KJCKorea
Journal Central

The purpose of this study is to explore the embodied meanings present in the public’s performance of short-form dance. Centered on Judith Butler’s concept of performativity, the study analyzes five representative cases from each year before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-form dance functions as an alternative bodily performance that resonates with the shared condition of existential vulnerability, and as a ec-static practice through which the self is expanded. Within the loose structures of power, the public tends to prefer autonomous performance, and short-form dance co-evolves as an interactive yet distinctive mode of expression. This bodily practice enacts autonomy within the interstices of norms and power, acquiring political agency through a playful performativity that reveals the self to external norms and confronts them, thereby engaging with vulnerability

In recent years, South Korea has become an increasingly attractive destination for international doctoral students, particularly among Chinese women in the arts. This literature-based study investigates the structural, cultural, and personal factors influencing Chinese female doctoral students’ decisions to pursue arts-related studies in South Korea. Drawing upon Social Role Theory and Self-Expansion Theory, the study analyzes 14 key academic studies to explore how gender norms, institutional structures, and individual aspirations interact in shaping these students’ decisions to study abroad. The findings highlight the unique appeal of South Korea’s practice-oriented doctoral programs in the arts, the institutional support systems such as scholarships and flexible admissions, and the cultural proximity shared between China and Korea. Furthermore, the study emphasizes how studying abroad serves not only as an academic endeavor but also as a strategic and existential path for these women to reconstruct their identities beyond the constraints of traditional gender expectations. By illuminating the interplay of external constraints and internal motivations, this study contributes to the understanding of transnational academic mobility within gendered and cultural contexts.

This study aims to examine key locations that played a significant role in the formation and development of early B-boy culture in Korea, with the goal of fostering a multifaceted understanding of breaking culture. The research findings indicate that: Firstly, the formation of B-boy culture can be differentiated according to generation-specific experiences of place. Secondly, early B-boy dance styles exhibited distinct characteristics and differences depending on the region. Thirdly, the transition into performing arts genres such as musicals introduced narrative elements, resulting in a formation that differed from the original essence of B-boying. Fourthly, there is a close relationship between the development of commercial districts and B-boy activities. Fifthly, B-boys have responded positively to the representation of dance battles in the media.