From Linguistics to Leadership

Fluency in multiple languages and international competency have become essential assets in a globalized world. Lee Han-jung, a professor of the Department of English Language and Literature at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), is helping to guide Kingos’ steps into this global world. Therefore, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) will now take a closer look at her life, from an English Language and Literature student to her present role as the vice president of International Affairs.

Fall into the Charm of English Linguistics

Q1. Please introduce yourself. 

Hello, I am Lee Han-jung, a professor of the Department of English Language and Literature at SKKU. I have also been the vice president of International Affairs since 2023. I graduated college in 1993 and received a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Linguistics from Stanford University. After joining the Department of English Language and Literature at SKKU in 2004, I now work as a professor and give academic lectures in English Linguistics.

Q2. What type of student were you in college?

In the early 1990s, when I entered college, authoritarianism was on the path of decline, and liberal democracy was gaining ground. At that time, people in their twenties, the so-called Generation X, were primarily self-sufficient and individualistic compared to previous generations. I was also independent, just like others in their twenties, and was interested in diverse worlds and cultures. I wanted to contribute to the global community after graduation.

Q3. Have you had any memorable episodes while working as a student reporter for an English newspaper?

After undergoing one semester as an exchange student at the University of California, San Diego, during my sophomore year, I worked as a student reporter for an English newspaper because I wanted to keep up my English proficiency even when I came back to Korea. Most of my tasks then were to conduct interviews with faculty members at the college and write articles based on those interviews. Among them, researching the life of Attorney Lee Tai-young, the first female lawyer who fought for women’s rights, prompted me to ponder more about female leadership. Furthermore, my mother, who devoted her entire life to being a female pioneer and professional just like Lee Tai-young, greatly influenced the life values I currently uphold.

Q4. How did you begin to dream about becoming an English linguist as a college student who majored in English Language and Literature?

In my junior year of college, I passed the first selection round of both civil and foreign service exams. While preparing for the subsequent test, I enrolled in a couple of classes called English Phonetics, which analyzes the auditory system of the language, and English Syntax, which aims to bring insight into the structure of the English language for native speakers. The lectures were intellectually impressive and stimulating, surpassing any other English courses I had attended previously. I further discovered it was achievable to analyze my knowledge of the language objectively, and I wanted to extend the scope of my studies to become an expert. Thus, I stopped studying for the public service examinations and enrolled in graduate school.

Reach the Wider World with English Linguistics

Q5. What do you think is the particular charm of understanding English linguistics? 

Samuel John, a British writer of the 18th century, once noted, “Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.” This quote perfectly conveys the allure of the English language. Additionally, I value plenty of potential for academic contribution since non-native scholars can view the study of English linguistics from a distinctive point of view. From a professor’s standpoint, assisting pupils who study English linguistics in Korea is meaningful work. It involves not just improving their spoken English but also teaching them to evaluate English-speaking societies critically. Most crucially, it is guiding them to utilize the cultural English resources creatively.

Q6. What are some allures of your primary field of research on natural and constructed language?

In 2022, it was possible to obtain an experimental device known as an eye tracker and establish the Language and Cognition Lab with school funding. Within the lab, the researchers are currently conducting experimental studies on how humans process language and big data analysis using artificial intelligence (AI). A year ago, the lab published the outcomes of a collaborative study in an internationally renowned academic journal in linguistics. Now, it also uses various methods to promote continuing studies worldwide. Research identifying language cognition processes experimentally and studying language usage patterns with AI is especially intriguing since it may be incorporated into a wide range of domains, including cognitive science and language technology.

Q7. Amid the myriad of technological developments, what do you think are the unique roles only humans can offer, especially in the realm of language?

AI live translation, breakthroughs in translation technology, and generative AI capable of fluent communication with humans, such as ChatGPT, have enabled non-native speakers of a language to communicate easily and construct elaborate sentences. Still, premature dependence on such automatic tools can erode distinctive human qualities by denying the chance to cultivate the more advanced language proficiency and analytical talents that are required for linguists and the crucial investigation skills needed for language scholars. In my case, I am finding methods to use ChatGPT not only to better the written work but also to empower the abilities of both language learners and scholars. I believe it is the responsibility of human researchers and educators to identify reasonable methods to use AI.

Q8. What makes you feel most rewarded as a professor?

The most rewarding moment would be when postgraduates develop into great scholars after completing their challenging academic programs and receiving recognition for their research. In particular, one of my students was appointed as an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, and another became a researcher at Curtin University. I hope such instances inspire other students who specialize in English linguistics in graduate school and become researchers. I will keep working to establish the Department of English Language and Literature as an academic environment with both a professional and occupational vision.

Q9. The International Summer Semester (ISS) will be held again this year. As the vice president of International Affairs, what do you mainly focus on?

The ISS provides a great opportunity for SKKU students to engage with international students while attending classes taught by outstanding instructors without having to go abroad. The critical objective while establishing the curriculum is to build a program with a global scope that will fulfill the demands of both SKKU and international students. To accomplish this, the International Affairs Division of SKKU and I consider current worldwide issues and the areas that students are interested in studying. The most critical step is recruiting qualifying professors to satisfy the requirements of students. For this, we actively promote the ISS internationally and leverage overseas networks to attract outstanding faculty members.

Step Forward to a Global SKKU

Q10. As an English linguist, do you have any ultimate research goals?

I aim to pursue my research in two distinct approaches for the next 10 years. I am currently working on research that suggests specific examples of how to utilize and collaborate with generative AI to enhance the skills of English language experts and linguistic academics. There is currently no investigation that demonstrates how generative AI may be utilized explicitly in nurturing great specialists in the English language in the future. Therefore, I want to pave the way for this research first. Then, I wish to bring value to linguistics by developing my big data language research and producing results that explain the typical usage pattern of human languages based on the communicative efficiency principle.

Q11. Are there any future goals or ambitions at SKKU that you have as the vice president of International Affairs?

As the vice president of International Affairs, I strive to orient SKKU toward being an exceptionally qualified college where great international students from various cultures can flourish, as well as the preferred college within Asia for educational and academic cooperation. The Division of International Affairs at SKKU and I will continue to guarantee that our college is at an outstanding level in cultivating global human resources and stands as the worldwide hub of educational success.

Q12. Do you have any advice for Kingos who are starting to further out into the world?

I hope our students light up the world through a wide range of cooperation, including AI, the older generation, and people from different fields and nations without setting any boundaries. I want Kingos to become innovators who take inspiration from everything in the world and sympathize with those left behind in the race.