Hae-Seo Kim

Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society

I am interested in how scientific and technological developments incite political mobilization. Specifically, I have studied how the proliferation of outer space infrastructures in South Korea shape new forms of political mobilization. I have conducted ethnographic research with space activists in South Korea organizing against the militarization of outer space and instead advocating for peaceful interaction with outer space and environmental sustainability. I also research local cosmologies of outer space in South Korea, especially Korean shamanic and animistic ways of engaging outer space and have conducted fieldwork with shamans and astrology readers.

I situate my work in the interdisciplinary worlds of science and technology studies (STS), political anthropology, environmental anthropology, space studies, Korean studies, and the anthropology of religion. I plan to continue to research the relationship between science, politics, and environment in South Korea and beyond. Currently, I am working on a book manuscript based on my doctoral dissertation titled “Cosmological Care: Politics of Caring for Outer Space in South Korea.”

Education

  • BA. Vassar College. Political Science; Correlate in Asian Studies. 2014
  • MA. University of London, Goldsmiths. Art and Politics. 2016.
  • MA. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. History. 2019.
  • PhD. University of California, Irvine. Sociocultural Anthropology. 2026

Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2026. “Developmental New Space in South Korea: Militarized Developmentalism and the Privatization of Outer Space.” Science, Technology & Human Values.

Kim, Hae-Seo. Forthcoming. “Placing Stars in Urban Jeju: Shamanism and Cosmology of Space.” In Off-Earth Atlas, edited by Istvan Praet, Perig Pitrou, Victor Buchli, David Jeevendrampillai, Delphine Mercier, and Gerald Sim. Intellect.

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2025. “Divining South Korea’s Space Age through Korean Shamanism and Astrology.” In Exploring Ethnography of Outer Space: Methods and Perspectives, edited by Jenia Gorbanenko, David (Jeeva) Jeevendrampillai, Adryon Kozel. Routledge.

Public Scholarship (Selected)

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2025. “Discarded Candidates: An Interview with Dr.Tanya Jakimow.” Supplementals, Fieldsights, Society for Cultural Anthropology.

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2024. “Grinding the Soul: An Interview with Dr.EuyRyung Jun.” Supplementals, Fieldsights, Society for Cultural Anthropology.

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2024. “Colonization and Decolonization of Outer Space,” Pressian News, (Korean).

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2024. “Haunting Technoscientific Futures in South Korea,” Anthropology News.

Podcast

Kim, Hae-Seo. 2024. “Astro-colonialism: A Conversation with William Lempert.” Anthropod, Society for Cultural Anthropology, March 26.