Digital Korea: Stories, systems and spaces of connection
Organised by the Centre for Korean Studies
The University of Sheffield
30-31 May 2024
About the Conference
The Centre for Korean Studies at the University of Sheffield is pleased to be calling for papers for a conference titled Digital Korea: Stories, systems and spaces of connection, funded by the AKS Core Grant Programme.
This conference explores the diverse ways that Korean social, political and cultural relations at all levels, on both sides of the DMZ, are mediated by and through digital media. Alongside state-led narratives of national progress or industrial development that often benchmark digital achievements, Koreans use digital media in ways that do not always align with these broader state narratives. This conference brings attention to these stories, systems and spaces of connection to show how both North and South Korean cases can be in conversation with each other and cases of digital sociality around the world. We aim to highlight research that addresses diverse, hidden, or underexplored aspects of digital connections, from the micro-interactions of friendship on chat apps to the commercialisation of whole neighbourhoods into digital valleys. We welcome papers that discuss topics as diverse as bureaucracy, medicine, religion, international politics, friendship, popular media, parenting, science and engineering, office life, old age, and others.
Conference Schedule
Arrival and check-in: Invited conference presenters will be able to check in to the Leopold Hotel from 3pm on Wednesday 29th May. Check out is before 11am on Saturday 1st June.
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Conference Venue
The conference will be held in the Council Room, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN
It is around a 20 minute walk from the Leopold Hotel.
There is a cafe nearby if needed: Heartspace Cafe.
Hotel Information
All conference participants will be staying at the Leopold Hotel in Sheffield City Centre. International visitors may need this information when you arrive in the UK.
Participants will have their own rooms.
Arrival and check-in: You will be able to check in to the Leopold Hotel from 3pm on Wednesday 29th May. Check out is before 11am on Saturday 1st June.
Hotel website - https://www.leopoldhotel.co.uk/en/
Hotel address and phone number:
2 Leopold Street
Leopold Square
Sheffield
United Kingdom
S1 2GZ
0114 252 4000
Please note: each room is booked in your name and reference is 'Centre for Korean Studies The University of Sheffield'
Optional Field Trip
There is an optional field trip that you have been invited to sign up for. Please email cks@sheffield.ac.uk if your plans change.
National Video Game Museum Sheffield
10am-12pm on Saturday 1st June
Website - https://thenvm.org/
Your ticket price will be covered by the conference organisers
Getting to Sheffield
Sheffield has a major train station located on the east side of the city centre. It is a 10 minute walk from the Leopold Hotel.
Sheffield is about 3 hours north of London, 1 hour east of Manchester, 40 minutes south of Leeds.
The closest international airport is Manchester Airport. The journey takes around 1.5 hours by train from Manchester Airport to Sheffield train station (with one change at Manchester Piccadilly). Flying into Manchester is the easiest way to reach Sheffield.
If you plan to arrive at London Heathrow Airport instead, please see below for details of how to get to Sheffield by train. This is a longer and more complex route, but it is doable.
If you plan to take a train we strongly recommend you use The Trainline website to do this - https://www.thetrainline.com/
You can save digital tickets to your phone.
Link to map of rail station to embed: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zc9mbdnjeLYi6R6z8
You might also want to install the Uber app in case you need easy transportation around the city. Sheffield is fairly small and all locations for the conference are within about 20-25 minutes’ walk of each other.
Getting from Heathrow Airport to London Kings Cross/St Pancras for the onward journey to Sheffield
To travel to Sheffield from London Heathrow, you first need to travel to Kings’ Cross St. Pancras train station. From there, you can catch a train on the East Midlands Rail line to Sheffield (2.5 hours north). At Heathrow, there are multiple options for onward travel to central London.
- The cheapest and simplest option is to take the London underground Piccadilly line (Eastbound) all the way to King's Cross/St Pancras. There is no need to transfer to a different line. Underground trains arrive approximately every 10 minutes. This route takes approximately 60 minutes.
- For a faster route, there is also the option to catch the TfL train which runs non-stop between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington Station. From Paddington Station, it is possible to transfer to the underground Hammersmith and City Line or the Circle Line which both provide a direct service to Kings Cross/St Pancras. This route takes approximately 45 minutes.
- For an even faster route, there is also the option to catch the Heathrow Express instead, which runs non-stop between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington Station. As above, it is possible to transfer to the underground Hammersmith and City Line or the Circle Line at Paddington Station. Heathrow Express tickets are priced at £25 each way. This route takes approximately 25 minutes.
- Alternatively, there is also the option of a taxi/uber which would cost between £40-45 and take approximately 40 minutes.
Tickets from London Kings Cross St Pancras to Sheffield can cost between £60 and £110 depending on the time of day and how early you book. The journey from London Kings Cross St Pancras to Sheffield takes approximately 2.5 hours if you choose a direct journey (advisable).
Where to Eat/Shop
Leopold Hotel is surrounded by lots of restaurants, many with vegan and vegetarian options (as indicated):
- Zizzi – Italian Restaurant (2 minute walk from hotel) V Vg GF
- Pho – Vietnamese (2 minute walk from hotel) V
- Wagamama – Asian/Japanese Restaurant (2 minute walk from hotel) V Vg GF
- Turtle Bay – Caribbean Restaurant (4 minute walk from hotel) V Vg
- Pieminister – British Restaurant (6 minute walk from hotel) V Vg GF
- Pocha – Korean Restaurant (8 minute walk from hotel) V
A little further afield:
- Joro - Scandinavian-inspired fine dining (Krynkl, S3 8US)
- Roku – Japanese (92 Burton Road, S3 8BX) V GF
- Domo – Sardinian Restaurant (34 Cotton Mill Walk, Little Kelham Street, S3 8DH) V Vg GF
- Cutlery Works– Food hall with 14 different traders (73 Neepsend Lane, S3 8AT) V Vg GF
- SteelYard – Shipping container yard (Unit 4, The Yard, Bardwell Road, S3 8AS) V Vg GF
There are also many cafes nearby:
- Couch (2 minute walk from hotel)
- Le Blé – (2 minute walk from hotel)
- HYGGE– (7 minute walk from hotel)
- 200 Degrees – (5 minute walk from hotel)
- Copper Pot – (7 minute walk from hotel)
- Steam Yard – (8 minute walk from hotel)
Places to shop
- Tesco Express – Supermarket (2 minute walk from hotel)
- TK Maxx – Department Store (2 minute walk from hotel)
- Marks and Spencer – Department Store (3 minute walk from hotel)
- Boots – Health and Cosmetics Shop (3 minute walk from hotel)
- Waterstones – Book Shop (1 minute walk from hotel)
- H&M – Clothes Shop (2 minute walk from hotel)
Independent Retailers
- Moonko – Award-winning ethical shop (89 Division Street, S1 4GE)
- La Biblioteka– Award-winning, small independent bookshop (61 Eyre Lane, S1 3GF)
- CollardManson – Boutique (123 Division Street, S3 7SB)
- Sheffield Makers – Sheffield-made art and products (Winter Gardens, 90 Surrey Street, S1 2LH)
- Within Reason – Speciality/gift shop (144 Devonshire Street, S3 7SF)
- The Moor Market – Marketplace (77 The Moor, S1 4PF)
- Beer Central – Local (and international) craft beer shop (Outlet MS3, The Moor Market, S1 4PF)
- Bird's Yard – Speciality/gift shop (44 Chapel Walk, S1 2PD)
- All Good Stuff – Sheffield-made art and products (72 Arundel Street, S1 2NS)
Where to drink
Pubs and bars in the city centre (less than 10 minutes from the hotel on foot)
- Trippets Lounge Bar – Jazz bar with live music, open Thursday-Sunday (89 Trippet Lane, S1 4EL)
- Public– Award-winning, unique bar which is housed in what used to be a public toilet (Surrey Street, S1 2LG) Highly recommended! (https://www.publicpublic.co.uk/)
- Dorothy Pax – Quayside bar, made from the boat it was named after (Arch 17, Wharf Street, Victoria Quays, S2 5SY)
- True Loves – Another quayside bar (Arches 18 & 19, Victoria Quays, S2 5SY)
- Brewdog– Pub chain specialising in craft beers (108-110 Devonshire Street, S3 7SF)
- Gatsby– Cocktail bar (73-75 Division Street, S1 4GE)
- Aria– Booking-only cocktail bar and restaurant (Castle House, Angel Street, S3 8LS)
Bungalows and Bears– Pub (50 Division Street, S1 4GF)
