Kim Lacey, a PhD candidate in WashU’s Department of History within the College of Arts & Sciences, has been awarded a 2025-26 Korea Foundation (KF) Scholarship for Graduate Studies.

This yearlong scholarship ranks among the most distinguished and fiercely contested in the realm of Korean studies. It is available to master’s and doctoral candidates globally, with around 150 awardees annually.

Lacey’s research, titled “Koreitsy: Ethnic Koreans in the Former Soviet Republics, 1863-Present,” investigates the lives of everyday Korean migrants who relocated to the Russian Far East and the experiences of their descendants across Eurasia. Besides employing various archival resources gathered across six nations, her study integrates observations and oral narratives from individuals in different regions of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which she collected during fieldwork from 2022-24.

“My goal is to expand the geographical frontiers and methodological frameworks of current examinations of Soviet and Korean history through my research, particularly by sharing the experiences of marginalized groups, including the elderly, women, and children,” stated Lacey.

Founded in 1991, the Korea Foundation promotes public diplomacy through global collaboration, artistic and cultural exchange, and the enhancement of Korean studies. The KF scholarships, initiated in 1994, aim to cultivate a new generation of scholars within Korean studies by assisting exceptional graduate students whose research centers on Korea-related themes. For further details, visit the Korea Foundation website.

The article Lacey named Korea Foundation Scholar first appeared on The Source.