Anqi Gao

Profile

I am currently pursuing a PhD in History at the University of Leeds. Before joining Leeds, I earned my undergraduate degree in Korean Studies and achieved proficiency in the Korean language, which has helped me read and utilize primary Korean-language sources. I subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Korean Linguistics and had the opportunity to participate in an exchange programme at Inha University in South Korea. My experience of living in South Korea and working in a Korean company has significantly heightened my awareness of issues related to ethnic Koreans and national identity. My research focuses on migration in the Sino-Korean borderland (1950s-1990s). By contrasting the experiences of North Korean women migrants in the 1990s with those of Korean Chinese (Chaoxianzu) and earlier North Korean migrants in the 1950s, this study highlights the evolving nature of transnational ties and the complex interplay between state policies, individual agencies and conditions. This study is funded by the Korea Foundation from 2023 to 2025.

Research interests

This study seeks to understand the transformation in cross-border mobility patterns since the 1950s, with a pronounced shift post-1990s from tightly controlled socialist movements to more fluid, individually-driven migrations. By contrasting the experiences of North Korean women with those of Korean Chinese and earlier North Korean migrants, this study highlights the evolving nature of transnational ties and the complex interplay between state policies, individual life strategies, and the gradual integration into host societies.

Key words for research:

• North Korean Refugees
• North Korean Labour
• Ethnic Koreans in China (Chaoxianzu,Joseonjok)
• Sino- Korean relation
• Migration
• Korean Peninsula

Conference  Papers

Implications and Potential Challenges for North Korean Labour Force Migration to South Korea After Reunification: Insights from Ethnic Korean Workers
Paper presented at IKSU K-Unification International Young Scholars Conference
University of Central Lancashire
December 2023

The Evolution of South Korean Social Policies and Terminology for North Korean Defectors
Paper presented at The Kangwon Institute for Unification Studies, Kangwon National University and the Comenius University in Bratislava
Online
February 2024

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on North Korean Labourers in the Sino-Korean Border Region: Market Forces, Policy Incentives, and Individual Dilemmas
Paper presented at the 2024 Joint East Asian Studies Conference
University of Central Lancashire
June 2024

Affiliations

Member of the British Association for Korean Studies （BAKS)

Qualifications

• PhD in History (Current)
• MA in Korean Linguistics
• BA in Korean Studies