IAMCR Webinar Series
Join the Political Economy Section in their next book talk Critically Capitalist, a monograph that presents an ethnography of South Korea’s asset seekers, including amateur stock investors, real estate enthusiasts, and money coaches, to demonstrate how financialized asset capitalism is sustained. As they hunt for profit margins, rent, and dividends, they simultaneously critique capitalism and posit their pursuit of assets as a form of resistance.
Bohyeong Kim theorizes this new spirit of capitalism in South Korea as “critical capitalism,” arguing that it reflects the popular discontent with both national development and financial neoliberalism. As a paradoxical critique and legitimation, Bohyeong Kim argues that critical capitalism valorizes the capitalist economy not through a triumphant narrative, but by highlighting the emotional wounds, destroyed communities, and oppressive tactics of modern capitalism.
Drawing on multi-sited ethnography and in-depth interviews with a broad community of aspiring millionaires, Critically Capitalist illuminates how contemporary capitalism thrives by channeling discontent into financial and real estate markets, which in turn has cemented critical capitalism as the cultural and affective backbone of South Korea’s economy.
The book author, Bohyeong Kim, will share highlights of the book. Q&A will follow.
Date and time:
Monday 9 March, 2026 @ 18h00 Los Angeles / 21h00 New York
Tuesday 10 March, 2026 @1h00 UTC / 06h30 Kolkata/ 10h00 Seoul / 11h00 Brisbane.
See the time in your local time zone
Pre-registration is required by 8 March. Register here.
Sponsored by: IAMCR's Political Economy Section.
Moderator
Speaker
Micky Lee
Suffolk University, United States
Vice-chair of the Political Economy Section
Bohyeong Kim
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Asian Studies at Vanderbilt University, United States
Opening remarks
Andrea Medrado
Department of Communications, Drama and Film of the University of Exeter
IAMCR's Vice President
Registration
Pre-registration is required by 8 March 2026. Register here.
Location: The meeting will take place on Zoom. Pre-registered participants will receive personal invitations 24 hours before the webinar begins.
Who can participate: The webinar is open to all IAMCR members but space is restricted. A limited number of guest invitations for non-members may be available. Fill out this form to request being added to the guest list.
Not sure if you're a member? Check the membership directory.
If you are not a member of IAMCR, you can join here.
About the series
The IAMCR Webinar Series aims to open-up channels for engagement and participation in addition to the annual conference, while echoing the great work that is done by Sections, Working Groups and IAMCR members. The series includes presentations, debates, book and project launches. The format is flexible, the connection is what matters. Join us!