Sunah Lee is a doctoral candidate in the School of Communication. Her research explores the intersection of power and media, focusing on the political economy of media, labor, and gender in a global context. Originally from South Korea, she worked as a news reporter at YTN, a 24-hour South Korean news network, from 2005 to 2019. Drawing on her professional experience, her research primarily centers on the media industry, with a particular emphasis on labor in journalism.
Education
2021 M.A. Florida State University, Communication & Digital Media Studies
2004 B.A. Seoul National University, French Language & Literature
Research Interests
critical political economy of media, media industry, journalism, media literacy, gender studies, qualitative approach
Publications & Research
Lee, S. (2024). “I had my hair cut today to share #Women_Short Cut_Campaign”: Feminist selfies protesting misogyny. Social Media + Society, 10(3).
Lee, S. (2024). Lack of policy discussions in the media privatization in South Korea: The case of YTN’s privatization., Korean Journal of Communication, 1(3), 264–272.
Lee, S, & Proffitt, J. M. (2024). Netflix in South Korea: Patron of creativity or imperialistic conqueror? In A. Ferchaud, & J. M. Proffitt (Eds.), Television’s Streaming Wars (pp. 55–69). Routledge.
Lee, S., & Proffitt, J. M. (2022). “We bet on humans; You’re our horses”: The second phase of neo-poverty in South Korea as portrayed in Squid Game. Communication, Culture & Critique, 15(4), 534–535.
Grants & Awards
2025 Dr. Matthew A. Grindy Prize awarded by FSU College of Communication and Information
2024 Annual International Communication Association Conference Top Student Paper Award
2024 Honorary Guest Coach for FSU Women’s soccer (nominated by a student athlete)
2024 National Communication Association Doctoral Honors Seminar
2024 FSU College of Communication and Information Outstanding Doctoral Student 2023–2024
2023 Union for Democratic Communications Conference Brian Murphy Top Student Paper Award
2023 FSU Graduate School Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award 2022–2023
2023 FSU College of Communication and Information Outstanding Doctoral Teaching Assistant 2022–2023