#  A Graduate Student Perspective: June Lee, G3, Anthropology, KI Graduate Summer Research Grant, Summer 2025 

 





September 08, 2025

 

 

     ![June Lee](/sites/g/files/omnuum10896/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/2025KI_June%20Lee_photo.jpg?itok=x7yfi9n1) 

 



 

With the generous support of the Korea Institute, I was able to conduct pre-dissertation research on *muyŏn'go* death in contemporary South Korea over the previous two summers. As a continuation of the work I have done, this summer’s research—also funded by the KI Graduate Summer Research Travel Grant—provided a running start to a long-term dissertation fieldwork on the same topic.

The previous years’ research enabled me to trace the central nodes of *muyŏn'go* death-care network in Seoul and analyze the ways in which the state has shaped the relationship between death and social relations. In the process, I was also able to explore potential fieldsites for long-term dissertation fieldwork. The objective of this year’s research was to finalize a fieldsite, to build rapport with key informants, to obtain permission for participant-observation, and to find a place to stay throughout my upcoming fieldwork. My stay in South Korea thus involved getting in touch with key informants I have previously established contacts with, negotiating the terms of participant observation, and touring houses with local real estate agents. As a result, I was able to collect more data through formal meetings with my primary fieldsite and obtained permission to carry out participant observation. I also managed to rent a studio near the crematorium for more productive data collection.

While my unexpected contraction of COVID-19 hindered some of my original plans to make room for legal database analysis, I have now successfully met all the conditions to begin long-term dissertation fieldwork. This would not have been possible if not for the three-week period spent in Seoul this summer. As I stand at the jumping-off point, I express my sincere gratitude to the Korea Institute and my professors for their support throughout my training and preparation which made this moment possible.



 

 

 



 

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- [ Student Reflection ](/news-type/student-reflection)
 
 

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