SE YOUN PARK

Director of Research

Dr Se Youn Park is a Feminist Security Studies scholar at the University of Queensland, where she holds research and teaching roles. Her research examines the gendered dimensions of security governance, with particular focus on the regulation of ISIS women returnees. More broadly, her work investigates extremism across both offline and digital environments, analysing how online misogyny, gendered grievance, and institutional responses to digital harms intersect. Her comparative research draws on regional expertise in South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Se Youn has published and presented her work in a variety of international platforms, including The Conversation, The Global Network for Extremism and Technology, France 24, and the International Studies Association Convention (2023-2025).

At WIIS-A, Se Youn serves as Director of Research. In this role she leads a range of research and policy-oriented initiatives that connect feminist scholarship with security practice. She manages the WIIS-A internship programme and oversees several WIIS-A publication platforms, including the Australian Outlook × WIIS-A blog series and the WIIS-A Policy Brief series. Through these initiatives, she supports emerging scholars and practitioners while promoting policy-relevant feminist analysis of contemporary security challenges.

Key Publications

1. Park, Se Youn. 2025. “Exporting Misogyny: The Transnational Spread of Digital Sex Crimes as Gendered Extremism.” GNET Insights. Available at: https://gnet-research.org/2025/10/15/everyday-extremism-molka-nth-room-and-the-infrastructure-of-digital-misogyny/. 

2.      Park, Se Youn. 2025. “South Korea’s digital sex crime crisis: The ‘molka’ epidemic.” France 24. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyU2n1XWbrc&t=313s.

3.      Park, Se Youn. 2025. “Platforms of Extremism: Why Australia Must Confront Digital Misogyny as a Security Threat.” Australian Outlook. Available at: https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/platforms-of-extremism-why-australia-must-confront-digital-misogyny-as-a-security-threat/. 

4.      Park, Se Youn. 2026. “Australia’s ‘ISIS brides’ have returned. Governments can do better at handling this situation.” The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/australias-isis-brides-have-returned-governments-can-do-better-at-handling-this-situation-267213

5.      Park, Se Youn. 2026. “Assessing Australia’s Incoherent Regulation of ISIS Women Returnees.” Women in International Security – Australia (WIIS-A) Policy Brief Series. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zecy1Hvy9HYCMv5QvjIOoSxGAo98wOe8/view

Why do you think it is important to have women and gender diverse people in international security spaces?

Security policy affects entire societies, yet decision-making in this field has historically been dominated by a narrow set of voices. Including women and gender diverse people broadens the range of experiences and perspectives that inform how we understand security problems and design responses to them. Diverse participation strengthens policy by encouraging more creative and inclusive approaches to complex security challenges. If security affects everyone, then everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to shaping it.

What is your proudest achievement in direct support of the goal to have more women and gender diverse people in international spaces?

One achievement I am particularly proud of is helping to develop the WIIS-A research and publication platforms that support emerging voices in the field. This includes establishing the WIIS-A Policy Brief series, managing the WIIS-A internship programme, and overseeing the WIIS-A × Australian Outlook blog series. These initiatives are designed to create accessible pathways for early career researchers and practitioners to publish, build networks, and contribute to policy conversations. My goal has been to help build a community where scholars and practitioners can support one another and create opportunities for the next generation.

What is one area of growth you would like to see in this space?

An important area for growth is the strengthening of male allyship. Efforts to improve gender representation in international security should not be understood as a project for women alone. Meaningful progress requires engagement from across the field, including men who are willing to support institutional change, mentor emerging scholars, and advocate for more inclusive practices. Expanding this shared responsibility is essential for creating lasting change in the security sector.