Busan National University Film Research Institute Hosts Academic Conference Exploring Reciprocity in East Asian Cinema

Exploring East Asian Film Networks and Prospects
at Busan National University on the 18th

Busan National University (President Choi Jae-won) Film Research Institute (Director Seo Dae-jung) will hold the 2025 Busan National University Film Research Institute Winter Academic Conference under the theme "The Competence of 공준 (Gongjun) Crossing the Borders of Cinema" on the 18th at 12:30 PM in the university's First Education Building.

공준 (Gongjun) refers to an axiomatic truth that serves as the starting point of a particular academic discipline or discussion. In film studies, aesthetic and narrative principles universally accepted within a specific era or social context can function as 공준.

The conference will discuss the common cultural-historical foundations and interactions of East Asian cinema through three sessions covering diverse topics such as the traditions, exchanges, and literacy of East Asian films.

Presentations will feature researchers from Busan National University, National Pukyong University, Korea National University of Arts, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, as well as officials from the Korean Film Council and film translators, providing in-depth insights into East Asian film studies.

Session 1, titled "Locality, Tradition, and Modernity in East Asia," will analyze tradition and modernity based on locality, focusing on the genre characteristics of East Asian cinema. Presentations will include patterns of Taiwanese youth romance film remakes, transformations in Hong Kong cinema, and considerations of cross-dressing action films.

Session 2, under the theme "The Era of Openness: The History of Exchange in East Asian Cinema," will comparatively analyze networks among East Asian countries and explore the history and patterns of inter-country exchanges. Topics will include China's reform and opening-up policy and Japanese cinema, China's WTO accession and film policy, and the reception of Japanese films in Korea before and after the opening of Japanese popular culture.

The final Session 3, "Cine-literacy: Seeking Common Sensibilities in East Asia," will analyze cine-literacy in each East Asian country and examine shared tendencies. Presentations will cover the transition from cinephilia to pedagogy and audience development, North Korean cinema from the perspective of critical film literacy, and film education and cine-literacy research in China.

Through this academic conference, the Busan National University Film Research Institute plans to provide students, researchers, and local residents with opportunities to engage with the latest trends in East Asian film studies, broaden their understanding, and foster academic discussions that reflect on global cinematic flows and regional specificities, ultimately benefiting society.

The conference is free of charge and open to all Busan National University members and local residents. For inquiries, please contact the Busan National University Film Research Institute.