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Byung-Ho Chung Obituary
CHAMPAIGN - In loving memory of Professor Byung-ho Chung (1955–2024)
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Professor Byung-ho Chung, a pioneering anthropologist, educator, and social activist, on Dec. 8, 2024, at the age of 69.
Professor Chung earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and served as a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Hanyang University from 1994 to 2020, later becoming Professor Emeritus. He made significant contributions to North Korean studies, as reflected in his works North Korea: Beyond Charismatic Politics (2012) and Suffering and Smiling: Daily Life in North Korea (2024), the latter being his final publication.
Beyond academia, Professor Chung championed social causes, founding Korea's first cooperative childcare model and alternative schools for North Korean defector youth. He also led efforts to repatriate the remains of forced labor victims from Japan and promoted peace and multiculturalism through his leadership roles in various organizations. His lifetime of dedication earned him numerous honors, including the University of Illinois International Alumni Award (2014).
He is survived by his wife, Chung Jeankyung and his sisters, Chung Sun-ja and Chung Sun-ju.
A memorial service will be held privately at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Seoul. To send your condolences, please contact: [email protected]; [email protected].
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