Dafna Dahee Zur (다희) is an Associate Professor of Korean literature and culture in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures of Stanford University. She also serves as the Director of the Center for East Asian Studies. Dahee has been the dean of Sup Sogŭi Hosu since 2014.
She earned her Ph.D. in Korean Language and Literature from UBC. She has published both in English and Korean. Her research has covered topics such as North Korean science fiction, the Korean War in North and South Korean children’s literature, childhood in cinema, and Korean popular culture. In 2017, her first book was published with Stanford University Press with the title Figuring Korean Futures: Children’s Literature in Modern Korea. She has also published translations in wordwithoutborders.org, The Columbia Anthology of Modern Korean Short Stories, and the Asia Literary Review.
Dahee started as a counselor in the year 2000 — the second summer of the Korean Language Village—and over the years, she has worked in the village as a Taekwondo teacher, language instructor, business manager and assistant dean. The summers are the highlight of her year: the talented counselors and conscientious, globally-minded youth that come to learn Korean each year inspire and energize her every year.
Hyeonjeong (현정) has been on staff since 2003. For many years now, she has worked as the assistant dean, making sure that everyone knows where they have to be and what they have to do. She completed leadership training in teaching Korean as a Foreign Language at Seoul National University in 2007 and received her Master’s degree from Yonsei University in 2014. Her Master’s thesis used the Korean Language Village as a case study and provided productive suggestions for the continual growth of the program. She currently teaches Korean at Kyunghee University in Seoul.
Our one- and two-week program facilitator Minji Kim (민지), is beyond excited for another summer at Sup Sogŭi Hosu. Minji received her B.A. as a double major in Linguistics and Asian Studies, her B.Ed in Elementary Education with a specialization in Problem-Based Learning, and TESL certificate, all from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Minji has played a number of key roles in the Village, including mentor counselor, credit teacher and two-week facilitator over the years. Her favorite part about Sup Sogŭi Hosu is meeting villagers who are passionate about the Korean language and culture and helping them take ownership of their own learning.
Rebecca Rahee Spencer (라희) is back at Sup sogŭi Hosu for a sixth summer and can't wait to spend summer with all the amazing people at the Village! She is serving as the Waterfront Manager and is looking forward to spending her days with everyone by the lake. After a gap year working at a think tank in Seoul, she is returning to Stanford University to finish her double major in East Asian Studies and Human Biology. She spends her free time surfing, swimming, reading and hanging out with the family dogs, Josie and Cate.
Gemma Hankyung Yoo is thrilled to be returning to Sup Sogŭi Hosu for her second summer as a staff member! She is currently majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and pursuing the Education Studies certificate at Yale University and loves spending time in the beautiful nature at SupHo with the villagers. In her free time, she enjoys listening to and playing music, crafting, reading, getting food and talking with friends. At Sup sogŭi Hosu, she is looking forward to getting to know the villagers and eating lots of Korean food!
This is Marissa Jihye Hauser’s (지혜) third summer at Sup sogŭi Hosu and she’s extremely excited to be back for the first time in four years! During that time, she graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a double major in Linguistics and Asian Cultures & Languages. Since graduating, she has begun working as a contractor with a Fortune 10 company as a Conversation Designer building chatbots. She’s ready to get back to her roots and teach Korean again! When not on corporate calls, she likes reading, jogging, embroidery and cooking Thai, Korean and Greek food.
This is Mina Marjorie Haneun Yoo-Sharifi’s first summer as staff at Sup sogŭi Hosu. She is so excited to come back as staff after attending as a villager for nine years and she can’t wait to meet everyone this summer! After spending a gap year studying abroad at Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute in Seoul, she will be starting undergrad at Hamilton College in the fall. In her free time, she enjoys baking, horseback riding and café hopping with friends.
Daeun Yang is joining us for her first summer at Sup sogŭi Hosu. She is studying Korean Language and Literature at Korea University in Seoul. She is excited to meet new people and have an amazing summer in the Village together. She loves singing, watching K-POP artists’ stages, reading novels, traveling and having fun with friends.
This is Taelyong Ha’s first summer as a staff member at Sup Sogŭi Hosu. He majored in culinary arts at Baekseok University of the Arts and has also worked as a professional dancer. He likes strength training, swimming and reading.
This is Wonjong Jang’s first summer with Sup sogŭi Hosu. He majors in Korean Language and Literature at Korea University. His hobby is composing and listening to music.
Heather EunHye Linehan, is enjoying her 18th summer at SupHo. She retired from the Chicago Fire Department as a paramedic after many years of service and is currently working as an RN in a busy ER on the west side of Chicago, so she is well prepared for whatever comes our way. EunHye likes to think she wound up here as her "destiny", like a K-Drama. Originally she was headed for French camp, as it was a language she was familiar with. But since no spot was open, she was offered a job at the Korean village and fell in love. In her second year, EunHye was awarded the “secret agent" coin because she worked so hard to learn the language. As a life-long Girl Scout, she loves to camp, and at home, she can be found hiking or biking. You can’t have a campfire without her!
Al Hara’s is in the kitchen at SupHo for the fourth year. Previously a villager turned into a culinary chef! Well, almost. Hara is excited to be back again this summer to create amazing food for all the villagers and counselors as Korean food is the best food. They graduated from Concordia College in the spring of 2021 with a degree in Chinese language and literature. Hara likes to read, draw, crochet and dress up in the most fashionable summer ensembles during their free time.
Carol Miyeon Rim Hanscom is back for a second summer at SupHo and she is so happy to be in beautiful Bemidji to prepare lots of delicious Korean dishes for the villagers and staff. She is a graduate of Cornell University and the Culinary Institute of America. Home is Los Angeles, where she stays busy going to KPop concerts and raising her fourth child, a Welsh Corgi named Hwarang.
Les Peterson is a Bemidji local of Norwegian and Korean ancestry. In his spare time, he likes to read, garden, bike and hang out with his cat and dog. He is an avid theater buff and photographer. He is excited to cook on a grand scale at the Korean Village. It is his first summer on staff. His love of cooking Korean and learning from his late mother has been his biggest influence.