I am a sociocultural anthropologist broadly interested in how states and civil society institutions map religious and political meaning onto the experience of displacement. My current research project, situated in alternative schools for North Korean displaced youth, asks what it means to be folded into a nation’s future while being excluded from its present. My research has been graciously supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Foundation.

I am a member of the North Korean diaspora based in New York City, NY, and conduct my research in Seoul, South Korea.

PUBLICATIONS

Um, noël. 2020. “Biopower, mediascapes, and the politics of fear in the age of covid-19.” City & Society 32 (2): ciso.12311.

lectures and presentations

UM-lo, Noël. 2025. “Bridges across borders: a conversation with students from north and south korea.” columbia University’s liberty in north korea.

UM-lo, noël. 2024. “Micro-unification in the shadow of nuclear war: north korean escapee youth and south korean resettlement schooling.” American anthropological Association (AAA), Annual meeting (late-breaking talk).

Um-Lo, noël. 2021. “Legacies of minjok and neo-confucianism in the early DPRK apparatus.” Oxford university, Faculty of oriental studies: international history of east asia.

Um, noël. 2020. “Social production of spirit possession, women’s ritual and healing in Korea.” Barnard college, Department of Asian and Middle East Cultures.

Um, noël. 2020. “Holding each other up: building civic carework ecologies through youth participatory action.” COlumbia university, Department of anthropology: Anthroposium.