FB08: Research visit at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Applicant: Yura Hyeon
Faculty, specialisation: FB08, PhD Social and Cutural Anthropology

The research visit allowed me to have meaningful exchanges and establish relationships with scholars based in Hong Kong. I had a chance to meet again the postdoctoral fellows and professors with whom I connected during the Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Conference. This visit also led me to invaluable opportunities to build contacts with the anthropologists from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, especially Prof. Sealing Cheng, who hosted me during the research visit. As she suggested, I presented a chapter of my PhD dissertation on Yemeni refugees’ hypermobility, labor, and homemaking in South Korea’s refugee regime and beyond for the school’s seminar series. The event attracted the school’s MA and PhD students, visiting researchers, and professors and I had constructive feedback and discussion during the one-hour-long Q&A session after the presentation.

The visiting researcher program significantly advanced my knowledge about refugees, migrant workers (particularly, female migrant care workers from the Southeast Asia region), and youth activism in Hong Kong. Visiting several female international migrant workers’ unions was an invaluable learning space to understand the inter-Asia care work migration landscape. During the research visit period, I also attended several events organized by NGOs and interacted with refugees in Hong Kong. This moment allowed me to confront the harsh realities of inequality among asylum claimants and migrant care workers from Southeast Asia and their continuous aspirations flowing through their migration. I plan to incorporate these ethnographic reflections into my dissertation.

Overall, the research visit was a highly enriching experience, and it has further strengthened my motivation to participate in future research visit and exchange programs. I was particularly inspired by the vibrant atmosphere of shared passion for the field, the deep respect shown for groundbreaking research, and the openness of participants to exchange ideas and build new connections. I plan to share the key insights and takeaways with fellow doctoral candidates, researchers, and my supervisor during our upcoming colloquium discussions.

This participation was supported by the Santander-Mobility Fund. I would especially like to express my sincere thanks to the Office of Student Research Projects (Ms. Linda Dieks), and my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka for making my participation possible.