Environment, Atmosphere, Feeling Series: Seo Young Park

NU Global Asian Studies Program

Join us for a guest lecture event with Seo Young Park of Scripps University

Renaissance Park Office Building, Room 310

Filtering the City: Embodied Insecurities and the Atmosphere of “New House Syndrome” This presentation examines “new house syndrome” (saejibjeunghugun) as an emerging urban phenomenon in the Seoul Capital Area. While “sick building syndrome” globally refers to ailments linked to deteriorating or poorly maintained workplaces, in South Korea, the same cluster of symptoms—itchy eyes, rashes, headaches, odor sensitivity, and fatigue—has been reframed around new residential buildings. Rapid urban redevelopment, frequent remodeling, and speculative housing markets have heightened concerns about chemical exposures, including formaldehyde from pressed wood and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from flooring, paints, and adhesives. Drawing on ethnographic research into state regulations, commercial practices, and residents’ everyday tactics to filter out perceived toxicity, the talk argues that the syndrome both reflects and amplifies the contradictions of urban dwelling. Residents’ bodies emerge as vulnerable sites where physical, emotional, and financial insecurities converge, producing and inhabiting the atmospheric affect of the indoor built environment.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Environment, Atmosphere, Feeling Series: Seo Young Park

More events from NU Global Asian Studies Program

Discover more events from NU Global Asian Studies Program, from Community to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Boston and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Environment, Atmosphere, Feeling Series: Seo Young Park

More events from NU Global Asian Studies Program

Discover more events from NU Global Asian Studies Program, from Community to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Boston and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.