Michigan Korean Studies Summer Institute (MiKSSI)

Theme: Confucianism in Korean History
Dates: June 28-July 3, 2026
Location: Ann Arbor Campus

Program Overview

The Nam Center for Korean Studies at the University of Michigan is pleased to announce the Michigan Korean Studies Summer Institute (MiKSSI), to be held in Ann Arbor from June 28-July 3, 2026. PhD students in any discipline whose research concerns Korea are encouraged to apply. This one-week residential intensive program will focus on collaborative learning, collective thinking, and interdisciplinary agenda-setting around a key critical issue central to Korean Studies.

This year’s theme is Confucianism in Korean History. What is Confucianism? And what about Neo-Confucianism? Some scholars state that Neo-Confucianism was adopted as the state ideology at the time of the founding of the Chosŏn dynasty. Others discuss the Confucian transformation of Korea society during this period. Still some others note that late Chosŏn scholars and officials regarded their own country as the true inheritor of Confucian civilization, resulting in Chosŏn becoming more Confucian than any other East Asian polity. Many blame Confucianism for the Chosŏn dynasty’s ultimate inability to maintain its independence, citing such presumably Confucian factors as factionalism, anti-commercialism, rigidity in the social order, and short-sighted Korean reliance on its tributary relationship with China. Nonetheless, the strong Confucian historical legacy is believed by some to have had an enormous impact on Korea’s modern transformation, and Korea is still dealing with its legacy today. The ongoing debate about whether Confucianism has any place in contemporary Korea and the wider world continues.

In this year’s MiKSSI, we will address some of these questions in order to gain a better understanding of the historical evolution of Confucianism and its context in China and Korea, as well as exploring the following topics: how (un)Confucian premodern Korea was and how tensions between Confucian values and indigenous Korean traditions informed Korean identities; the impact of Confucian teachings on historical developments in Korea; and how such historical uses and abuses shaped the Korean history. Each day, participants will read article-length studies and short selections of primary sources to stimulate discussion. In addition to the two faculty leaders of the workshop, guest scholars will give lectures on related subjects. The aim of this workshop is not only to familiarize the participants with scholarship on premodern Korea, but also to encourage students to think beyond existing works in a provocative way by asking unconventional questions. 

Portions of the institute’s program may be conducted in Korean.

Lead Faculty Instructors (in residence)

John B. Duncan got his B.A. in History from Korea University and his Ph.D. in Korean History from the University of Washington. He was at UCLA from 1989 until 2019, where he taught in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and the Department of History. He has been a visiting professor at various universities throughout the world, including Harvard University, Kyushu University, University of Malaga, and Yonsei University. He has written widely on pre-modern and early modern Korean and East Asian history, with books and articles published in the U.S., Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, France, Chile, Mexico, and Costa Rica. His major publications include single-authored monographs, edited/co- edited books, and translations, including The Origins of the Chosŏn Dynasty, Imperialism in East Asia in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century: With a Focus on the case of Japan in Korea, Rethinking Confucianism: Past and Present in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, Reform and Modernity in the Taehan Empire, and Kang Man’gil, A History of Contemporary Korea (Koch’yŏ ssŭn Han’guk hyŏndaesa). He has received a number of awards for his scholarship, including the Korea Foundation Prize, the Manhae Prize for Academic Excellence, and the Yongjae Academic Award.

Sun Joo Kim is the Harvard-Yenching Professor of Korean History in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. She received her B.A. in History from Yonsei University in Korea as well as her M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on the socio-cultural history of Chosŏn Korea (1392–1910), resulting in publications on topics including social movements, regional identity, kinship and genealogy, slavery, and legal history. She is also committed to making underused yet illuminating primary sources available in English through conventional and digital publishing methods. She has overseen several projects, including the Harvard Korean Alumni Biographies Project, the Korean Treasures at Harvard lecture series, and the Gateway to Premodern Korean Studies research resource website. She has also collaborated with colleagues in the field to offer a series of workshops on Korean art history and the New Frontiers in Premodern Korean Studies Workshop.

About the Summer Institute from the 2025 cohort

“Participating in the MiKSSI felt like a dream come true. I was surrounded by brilliant minds who shared the same passion for and commitment to the future of Korean studies. It was the best of both worlds, where academic and professional growth went hand in hand with the formation of genuine friendships. In an incredibly collegial and supportive environment, we listened to riveting lectures, engaged in productive discussions, and gave one another incisive feedback to improve our own scholarly work.”

“I learned so much not only from lectures but also by interacting with professors and peers. There was something magical to interacting with people who shared a common interest -- it created a dynamic environment where everyone genuinely supported one another. MiKSSI is truly a learning hub for Korean Studies!”

“MiKSSI is a wonderful venue that fosters a sense of community for those of us who may feel isolated within our respective institutions, no matter how large or well-established they may be. It brings scholars together across different stages of their academic journeys. This rigorous five-day workshop has broadened my research and deepened my overall understanding of my field of studies. I am truly grateful to have participated in such an enriching program and will carry this experience with me as I move forward.”

Applications

All applications should be submitted using this form.

Interested students should prepare and submit the following documents, in addition to one confidential letter of recommendation from a faculty member from the institution where the student is currently enrolled, preferably the applicant’s advisor:

1. A Letter of Intent of no more than two pages describing current scholarly interests and how participation in the Summer Institute would contribute to the applicant’s academic plans. The statement should include information about courses taken in relevant fields if any.
2. A current curriculum vitae
3. A sample of recent writing

Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the advisor in pdf format to ncks.applications@umich.edu with “SUMMER INSTITUTE - Letter of Recommendation” in the subject line.

The final deadline for all submissions is March 30, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Admissions decisions will be announced as soon as possible after the deadline.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition is waived for all participants in the institute. Lodging will be provided to participants, as well as a modest stipend for meals and incidental expenses, with the generous support of the Academy of Korean Studies.

Students are encouraged to seek funding from their home institutions for transportation to Ann Arbor.

Past Summer Institutes

MiKSSI 2023 | The Global Korean War

MiKSSI 2024 | Democracy and Gender

MiKSSI 2025 | Literature in Korea’s Twentieth Century