Tae Yang Kwak

Tae Yang Kwak is an Associate Professor of History at the School of Humanities and Global Studies, Ramapo College of New Jersey since 2007. With a PhD in History from Harvard University, he specializes in modern Korean history, Cold War studies, and US-East Asian relations.

• Education: B.A. & M.A., University of Chicago; A.M. & Ph.D., Harvard University

His research focuses on democratization processes, nation-building, and US diplomatic history in East Asia. Recent publications analyze Korean participation in the Vietnam War, Cold War ideological clashes, and intercultural dynamics in film.

Key article themes include:

• Vietnam War's impact on Korean democratization
• Critical analysis of historical film representations
• Comparative colonial studies
• Regional Southeast Asian engagement
• Authoritarianism and Cold War policy

Teaching interests span modern/premodern Korean history, US diplomatic history, and East Asian intellectual traditions. Courses include: Korean Cinema and Modern Society, The Korean War, and Cold War History.