Sungdai Cho

Sungdai Cho is a Professor in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies at Binghamton University, serving as Director of the Center for Korean Studies since its founding in 2008. He holds joint appointments in the Linguistics Program and the Center for Korean Studies. His academic roles include Graduate Director for the Center and former leadership positions in professional organizations like ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Cho earned his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, followed by teaching positions at Stanford University, Indiana University, and the University of Michigan before joining Binghamton in 2000. His research focuses on Korean syntax/morphology (causative/passive constructions, honorifics) and language pedagogy (national standards, assessment). He has authored/edited 11 books, with additional works under contract with Cambridge University Press and Routledge.

His awards include Binghamton’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He actively organizes conferences such as the 2024 Culture Learning Workshop at MIT and the 2025 Japanese/Korean Linguistics Conference at Cornell University. Professional service roles include Chair of ACTFL’s Korean SIG, co-chair of the National Standards for Learning Korean task force, and SAT Korean exam chair for the College Board.

Cho’s work bridges theoretical linguistics and pedagogical innovation, emphasizing standards-based language education and cross-linguistic research within Northeast Asia. His conference hosting (e.g., 2008 ICKL, 2021 KLCC) reflects his leadership in global Korean studies.