The Status of Scholar-Activism in South Korean Sport: Challenges and Implications for Advancement

Abstract

In the current study, we aimed to explore the status of scholar-activism in the South Korean sport and the transnational relationship and solidarity for scholarly activism. Using narrative inquiry as a method, we interviewed scholar-activists in the South Korean sport field who have extensive experiences engaging in sport-based activism. Their experiences are presented in a format of narrated stories, chronologically describing their initial engagement with scholar-activism, constraints to their activist work, and suggestions for the future practice. Findings indicate that their educational background motivated their engagement in social activism work, but various sociocultural constraints in South Korean society posed notable challenges to advancing their activist agenda and scholarly career. Specifically, the ongoing conservatism and anti-progressive Confucian culture has stigmatized scholar-activism. Based on the findings, we suggest that transnational solidarity among scholar-activists and cross-field collaborations will help advance scholar-activism.

Keywords:

• Organizing
• sport activism
• qualitative method
• South Korean society

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest has to be reported.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

NaRi Shin

NaRi Shin (Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) is an assistant professor in the Sport Management Program at the University of Michigan, USA. Her research interests include globalization, diaspora, and sport, and in particular historical Korean diaspora and sport development.

Sungho Cho

Sungho Cho (Ph.D., University of Connecticut, U.S./J.D., Arizona State University) is an Associate Professor in the Sport Management Program at the Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, U.S. His research foci include legal aspects and governance of sport organizations.

Ari Kim

Ari Kim (Ph.D., University of Florida, U.S.) is an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing at California State University, San Bernardino in U.S. Her research interests include consumer behavior and marketing communication strategies, with a specific emphasis on developing inclusive marketing communication strategies within the sports domain. Her scholarly contributions have been featured in journals including European Sport Management Quarterly, International Journal of Sport Communication, International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, among others.

Dae Hee Kwak

Dae Hee Kwak (Ph.D., University of Maryland, U.S.) is an Associate Professor and Director of Center for Sport Marketing Research in the Sport Management Program at the University of Michigan, U.S. His research interests include sport consumer behavior and psychology.

Amy Chan Hyung Kim

Amy Chan Hyung Kim (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, U.S.) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sport Management at Florida State University (FSU) in the US. She also serves as a co-director for the Center for Sport, Health, and Equitable Development (SHED). Her research interests include promoting sport participation for health/well-being among various populations. Her work has appeared in impactful journals such as Sport Management Review, Journal of Happiness Studies, Journal of Aging and Physical activity, among others.

Wonyoung Kim

Wonyoung Kim (Ph.D., The University of Southern Mississippi, U.S.) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sport Management at Wichita State University (WSU) in the U.S. He also serves as a Strategic Partnership Coordinator and the Executive Director of SMART Lab at WSU Sport Management while serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Contemporary Issues in Sport. His research interests include analyzing consumer behavior and decision-making in sport and related contexts and examining the underrepresentation of AAPI in the U.S. sport industry by assessing social and psychological issues.

Yong Jae Ko

Yong Jae Ko (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, U.S.) is a professor in the Department of Sport Management at University of Florida (UF) in U.S. His research interests include sport marketing and consumer behavior. His work has appeared in journals such as Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review, Sport Marketing Quarterly & European Sport Management Quarterly, among others.