Joonmo Kang

Often language translation is portrayed through the lens of loss, as epitomized in the phrase lost in translation. This is an important lens which has implications for epistemic justice in social work research. However, grounding our reflection in borderlands theorizing and our dissertation research projects in Pokhara, Nepal and Seoul, South Korea, we instead wish to center this reflection on what we found in translation. Specifically, we share how the process of language translation invited us to further analysis, deeper critical reflexivity, dialogue, and agency. First, we discuss aspects of our research that seemed impossible to translate, and how this impossibility served as a catalyst for deeper analysis. Second, we reflect on how the process of translating the phrases and words from their original language into English led us to dig into additional layers of critical reflexivity. Third, we reflect on how translating (or deciding not to translate) a single word could open opportunities for dialogue and for the researcher’s own agentic voice. We close by arguing that such reflections can and should be applied in other borderland spaces in which social work scholars find themselves, including the spaces created between disciplines, within classrooms, and between communities and academia, even when those involved appear to share the same language.

Confronting the climate crisis is the most-pressing global issue of our time. Human activity has increased greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in our atmosphere and, in combination with land use fa...

Disaster experiences and explorations of preparedness among Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans (APIDA) in the United States are often overlooked owing to their relatively smaller population share. APIDA are not homogenous, and their disaster experiences warrant further examination. This paper does so by investigating disaster preparedness using disaggregated information about APIDA. The study utilises nationally representative data from the 2017 American Housing Survey, analysing sociodemographic covariates. The disaster preparedness score among APIDA communities was approximately 4.81 on a zero to nine scale. APIDA renters and non‐US citizens were less prepared than homeowners and US citizens. Among subgroups, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese respondents who were non‐US citizens were less prepared than those who were US citizens. Marital status was significantly and positively associated with preparedness among Indians, Japanese, Vietnamese, and multiracial respondents. The findings underscore the importance of data disaggregation and tailored preparedness information and resources to address specific challenges APIDA communities face instead of a one‐size‐fits‐all approach.

This study is an inquiry into the role of social work in responding to the vulnerability of poor older adults living in jjokbang-chon, a neighborhood with a high concentration of informal housing in Seoul, South Korea, to extreme weather disasters. The findings presented in this research are derived from a year-long ethnographic study. The fieldwork consisted of living in the community, carrying out participant observations through working with social work-related agencies, and conducting interviews with community members. The findings showed that the government-funded social work agency is mainly rooted in charitable material aid, or what we call disposable social work, and is not only wasteful in terms of the environment but also disposable in the sense that rather than addressing the fundamental problems, it is a short-term reactionary response whose effects quickly fade away. We highlight the work by the local grassroots group as an example of ecosocial work practice, which is more inclusive of the community members by providing opportunities for political participation and decision-making, The findings illuminate the role of ecosocial work in addressing climate change-related disasters in marginalized communities that empower marginalized individuals and communities.

This ethnographic study examines the disaster subculture of impoverished urban poor communities regarding extreme weather disasters, through the case of jjokbang‐chon, one of the most marginalized communities in Seoul, South Korea. The findings shed light on how jjokbang‐chon residents make meaning of disasters, where a sense of normalcy surrounds extreme weather, developed in response to recurring exposure to everyday hazards. This study offers insights into their lived experiences, revealing that the residents' perception of vulnerability often diverges from objective reality, primarily due to the pervasive “everyday disasters” that continually disrupt their lives. This “every day is a disaster” perspective, born from the chronic distress they endure, challenges their ability to recognize extreme weather events as disasters. This research carries implications for the field of social work by emphasizing the necessity of broadening the concept of vulnerability to encompass “everyday disasters,” and highlights the pivotal role of social work in addressing the multifaceted challenges presented by everyday disasters.