Koen de Ceuster
Researcher / Guest
- Name
- Dr. K. de Ceuster
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- k.de.ceuster@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-5813-1543
Koen de Ceuster is a guest researcher at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies.
Fields of interest
- Intellectual history of modern Korea
- Socio-cultural history of colonial Korea
- Historiography and the politics of memory in contemporary Korea
- Inter-Korean affairs
- North Korean art theory & practice
CV
Education
- 1994: PhD in Japanese Studies, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. Dissertation title: From Modernization to Collaboration, the Dilemma of Korean Cultural Nationalism: the Case of Yun Ch’i-ho [1865-1945]
- 1986: Licentiate degree in Sino-Japanese Studies, K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Employment
- 1995 - present: lecturer in Korean Studies, Leiden University
- 1991-1995: research assistant, K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Key publications
A: Books and monographs
2013: with Valérie Gelézeau and Alain Delissen, eds. De-Bordering Korea: Tangible and Intangible Legacies of the Sunshine Policy (Routledge, forthcoming)
2008b: with J. Melissen, eds. Ending the North Korean Nuclear Crisis – Six Parties, Six Perspectives ( The Hague: Clingendael Institute) 226p.
2008a: with David Heather, North Korean Posters. The David Heather Collection (Munich: Prestel Verlag, 2008) 285p.
2004: The World according to Kim Jong Il (From the collection of W. van der Bijl and R.J.C.M. De Groen (private publication) 80p.
B: Main articles and book chapters
2010d: “To be an Artist in North Korea: Talent and Then Some More” in Ruediger Frank, ed. Exploring North Korean Arts (Nürnberg: Verlag für Moderne Kunst), pp. 51-71.
2010c: “Interfaces et reconfigurations de la question Nord/Sud en Corée” (with Valérie Gelézeau, Eric Bidet, Elisabeth Chabanol, Sébastien Colin, Alain Delissen, Benjamin Joineau and Marie-Orange Rivé-Lasan) in EspacesTemps.net
2010b: “The Third Man: Yi Wijong and the Korean Mission to the 1907 Hague Peace Conference” in Martine Prost, ed. Mélanges offerts à Marc Orange et Alexandre Guillemoz (Cahiers d’Etudes Coréennes 8) Paris: Collège de France, pp. 131-42.
2010a: “When History is Made: History, Memory and the Politics of Remembrance in Contemporary Korea” in Korean Histories 2: 1, pp. 13-33.
2008c: “Fear and Loathing in the DPRK: Beyond the Nuclear Crisis” in K. De Ceuster & J. Melissen (eds.), Ending the North Korean Nuclear Crisis – Six Parties, Six Perspectives. (The Hague: Clingendael Institute), pp. 21-35.
2008b: “When History Matters: Reconstructing South Korea’s National Memory in the Age of Democracy” in Steffi Richter (ed.) Contested Views of a Common Past: Revisions of History in Contemporary East Asia. (Frankfurt, New York: Campus Verlag), pp. 47-72 .
2008a: “1907년 헤이그 특사의 성공과 좌절” (Success and failure of the Korean Delegation at the 2nd Hague Peace Conference) in 한국사학보 ( Han’guksa hakpo, 30, pp. 309-54.
2007: “The World in a Book: Yu Kilchun’s Sŏyu Kyŏnmun” in Remco E. Breuker (ed.), Koreain the Middle. Korean Studies and Area Studies (Leiden: CNWS Publications), pp. 67-96.
2005: “Pride and Prejudice in South Korea’s Foreign Policy” in Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies 21, pp. 646-90.
2004: “The Fashionability of Han” (with Roald H. Maliangkay) in Michel Demeuldre, (Ed.), Sentiments doux-amers dans les musiques du monde.Délectations moroses dans les blues, fado, tango, flamenco, rebetiko, p'ansori, ghazal... (Paris: L'Harmattan) pp. 201-12.
2003b: “Through the Master's Eye: Colonized Mind and Historical Consciousness in the Case of Yun Ch'iho (1865-1945)” in Bochumer Jahrbuch zur Ostasienforschung, 27 (2003), pp. 107-31.
2003a: “Wholesome Education and Sound Leisure. The YMCA Sports Programme in Colonial Korea” in European Journal of East Asian Studies, 2:1, pp. 53-88.
2002: “The Nation Exorcised: The Historiography of Collaboration in South Korea” in Korean Studies, 25:2, pp. 207-42.
2000b: “The Changing Nature of National Icons in the Seoul Landscape” in The Review of Korean Studies, 3:2, pp. 73-103.
2000a: “The YMCA’s Rural Development Program in Colonial Korea, 1925-35: Doctrine and Objectives” in The Review of Korean Studies, 3:1, pp. 5-33.
Teaching
- Modern history of Korea
- Divided Korea
- Modern East Asian History
- Various Korean language courses
- MA dissertation class (modern history)
PhD supervision
Co-supervisor (with Boudewijn Walraven) of Min-Kyung Yoon,
“Historical Representations in North Korean Visual Culture”
Research grants and projects
2010: 6 month Korea Foundation Field Research Fellowship
2009: organizer of the 24th biennial conference of the Association for Korean Studies in Europe ( Leiden, 18-21 June)
2008—: co-director of “History as Social Process: Unconventional Historiographies of Korea,” an Academy of Korean Studies sponsored 5-year Strategic Initiative for Korean Studies Institutional Grant
2001: 10 month NWO research grant
1999: 3 month Korea Foundation grant for research in Korea
1986-90: Flemish Community Scholarship Research Student at The Academy of Korean Studies (Songnam, ROK)
Editorial boards and academic councils
2011—: Chairman of the European Forum for Korean-Japanese History ;
2011—: Treasurer, Association for Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE);
2010—: Editorial board member of the International Association for Korean Historical Studies
2009—: Managing co-editor of e-journal Korean Histories
2009—: Member of the editorial board of the Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême Orient
2009—: Member of the academic council of the International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS, Leiden)
2007-11: Secretary and council member of AKSE
2007—: Editorial board member Review of Korean Studies
2006—: Editorial board member of Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies
2004-06: Steering Committee member of the Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea
2003—: Researcher for Overseas Historical Materials, National Institute for Korean History (R.O. Korea)
1999-2003: AKSE Council Member
1997-2005: Korea Editor of the IIAS (International Institute of Asian Studies) Newsletter
1996-2005: Editor of the AKSE Newsletter
Contributions to the field
- active participation in international conferences (AAS, AKSE, ISKS, WCKS)
- invited guest speaker at conferences and workshops
- frequent guest lectures, home and abroad
- frequent reviews for peer reviewed journals
- external examiner ( Stockholm University, ULB, EHESS, SOAS)
- consultant for Korea Foundation
- frequent media contacts (interviews and background briefings), home and abroad, on inter-Korean affairs (CBC, NHK, NYT, Le Monde, RFA, VRT, NRC, de Volkskrant, Trouw, De Morgen, De Standaard, BNR, Radio 1)
- consultant and co-curator of North Korean art exhibitions (Rotterdam: 2004, Hawai’i: 2011)
- communications’ consultant, Comrade Kim goes Flying (2012, UK/Belgium /DPRK)
Researcher / Guest
- Faculty of Humanities
- Leiden Institute for Area Studies
- SAS Korea
- Bruneton Y., Gelézeau V., Ceuster K. de & Ged F.. Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine. Paris. [conference attendance].
- Ceuster K. de (16 March 2021), “Als de VS vredevol willen slapen...” Noord-Korea stuurt dreigementen aan VS, maar die zijn slechts het begin van “een lange paringsdans”. Interviewed by Hoofstat J. van for Het Nieuwsblad, Nieuws. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (16 June 2020), Spanningen tussen Noord-Korea en Zuid-Korea hebben nieuw kookpunt bereikt: “De uitgestoken hand is een vuist geworden”. Interviewed by Meyer A. de for Het Nieuwsblad. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (10 July 2020), Voorvechter van vrouwenrechten, maar na klacht van secretaresse pleegde populaire burgemeester snel zelfmoord. Interviewed by Bernaerts N. for Het Nieuwsblad, Nieuws. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (20 April 2020), Hacking, illegale steenkoolhandel en opnieuw meer rakettesten: hoe Noord-Korea de internationale sancties omzeilt. Interviewed by Regenmortel J. van for Het Nieuwsblad. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (27 April 2020), Het mysterie groeit: leeft Kim Jong-un nog, en waar is hij dan? Geruchtenmolen over Noord-Koreaanse leider draait op volle toeren . Interviewed by Temmerman M. for Het Nieuwsblad. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (24 May 2020), Kim Jong-un is terug en scherpt meteen nucleair arsenaal aan: “Dat boezemt altijd wel wat angst in”. Interviewed by Lammens L. for Het Nieuwsblad. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (20 June 2020), Kim Yo-jong: De fluisteraar van Kim Jong-un. Interviewed by Minten D. for De Standaard, Blikvanger. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (10 October 2020), Noord-Korea houdt grote militaire parade: 'Vooral voor eigen bevolking'. Interviewed by RTL Nieuws for RTL Nieuws. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (28 October 2020), Art, Artists and the Aesthetic Construction of the Past in North Korean. F.U. Berlin, Berlin. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (30 June 2019), Professor Koreaanse studies: "Ontmoeting Trump en Kim is meer dan een fotomoment". Interviewed by Heylen K. for De Ochtend (Radio 1). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (31 August 2019), Anti-American posters disappear in Pyongyang as positive artwork helps cement cult of Kim Jong-un. Interviewed by Fullerton J. for The Daily Telegraph, News. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (4 December 2019), K-pop verliest vrolijk imago na dood verschillende sterren, is er meer aan de hand? "Een sector die over lijken gaat". Interviewed by Joos R. for De Wereld Vandaag (Radio 1). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (21 February 2019), North Korean Defector Artist Sun Mu’s Lost Utopias. Interviewed by Tiven L.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (9 March 2018), 'Hoe bizar ook, Trump is verfrissend'. Interviewed by Maenhout K. for De Standaard, buitenland. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (29 January 2018), Zuid- en Noord-Korea hockeyen samen op Winterspelen: sport als vredespijp?. Interviewed by Van der Auwera K.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (9 March 2018), 'Noord-Korea wil een vredesakkoord'. Interviewed by Werven B.V. for De Ochtendspits (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (14 April 2017), 'Zware bomaanval VS in Afghanistan absoluut signaal naar Noord-Korea'. Interviewed by t Hart L.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (24 April 2017), Iedere vonk kan uiteindelijk het kruitvat doen ontploffen. Interviewed by Mes J. (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (17 August 2017), N.Korea posters boast U.S. in 'strike range' of missiles. Interviewed by Staff Reuters. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (17 July 2017), North Korea's postage stamps offer an alternative look into the country. Interviewed by Holland Oscar. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (22 March 2017), Noord-Korea: wie moeten we het meest vrezen, Kim Jong-un of Donald Trump?. Interviewed by Van der Auwera K. for Knack, Wereld. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (12 September 2017), VN-Veiligheidsraad legt unaniem nieuwe sancties op aan Noord-Korea. Interviewed by Wagtendonk R.V. for Nieuws (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (9 August 2017), Absoluut niet duidelijk waar beleid VS naartoe gaat. for Nieuws (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (13 April 2017), ‘Noord-Korea is bang te eindigen zoals Libië en Irak’. Interviewed by Coen H.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (4 September 2017), 'De wereld moet nu naar Noord-Korea luisteren'. Interviewed by . [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (18 September 2017), Noord-Korea voor dummies: wat weten we echt over de man met de kernbommen?. Interviewed by Pardoen T.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (4 October 2017), White tiger, dark horse: North Korean art market heats up. Interviewed by Wong S.-L., Vagnoni G. & Potkin F.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (1 December 2016), South Korea president impeachment vote delayed. Interviewed by Rush Claire. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (12 April 2016), Pintores para poner a Corea del Norte en el mapa. Interviewed by Espinosa Javier, internacional. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (7 February 2016), Ontvoeringsdrama in Noord Korea. (VPRO). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (8 February 2016), VS WIL NIEUWE SANCTIES TEGEN NOORD-KOREA, MAAR HEEFT HET ZIN?. Interviewed by Meinders Karlijn for Nieuws (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (10 February 2016), Moeten VS met Noord-Korea aan tafel gaan zitten? 'Sancties zullen de kwaal niet wegnemen'. Interviewed by Van der Auwera K.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (7 February 2016), Ontvoeringsdrama in Noord-Korea. Interviewed by Gaag P. van der for OVT (NPO Radio 1). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (8 February 2016), Koen de Ceuster over de controversiële raketproeven van Noord-Korea. Interviewed by Cools K. for Ter Zake (Canvas). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (8 February 2016), VS wil nieuwe sancties tegen Noord-Korea, maar heeft het zin?. Interviewed by Meinders K. for Nieuws (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (10 February 2016), 'Noord-Korea: VS hebben sleutel in handen voor duurzame oplossing'. Interviewed by Van der Auwera K. for Knack, wereld. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (15 August 2016), Toraoji mothan Heigŭ t’ŭksa (The special envoys to The Hague that did not return). for Kwangbokchŏl t’ŭkchip (EBS). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (6 May 2016), 'Noord-Korea zal niet buigen voor internationale druk'. for Nieuwsuur (NOS). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (22 July 2016), Noord-Korea voor beginners. Interviewed by Fillet Koen for Weet ik veel (Radio 1). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (15 May 2016), 'Fraude bij marathon Pyongyang: Noord-Koreanen sneden af'. (NOS op 3). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (18 April 2016), Zuid-Korea waarschuwt: 'Noord-Korea maakt zich op voor vijfde kernproef'. Interviewed by De Costere R. for Knack. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (7 June 2015), Art collector Frans Broersen finds inspiration in North Korean paintings. Interviewed by Marlow I. for Globe and Mail, Visual Arts. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (21 August 2015), Hoe gedoe rond een luidspreker de Koreaanse burenruzie doet oplopen. Interviewed by Berg M. van den (BNR). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (5 March 2015), Noord-Korea binnenkort geen klassenmaatschappij meer?. Interviewed by Haute Lieven van den for Nieuwe Feiten (Radio één (BE)). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (2 April 2015), Assen omarmt Noord-Koreaanse Kunst. Interviewed by Atteveld Harm van for Een Vandaag (Radio 1). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (4 April 2015), Stripverhaal met een boodschap. Interviewed by Westerlaken Nell for De Volkskrant, Kunst. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (15 May 2015), Wat te geloven van de verhalen uit Noord-Korea? 'We weten dat ze goed kunnen fotoshoppen'. Interviewed by Van der Auwera K.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (10 July 2015), North Korea: A Passion for Propaganda Posters. Interviewed by Hoogvliet T.. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (20 July 2015), The North Korean posters that got me arrested for espionage. Interviewed by Shearlaw M. for The Guardian, World/North Korea. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (2 November 2015), North Korean defector trained in propaganda art now uses it to mock rulers. Interviewed by Borowiec S. for Los Angeles Times, World/Asia. [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (2 April 2015), Noord-Koreaanse Propagandakunst in Drents Museum; 'De kerk deed het vroeger ook'. . Interviewed by Kemper Ineke for Nieuws (RTV Drenthe). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (3 April 2015), Hoe interessant is "Kunst onder Toezicht"? . Interviewed by Haute Lieven van den for Nieuwe Feiten (Radio 1 (BE)). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (23 January 2014), Visualising North Korea: The Power of Photography. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (1 May 2014), Noord-Koreaanse Propagandaposters. Interviewed by Hoogvliet Tessa for Bureau Buitenland (VPRO). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (13 November 2013), interview concerning "Comrade Kim goes Flying" (2012), a North Korean-UK-Belgian film producution. Interviewed by Jahr Martin for Kulturhuset (NRK Radio (Norway)). [interview].
- Ceuster K. de (11 November 2013), The Christian roots of Korean modernity, the modern roots of Korean Christianity . [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (15 May 2013), Kim Jong Un, de man met wie alles anders zou worden. NGIZ bijeenkomst rond thema "Noord-Korea, een bedreiging voor de wereldvrede?". Den Haag, Instituut Clingendael. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (14 November 2013), The Ritualization of North Korean Politics in the Age of Dynastic Succession. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (13 November 2013), Memories of the Korean War: public history and cultural representation in South Korea. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (6 May 2013), North Korean Soft Power: Bringing Pyongyang's message differently. EPEL guest lecture. Rome, La Sapienza University. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (3 June 2013), Is there room for North Korea in Hallyu, and does it matter?. EPEL guest lecture. Roma, La Sapienza University. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (12 November 2013), Mobilizing Artists: Art in the Vanguard of the North Korean Revolution. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (14 May 2013), Noord-Korea tegen allen, allen tegen Noord-Korea. Kanttekeningen bij zoveel onbegrip. publieke lezing, maatschappelijk activiteiten commissie, SOG. Groningen. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (12 September 2012), Turen door het sleutelgat: Kunst en cultuur in totalitair Noord-Korea. Nacht van de Dictatuur. DenHaag, ProDemos. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (4 December 2013), Of Gatekeepers and Peeping Toms: the limits of doing fieldwork in North Korea. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (12 November 2013), Of Modern Boys and Girls: the lure of cosmopolitan culture in colonial Seoul. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (26 March 2013), Divided they stand: on the 60th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement. Korean Evening, Studium Generale, TU Eindhoven. Eindhoven. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (6 May 2011), Monuments et "mémorialisation"de l'histoire nationale dans l'ère démocratique en Corée du Sud. séminaire commun de l'équippe ASIEs: "Autour de l'idée de nation". INALCO, Paris. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (26 January 2011), La Corée face à son histoire. lezing, l'atelier du voyage.. Waterloo. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (26 May 2011), Monuments and Memorialisation of National History in Contemporary Korea. Yeongwol Yonsei Forum. Yeongwol (South Korea). [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (3 April 2011), On the challenges of exhibiting North Korean art. 2011 AAS/ICAS Joint Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (18 January 2011), Noord-Korea: onbekend en onbemind. lezing, Studium Generale. Enschede, Universiteit Twente. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (12 July 2011), Unraveling the Korean Puzzle: Layers of Understanding. TEIMUN (The European International Model Unied Nations). The Hague. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (19 June 2011), Historical Justice and the Memorialisation of History in Contemporary Korea. 2011 AKSE Conference. Moscow. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (29 April 2011), Histoire nationale et mémorialisation du passé : les lieux de mémoires en Corée. European Lecturers Exchange Programme, guest lecture. Paris, Université Paris Diderot. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (21 June 2010), Looking without Seeing: The Appreciation of North Korean Art in South Korea. Colloquium “Interfaces, Interstices, and Enclaves: a decade of Korean debordering (1998-2008). Asiatic Research Center, Korea University, Seoul. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (3 September 2010), The Genius of the North Korean Artist in Theory and Practice. International Symposium on "Exploring North Korean Arts". MAK, Vienna. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (8 July 2010), Carved in Stone. Public Memory and the Politics of Remembrance in Contemporary Korea. 101st Yonsei-Korea Foundation Korean Studies Forum. Yonsei University, Seoul. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (19 June 2010), A European perspective on Korean History. First International Conference of the International Association for Korean Historical Studies. Sungsil University, Seoul. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (26 November 2010), When all the pieces fell into place: Korea’s annexation as a "fait accompli". Seminar on future-oriented perspectives on Korea-Japan Relations. Leiden. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (17 December 2010), To be an artist in North Korea. guest lecture for ASiA program (UvA). Amsterdam. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (2 July 2010), Does the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs manage public memory? [in Korean]. Monthly research seminar. Academy of East Asian Studies, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (27 March 2009), Sense and Sensibility. Unraveling the North Korean Riddle. European Lecturers Exchange Programme. La Sapienza University, Rome. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (7 August 2009), On the representation of women in North Korean propaganda posters. 6th International Convention of Asia Scholars. Daejeon, South-Korea. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (30 March 2009), On the Appriciation of North Korean Art. European Lecturers Exchange Programme. La Sapienza University, Rome. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (4 December 2008), Poster Politics. Reading the Political Agenda of North Korea. guest lecture, AsIA. UvA, Amsterdam. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (22 September 2008), Art as an Interface. On the Reception of Chosonhwa in South Korea. 4th World Congress of Korean Studies. Seoul, Korea. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (18 December 2008), Art as an Interface. On the Reception of Chosonhwa in South Korea. North South Interfaces in the Korean Peninsula. EHESS, Paris. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (27 October 2007), Korean as the Gateway to Korean Studies. The importance of area studies in a discipine-defined academic environment. 9th international conference on Korean language education as a foreign language. Seoul, Korea. [lecture].
- Ceuster K. de (7 December 2007), The Korean Delegation at the 1907 Peace Conference in The Hague. Social and Cultural Change in late pre-modern Korea. British Academy, London. [lecture].