Jae-Jung (J.J.) Suh has been named associate professor and director of the Korea Studies Program. He also serves as academic adviser for the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS.

Suh comes to SAIS from Cornell University, where he was assistant professor of government and chair of the Korea Studies Committee of the East Asia Program. He previously taught at the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania and was visiting professor at Seoul National University and research professor at Yonsei University. In addition, he was visiting scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and visiting fellow at University of California, Irvine.

Suh holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Power, Interest and Identity in Military Alliances, published in 2007.

What attracted you to SAIS?

SAIS is the country’s leading graduate school of international affairs, with strong area studies programs. SAIS recently made the timely decision to formally institute the Korea Studies Program, fi lling a glaring gap in the areas covered. The timing could not have been better. North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have drawn the world’s attention, and South Korea’s dramatic democratization and economic development have catapulted the country onto the international stage. The prospect of developing and shaping the Korea Studies Program at such a critical moment was an opportunity not to be missed.

What areas of expertise do you bring to SAIS?

I have worked on some of the foreign policy and security issues that affect the Korean Peninsula, such as the military balance between the two Koreas, the U.S.-Korea alliance and the North’s weapons of mass destruction programs. My work on Korea is complemented by two broader inquiries. First, I have analyzed and published on U.S. policies toward the Asia Pacifi c region and U.S. security policies in general. Second, my studies enrich and are guided by more abstract reflections on international relations theories.

What are some important trends in your field of study?

Korea studies as a whole is on divergent paths. On the one hand, many programs and schools emphasize humanistic approaches to the study of Korea. As a result, there is a growing number of graduates and Ph.D.’s in such fields as history, literature and film studies, which are welcome additions to Korea studies that had overlooked many of these. On the other hand, social sciences as a whole have inched away from areaspecifi c studies. So there is a declining number of scholars and students who can bring social scientific methods to bear upon area-specific inquiries. The contradictory trends have produced a dearth of scholars and practitioners who are equally conversant in grounded knowledge about Korea and social science theories and methods.

What are some of your current areas of research and/or projects?

I continue to work on the security issues that involve Korea; I am currently working on an article on the crisis and possible solution of North Korea’s nuclear program as well as an article on the future of the U.S.-Korea alliance. I have expanded my research agenda to include an inquiry into what I call “historical contentions” in Northeast Asia. I am also in the process of editing a volume on North Korea.

What are your goals, as director of Korea Studies, for this academic year?

I would like to raise the profile of the Korea Studies Program and make Korea more visible in Washington, D.C., and beyond. I would like the program to contribute to policy debates and public understanding by facilitating communications between Seoul and Washington, not just between the governments, but also among scholars and civil society actors. The Korea Studies Program, in cooperation with the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, seeks to make these contributions.

As a newly created program, it needs to identify and establish the courses that will meet student needs and prepare students for their future careers. The program also should spark interest in Korea among students and recruit more Korea Studies students while giving a solid education and support to the existing concentrations.

What do you consider to be your “hometown,” and what do you enjoy doing outside of your scholarly pursuits?

Hometown is where your heart lies, and at the moment, it is Washington, D.C. I like to explore its fascinating nooks and crannies on foot or bike. I also enjoy the serenity of swimming in the pool and the violent intensity of smashing the ball in a squash court. I try to bring the two contradictory extremities to harmony in the melodies on my daegum, a Korean bamboo flute.