Junbin Yang (he/him) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Kinesiology’s Physical Cultural Studies program. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, he began his academic journey studying sociology before a personal experience with leg surgery and rehabilitation led him to also study sport management. That intersection of lived experience and academic curiosity ultimately shaped his path to UMD, where he continues his graduate studies connecting sport to broader societal issues.

His research examines complex capitalist logics through sport, using soccer in the U.S. as an entry point to explore broader societal issues, including inequality, loneliness, and surveillance technologies.

As a member of the International Student Council (ISC) and secretary of the Physical Cultural Studies Graduate Student Association, Junbin works to foster a more connected and supportive environment for fellow students — a commitment rooted in his own experience starting the program during COVID-19, when building a sense of belonging felt especially difficult.

"International students are frequently held to the same — or even higher — expectations without sufficient attention to their contextual situations," he reflects. His advice to campus: "If you want to better understand others, including international students, please try to consider their experiences from their point of view, not through individual judgment."