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[BK21 - Invited Lecture] Tobiasz Targosz: Southeast Asian Immigrants

Dec 26, 2024

The BK21 Educational Research Group in the Department of Anthropology at Seoul National University invites you to a special lecture featuring Dr. Tobiasz Targosz from Jagiellonian University, Poland. Dr. Targosz will present findings from ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and the Seoul metropolitan area, focusing on how these countries manage Southeast Asian immigrants who reside, study, and work within their borders.


Lecture Details

  • Speaker: Dr. Tobiasz Targosz (Jagiellonian University)
  • Date & Time: December 26, 2024 (Thursday), 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Venue: Room 504, Building 223 (Wooseok Economics Building), Seoul National University
  • Contact: anthrobk21plus@snu.ac.kr
    (No pre-registration required for attendance.)

Lecture Title
Southeast Asian Immigrants in Taiwan and South Korea: The Spectre of Comparisons


Lecture Overview

South Korea and Taiwan are among East Asia's leading migration destinations. Drawing on ethnographic research in Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and Seoul’s metropolitan region, this lecture explores how these nations manage and integrate Southeast Asian immigrants into their societies.

The discussion will focus on the role of immigrants who live, study, and work in these host nations, as well as their broader societal impact. Furthermore, the lecture will examine the challenges of fostering multiculturalism in historically monocultural and monolingual societies. Through comparative analysis, the lecture aims to shed light on migration policies, cultural integration, and the transformations taking place in South Korea and Taiwan.


About the Speaker

Dr. Tobiasz Targosz is an anthropologist and assistant professor at the Center for Comparative Studies of Civilizations at Jagiellonian University, Poland. He holds degrees in History and Ethnology (Faculty of History), Far Eastern Studies (Faculty of International and Political Studies), and Sinology (Faculty of Philology).

From 2010 to 2023, Dr. Targosz conducted extensive field research in mainland China, Taiwan, and several Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. In 2023, he carried out ten months of in-depth fieldwork in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, studying the experiences of Southeast Asian immigrants. Currently, he is conducting research on Southeast Asian immigrants in Korea, funded by the Korea Foundation.

His primary research interests include marginalized groups in East and Southeast Asia, with a focus on their social dynamics and integration within broader cultural and political contexts.


We warmly welcome all those interested to attend and participate in this insightful lecture!