Yohan Yoo

Dr. Yohan Yoo stands as a prominent figure in comparative religious studies, serving as Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Seoul National University. After completing his undergraduate studies at SNU with Distinguished Honors in 1999, he earned his Ph.D. in Comparative Religion from Syracuse University in 2005. His scholarly work spans diverse religious traditions, examining topics from purity concepts to sacred text interpretation, with particular emphasis on the intersection of religious symbolism and contemporary culture. As President of The Korean Society for Literature and Religion and a steering committee member of the Korean Religions Unit at the American Academy of Religion, Yoo has significantly influenced religious studies both in Korea and internationally. His academic contributions include several influential Korean-language books such as "Religious People Using Symbolism," "Myths of Our Era," and "Religion, Symbolism, Human Beings," along with more than 30 scholarly articles. His recent works, including "Understanding Religious Studies" (2020) and "Understanding Religious Symbolism" (2021), demonstrate his ongoing commitment to bridging Eastern and Western religious thought. Through his leadership at SNU's Center for Religious Studies, Yoo continues to shape the field of comparative religious studies while fostering international academic dialogue.