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Markus Bell

Anthropologist and Lecturer in Korean and Japanese studies, University of Sheffield

I am a social and cultural anthropologist who joined SEAS in September 2016 after completing a PhD in anthropology at the Australian National University. I lecture on North Korean society, migration, and history; Migration and Northeast Asia, and food and anthropology.

My research explores Cold War and contemporary migration to and from North Korea (DPRK), and the significance of intergenerational memories of movement and resettlement in shaping a diasporic, North Korean identity. I contextualise this migration within the larger geo-political processes and historical forces that shaped the latter half of the twentieth century in Northeast Asia, and the epoch defining challenges that continue to cast a long shadow on relations between North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.

I lived in Korea for a total of six years, including time studying at Busan National University, Yonsei, and Seoul National University (MA degree). I lived in Osaka for a year during my doctoral research, during which time I was affiliated with the Osaka University of Economics and Law. Within Sheffield’s School of East Asian Studies I teach into the Korean Studies undergraduate programme as a degree lecturer. I am also the seminar series coordinator for SEAS, promoting the continued exchange of ideas on topics related to East Asia throughout the UK, and beyond.

Global Geopolitics Series

Four challenges for Moon Jae-in, South Korea's new president

May 10, 2017 00:21 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Democrat Moon Jae-in is the new president of South Korea. Moon, a former special forces soldier turned human rights lawyer, won a snap election, following months of mass protests that ousted President Park Geun-hye last...

Global Geopolitics Series

South Korea's next president faces a belligerent north and a confused US

May 05, 2017 01:10 am UTC| Insights & Views

South Korea is under serious pressure on two fronts. Internationally, Seoul and its allies are scrambling to head off the threat from North Korea, which some fear is ramping up for another nuclear test but the South...

Global Geopolitics Series

Should we really be so afraid of a nuclear North Korea?

Feb 06, 2017 17:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The common thinking is that North Koreas nuclear programme poses a threat to global peace and diverts economic resources from an impoverished population. North Korean leaders are depicted in the Western media as a cabal of...

Economy

Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns

Global oil prices continued to decline on Thursday, reaching levels close to those seen before tensions escalated between Iran and its regional rivals. The sharp drop in crude prices reflects growing confidence that oil...

White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response

The White House has formally asked Congress to approve an $87.6 billion supplemental spending package aimed at covering expenses tied to the ongoing Iran war, while also providing funding for American farmers and...

Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies

Japans government is preparing to push for a monetary policy that supports stronger private demand, highlighting its preference for keeping borrowing costs low even as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) continues normalizing interest...

Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion

Gold prices continued their downward trend during Asian trading on Thursday, falling to their lowest level in more than seven months as a stronger U.S. dollar and growing expectations of additional Federal Reserve interest...

South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost

South Koreas benchmark KOSPI index soared more than 5% at Thursdays market open, prompting the Korea Exchange (KRX) to temporarily halt program trading after a sharp rally fueled by leading semiconductor stocks. The...

Politics

US Mobilizes Aid After Powerful Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela

Powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday have prompted an immediate response from the United States, which is coordinating with Venezuelan authorities and preparing emergency assistance for the disaster-hit...

US Urges States and Businesses to Strengthen Taiwan Ties Amid China Pressure

The United States has urged state governments and private businesses to strengthen their engagement with Taiwan after raising concerns that Chinese officials have been attempting to discourage such relationships. According...

Young Brazilian Voters Shift Right Ahead of 2026 Election

As Brazil prepares for its October presidential election, a growing number of young voters are moving away from the left, signaling a major political shift that could influence the countrys future. Many who once supported...

Pelosi Discloses Major Intel and Uber Call Option Purchases Worth Up to $6 Million

Representative Nancy Pelosi has disclosed a new financial transaction report revealing that her spouse, Paul Pelosi, purchased substantial call options in Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) and Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:...

Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress to approve more than $11 billion in additional farm aid to help American farmers cope with soaring fuel and fertilizer expenses linked to the recent Iran conflict. According...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Kioxia Targets U.S. Listing as AI Chip Boom Accelerates

Japan-based Kioxia Holdings Corp. (TYO:285A) is preparing to launch U.S. depositary shares in the spring of 2027, a strategic move aimed at expanding its global investor base and taking advantage of growing enthusiasm for...

Doncasters Raises $919 Million in NYSE IPO as Aerospace Growth Accelerates

Doncasters has successfully raised $919.3 million through its U.S. initial public offering (IPO), marking a significant milestone in the aerospace components manufacturers long-term transformation. The historic British...

SK Hynix Targets $29.4 Billion Nasdaq Listing to Expand AI Chip Business

SK Hynix has announced plans to raise as much as $29.4 billion through a Nasdaq listing in the United States, positioning the deal as one of the largest global stock offerings in history. The South Korean memory chip...

Alibaba Shares Fall After Anthropic Alleges Massive AI Model Distillation Campaign

Alibaba Groups Hong Kong-listed shares dropped sharply on Thursday after reports revealed that U.S.-based artificial intelligence company Anthropic accused the Chinese tech giant of conducting a large-scale campaign to...

Samsung and SK Hynix Shares Jump After Micron Earnings Boost AI Chip Optimism

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix posted strong gains on Thursday after Micron Technology delivered record quarterly earnings and issued a stronger-than-expected revenue forecast, reinforcing confidence in the growing...