The 4th Dissertation Prize Winner Forum was organized to introduce the excellent research achievements of the awardees to the academic community and to build a network among the recipients. Presentations were given by Dr. Ran Kim from the Department of Sociology at Seoul National University, Dr. Haeyoung Jeong from the Department of Anthropology at the same university, and Seungwoo Yoo, a graduate of the Department of Anthropology at Seoul National University. Each presented the process and content of their thesis work. The discussions involved Dr. Suji Jang from Ewha Womans University, Professor Jongseok Yoon from the Department of Chinese Culture at the University of Seoul, and PhD candidate Hayoung Cho from the Department of Sociology at Seoul National University.

First, Dr. Haeyoung Jeong, who won the award for her doctoral thesis titled “The City of Promises and Betrayals: Land Development and the Politics of Materiality in China,” presented her research on urban studies in China from the perspectives of the land development boom, land expropriation, resettlement housing for farmers, and post-socialist citizenship. She also shared her experiences in topic selection and fieldwork.

Next, Dr. Ran Kim, who was awarded for her doctoral thesis titled “A Comparative Study on the Changes in Childcare Systems in Modern Korea and China,” introduced the process of writing her thesis and conducting field research. She emphasized her approach using a macro-historical perspective on childcare systems, focusing on the concept of ‘public childcare,’ women’s economic activities, institutional childcare issues, and the formation of community-based childcare in China. Dr. Kim categorized historical periods into formative, transitional, and low-birthrate phases, presenting a framework that reflects the characteristics of women’s labor markets, birth policies, and family-centered ideologies. She also discussed the similarities and differences between Korea and China in terms of autonomy and public responsibility.

Lastly, Seungwoo Yoo, who was awarded for his master’s thesis titled “Reproduction of Transnational Life Through the Consumption and Leisure of Male Migrant Workers: Focusing on the Igorot People of the Philippines in Industrial Complex A in Gyeonggi Province,” presented his field research on migrant laborers. He shared insights on the writing process of his thesis, focusing on the intersection of ethnic identity and gender identity (particularly masculinity) among the Igorot community.

During the discussion, Professor Jongseok Yoon commented on Dr. Haeyoung Jeong’s research, noting that it effectively illustrated the various ways farmers transition into urban citizens, highlighting rights claims, negotiations with the state, and the creation of changes and issues. Dr. Suji Jang praised Dr. Ran Kim’s work for its clear articulation of the characteristics of both Chinese and Korean societies, noting that the thesis positioned childcare and child-rearing within broader social dynamics. Finally, PhD candidate Hayoung Cho emphasized the depth of Seungwoo Yoo’s engagement with his subject and the academic significance of his research, continuing the discussion.