East Asia Now

Center for East Asian Studies, UW—Madison
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Bimonthly

East Asia Now explores connections between East Asia and the United States through interviews, discussions, and lectures. It is an outreach initiative of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

  1. Mar 5

    Hyuk YU Oral History Ep. 4 | With the US Army During the Korean War

    Over a six-month period from October 2024 until March 2025, CEAS Associate Director David Fields had the incredible opportunity to record an extensive oral history with Hyuk YU, emeritus professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While he is best known as a chemist, this oral history focused on Professor Yu’s early life in Korea. Born in 1933, Professor YU was an eye-witness to many of the historical events that shaped the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century. In the final episode of our series, Professor YU recounts his time as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army during the most desperate months of the Korean War. Professor YU shares his eyewitness account of the historic Hungnam Evacuation and describes how his relationship with an American Colonel eventually paved his way to a new life in the United States. This episode was co-produced, edited, and mastered by Nate Gass. Jihoon Suk selected, restored, and digitally transferred the music on this episode. Music Credits 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 달마지 Dalmaji Sung by Wang Subok 왕수복 Lyrics by Yi Woonbang 이운방 Composed by Kim Myeon-kyun 김면균 Originally issued as Polydor 19375-A in December 1935 애수의 소야곡 Aesu-ui Soyagok Sung by Nam Insu 남인수 Lyrics by Yi Nohong 이노홍 Composed by Park Sichun 박시춘 Originally issued as Okeh 12080-A in December 1937 방랑가 Bangrang-ga Sung by Kang Seokyeon 강석영 Lyrics by Kim Yeonghwan 김영환 Music by Kang Yunseok 강윤석 Recorded on March 22nd, 1931. Originally issued as Columbia 40138-A in July 1931. 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 번지없는 주막 Beonji-upneun Jumak Sung by Baek Nyeonseol 백년설 Lyrics by Park Yeongho 박영호 Composed by Yi Jaeho 이재호 Originally issued as Taihei GC-3007-A in August 1940.

    43 min

  2. Feb 26

    Hyuk YU Oral History Ep. 3 | The Korean War in Incheon

    Over a six-month period from October 2024 until March 2025, CEAS Associate Director David Fields had the incredible opportunity to record an extensive oral history with Hyuk YU, emeritus professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While he is best known as a chemist, this oral history focused on Professor Yu’s early life in Korea. Born in 1933, Professor YU was an eye-witness to many of the historical events that shaped the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century. In this episode, we will discuss his experiences during the opening weeks of the Korean War. Unlike millions of other Koreans, Professor YU’s family chose not to flee further south during the war, but to ride out the conflict in Incheon. This decision surely spared them from some hardships, but exposed them to others. This episode was co-produced, edited, and mastered by Nate Gass. Jihoon Suk selected, restored, and digitally transferred the music on this episode. Music Credits 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 신라의 달밤 Silla-ui Dalbam Sung by Hyeon In 현인 Lyrics by Yu Ho 유호 Composed by Park Sichun 박시춘 Originally issued as Lucky L7701-A in May 1949 도라지타령 Doraji-Taryeong Sung by Kang Namhyang, Ko Boksu, Yi Nanyong 강남향, 고복수, 이난영 Traditional (Folksong) Originally issued as Okeh 1696-A in January 1935. 타향 Tahyang Sung by Ko Boksu 고복수 Lyrics by Keum Neung-in 금능인 Composed by Sohn Mokin 손목인 Originally issued as Okeh 1677-B in April 1934

    31 min

  3. Feb 19

    Hyuk YU Oral History Ep. 2 | Liberation, Occupation, and Displacement

    Over a six-month period from October 2024 until March 2025, CEAS Associate Director David Fields had the incredible opportunity to record an extensive oral history with Hyuk YU, emeritus professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While he is best known as a chemist, this oral history focused on Professor Yu’s early life in Korea. Born in 1933, Professor YU was an eye-witness to many of the historical events that shaped the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century. In this episode, we will discuss his family's experience under Soviet occupation, their flight from North Korea communism, and their life in South Korea as North Korean refugees. This episode was co-produced, edited, and mastered by Nate Gass. Jihoon Suk selected, restored, and digitally transferred the music on this episode. Music Credits 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 조선팔경가 Joseon-Palgyong-ga Sung by Seonwoo Ilseon 선우일선 Lyrics by Pyonwol 편월 Composed by Hyung Seok-gi 형석기 Originally issued as Polydor 19290-A in March 1936. 눈물젖은 두만강 Nunmul-jeojeun Dumangang Sung by Kim Jeong-gu 김정구 Lyrics by Kim Yong-ho 김용호 Composed by Yi Si-woo 이시우 Originally issued as Okeh 12094-A in January 1937. 굳세어라 금순아 Gutse-eora Geumsuna Sung by Hyeon In 현인 Lyrics by Kang Hae-in 강해인 Composed by Park Sichun 박시춘 Originally issued as Orient R8025-A in October 1952.

    39 min

  4. Feb 12

    Hyuk YU Oral History Ep. 1 | Colonial Korea: Witnessing the End of an Era

    Over a six-month period from October 2024 until March 2025, CEAS Associate Director David Fields had the incredible opportunity to record an extensive oral history with Hyuk YU, emeritus professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While he is best known as a chemist, this oral history focused on Professor Yu’s early life in Korea. Born in 1933, Professor YU was an eye-witness to many of the historical events that shaped the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century. This episode will focus on Professor YU's childhood in the far north of Korea. Born in the "exile locale" of Kapsan in 1933, he offers a rare eyewitness account of life under Japanese colonial rule and what it means to be Korean in the Japanese Empire. This episode was co-produced, edited, and mastered by Nate Gass. Jihoon Suk selected, restored, and digitally transferred the music on this episode. Music Credits 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 방랑가 Bangrang-ga Sung by Kang Seokyeon 강석영 Lyrics by Kim Yeonghwan 김영환 Music by Kang Yunseok 강윤석 Recorded on March 22nd, 1931. Originally issued as Columbia 40138-A in July 1931. 달없는 항로 Dalupneun Hangno Sung by Yi Nanyeong 이난영 Lyrics by Kim Yong-ho 김용호 Composed by Um Jae-geun 엄재근 Originally issued as Okeh 12237-B in May 1939. 타향 Tahyang Sung by Ko Boksu 고복수 Lyrics by Keum Neung-in 금능인 Composed by Sohn Mokin 손목인 Originally issued as Okeh 1677-B in April 1934.

    36 min
  5. David Rennie on Reporting on China and East Asia at The Economist

    06/18/2025

    David Rennie on Reporting on China and East Asia at The Economist

    David Rennie, current geopolitics editor at The Economist, shared how he stumbled into journalism as well as stories that have stayed with him over 20 years of reporting during his return to Wisconsin to deliver the CEAS Professional Lecture. He also delved into how both the US and China share some similarities despite their conflicting political ideologies, the intricacies of Chinese and American perceptions of their respective political leaderships, and the future of US and East Asia alliances. This episode was edited and mastered by Nate Gass.

    29 min
  6. Nick Lardy on Chinese Economics and U.S.-China Relations

    01/05/2025

    Nick Lardy on Chinese Economics and U.S.-China Relations

    Nick Lardy, nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), offered a brief origin story of his entry into the field of Chinese Economics, which involved an interesting piece of local Madison political engagement. He discussed his illustrious career across academia and think thanks, and gave us a breakdown on the ebbs and flows of the role of the private sector in China’s historic economic growth. Offering a corrective to misconceptions of China’s slowed growth and fundamental untrustworthiness, he also outlines how an increasingly hardline U.S. policy towards this rising global power could force it towards self-sufficiency in ways that would be detrimental to the U.S. economy. This episode was edited and mastered by Nate Gass.

    30 min
  7. John Fitzgerald on the History of Nationalism in China

    11/21/2024

    John Fitzgerald on the History of Nationalism in China

    John Fitzgerald, Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, discussed his professional journey and his work on the development of Chinese nationalism. His foray into this field of study was a result of “serendipity and opportunity” involving an interesting convergence with a piece of UW-Madison history. He argues for the necessity of looking at the development of Chinese nationalism from a comparative perspective and the importance of continued U.S. engagement in the region. This episode was edited and mastered by Nate Gass.

    32 min
  8. Sarah Mellors Rodriguez on the History of Abortion in Modern China

    11/18/2024

    Sarah Mellors Rodriguez on the History of Abortion in Modern China

    Sarah Mellors Rodriguez, then Associate Professor of History at Missouri State University, joined David Fields, CEAS Associate Director, for a discussion on reproductive policies in the PRC. She shared the genesis of her first book, Reproductive Realities in Modern China: Birth Control and Abortion, 1911-2021 (Cambridge University Press, 2023) and explored the uneven trajectory of abortion from a banned practice to a staple reproductive healthcare service in China today. Listen to the full episode for a sneak peek of her current project and insights into conducting research in China! Check out Rodriguez’s earlier episode with the East Asia Now podcast from 2018: https://soundcloud.com/eastasianow/sarah-mellors-on-birth-control-in-china This episode was edited and mastered by Nate Gass.

    30 min
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About

East Asia Now explores connections between East Asia and the United States through interviews, discussions, and lectures. It is an outreach initiative of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for East Asian Studies, UW—Madison
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    East Asia Now