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My name is Aria Lee '27, and I am a political science and history major at St Lawrence.
In the summer of 2026, I was grateful to have the chance to conduct a research project in South Korea. Thanks to the Tanner Fellowship, I traveled to South Korea and studied the history of colonialism and how it transformed the Korea we know today, with an emphasis on education. As a Korean American, this is an experience I hold close to my heart, as I was not only learning about the culture and history but also about my heritage. My family's lineage is what inspired me to pursue this research opportunity.
This project is centered around different influences shaping Korea. I will be making an academic timeline, starting with the first dynasty, moving into the Japanese takeover, Confucianism's influence, reviewing Western influences (the economy, wars, religion, etc.), to the effects on education. Going to Korea, I had a different focus of study, but once there I gravitated towards the history of this subject.