Applications for the 2027 Visiting Professor of Australian Studies position at Seoul National University are now open and will close on Monday 13 April 2026.
Please see the position description and instructions on how to apply.
The Visiting Professor of Australian Studies was established through a partnership between Seoul National University (SNU), the Australia–Korea Foundation (AKF), and Woodside Energy. It is a flagship initiative designed to deepen academic and cultural connections between Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
This initiative brings leading Australian scholars to SNU's Graduate School of International Studies - a globally recognised hub for research and education in international affairs. During the appointment, the visiting professor is required to teach, conduct research, and engage in public outreach, contributing to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty from across the Indo-Pacific.
Program Objectives
- Foster innovative research collaborations and strengthen institutional ties ROK
- Promote mutual understanding of each country's history, cultural heritage and people-to-people links
- Generate public awareness of Australia and the ROK's shared values in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why It Matters
The AKF, as the Australian Government's key public diplomacy program with the ROK, supports partnerships that increase awareness of the bilateral relationship and equip Australians to engage effectively with the ROK. This initiative reflects both nations' commitment to collaboration in education, research and cultural exchange.
About Seoul National University
Founded in 1946, SNU is the ROK's 's premier public university, located on scenic Gwanak Mountain in southern Seoul. Its Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), established in 1997 and expanded in 2003, is home to a diverse student body of around 300 students from across the globe, including Australia.
Areas of Expertise
Under the Visiting Professor, the AKF invites applications from Australian experts across a range of disciplines. Australian Studies can be approached from an area-studies perspective or a comparative Australia-ROK perspective. While Australia should remain the focus, we also welcome scholars whose field of study covers the broader Indo-Pacific region and/or with inter-disciplinary perspectives on various international issues, embracing economic, political, social, cultural, and historical analysis. Most importantly, the successful appointee should be committed to promoting mutual understanding between the ROK and Australia.
Impact
Through this initiative, the AKF aims to create lasting academic networks, enrich public discourse, and strengthen the foundations of the Australia–ROK relationship. By combining research excellence with cultural exchange, the Visiting Professor serves as a bridge between two nations that share common values and a vision for a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Past recipients
2026 Visiting Professor – Dr Constantinos Yiallourides
Dr Constantinos Yiallourides is a Senior Lecturer in International Law at Macquarie University, Deputy Director of the Centre for Environmental Law, and co-lead of the CCUS Stream at the Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre. He is also Senior Research Fellow in Law of the Sea at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, where he leads research and training on maritime and energy law.
His work focuses on the law of territory, the law of the sea, environmental and natural resources law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He has advised governments and international organisations on complex issues of international law and is the recipient of the International Law Association Scholarship Award (2021). Dr Yiallourides is the author of Maritime Disputes and International Law (Routledge, 2019) and co-editor of International Fisheries Law (Routledge, 2025).
2025 Visiting Professor – Professor Melissa Bellanta
Melissa Bellanta is a Professor of Modern History at Australian Catholic University. A social and cultural historian of Australia, her research explores histories of masculinity, dress and fashion, popular entertainment, and emotions. She has published widely on topics ranging from street and youth culture to the social history of crime and men's clothing. Her book won the Ernest Scott Prize in 2013, and she has co-edited special issues on fashion and gender history. Melissa currently leads projects on men's dress and social change in twentieth-century Australia and has held fellowships at the University of Queensland and the Powerhouse Museum.