Rowman & Littlefield. 2007; 12
  • North Korea: 2005 and Beyond edited by Shin , G. Shorenstein APARC, Brookings Institution Press. 2006
  • Rethinking Historical Injustice and Reconciliation in Northeast Asia: The Korean Experience Shin , G. Routledge. 2006
  • Journal of Korean Studies Shin , G., Duncan , J. Rowman & Littlefield. 2006; 11
  • Ethnic Nationalism in Korea: Genealogy, Politics, and Legacy Shin , G. Stanford University Press: Studies of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. 2006
  • Asianism in Korea's politics of identity Conference on Koreas Identities Shin, G. W. ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. 2005: 616–30
  • Journal of Korean Studies Shin , G., Duncan , J. Rowman & Littlefield. 2005; 10
  • Journal of Korean Studies Shin, G., Duncan , J. Rowman & Littlefield. 2004; 9
  • The Politics of Nationalism in U.S.-Korean Relations Asian Perspective Shin , G., Chang , P. Y. 2004; 28
  • Social conflict and regime formation - A comparative study of South Korea and Costa Rica INTERNATIONAL SOCIOLOGY Shin, G. W., Hytrek, G. 2002; 17 (4): 459-480
  • The Politics of Ethnic Nationalism in Korea Nations and Nationalism: Journal of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism Shin, G., Yi, G. 1999; 5