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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

Dollar Rises as Fed Hike Bets Weigh on Asian Currencies

Asian currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar on Monday as investors raised expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike this week. The Japanese yen remained close to a seven-month high as traders also...

BOJ Flags Import Costs and Yen Shocks as Persistent Inflation Risks

The Bank of Japan is increasingly concerned that rising import costs and currency fluctuations can trigger sharp inflation in Japan, suggesting these supply-driven price pressures should play a greater role in monetary...

Asian Stocks Fall as AI Fears and Oil Surge Hit Markets

Asian stocks declined on Monday as concerns over a potential slowdown in artificial intelligence development pressured technology shares, while oil prices above $100 a barrel fueled inflation fears and expectations for...

Hormuz Vessel Traffic Drops to Single Digits

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to single-digit daily levels over the weekend, highlighting growing disruption to one of the worlds most important energy and shipping routes. Preliminary...

Goldman Sachs Forecasts Fed Rate Hike as Inflation Risks Rise

Goldman Sachs now expects the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by 25 basis points at its September meeting, reversing its previous forecast for no change as inflation concerns intensify across U.S. financial...

Politics

Trump Open to Chinese Automakers Building Cars in US

President Donald Trump said he would not oppose Chinese automakers opening manufacturing plants in the United States, provided they build vehicles domestically and employ American workers. If China wanted to come in and...

Trump Touts $5,000 Checks if Republicans Win Congress

President Donald Trump said the United States could afford to send $5,000 payments to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress in this years elections, though lawmakers said the proposal would require...

Takaichi-Backed Koja Wins Okinawa Governor Race

A candidate supported by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis government has won the Okinawa gubernatorial election, potentially clearing the way for Tokyo to expand its military presence across the strategically...

Philippines Holds Historic Bangsamoro Election Amid Tight Security

Voting began Monday in the Philippines Muslim-majority south in a landmark Bangsamoro election, with security tightened after pre-election violence left three people dead and 15 others wounded. The vote is considered a...

China’s Global Times Slams Anthropic CEO’s AI Slowdown Plan as ‘Cold War’ Strategy

Chinas state-backed Global Times has criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodeis proposal to slow the development of advanced artificial intelligence, arguing that the initiative reflects a U.S. Cold War playbook aimed at...

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

SoftBank Shares Plunge 11% After OpenAI Rules Out 2026 IPO

SoftBank Group shares plunged on Monday as investors reacted to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ruling out a public listing in 2026 and growing calls to slow the pace of artificial intelligence development. SoftBank (TYO: 9984)...

Z.AI Shares Slide 7% After $5 Billion Fundraising

Z.AI shares tumbled nearly 7% on Monday, reaching a 5-1/2-month low after the Chinese artificial intelligence company completed a roughly $5 billion fundraising package involving discounted new shares and convertible...

Anthropic Eyes Second Straight Profitable Quarter Ahead of Potential IPO

Anthropic expects to post positive adjusted operating income for a second consecutive quarter, signaling improving financial performance as the artificial intelligence company moves closer to a potential IPO, the Financial...

Trump Vows to Keep U.S. Ahead of China in AI Race

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States must maintain its artificial intelligence lead over China, pushing back against calls from prominent technology leaders to slow AI development amid growing safety...

Samsung, SK Hynix Reject KEPCO’s $18.7 Billion Power Funding Plan

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have rejected a proposal from Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) that would require the chipmakers to provide 25 trillion won ($18.7 billion) in upfront funding to secure electricity...