Assistant Professor Yee Sien Ang, professor of film and media arts on the University of Utah Asia campus, has published her first Mandarin book, Beyond K-Drama 《走出韩剧外, a personal chronicle of living and working in South Korea. Moving beyond the glossy and romanticized imagery popularized by Korean film and television, the book offers an intimate and grounded portrayal of everyday life, cultural nuances, and the emotional landscape of an expatriate navigating a foreign environment.
The book was officially launched in February 2026 at Cite Book Garden and Eslite Bookstore, Malaysia, and is available in major bookstores nationwide.
Drawing from her experiences teaching at an American university campus in Incheon, the author reflects on cultural differences, moments of displacement and belonging, and the quiet rhythms of daily life rarely depicted on screen. The written narrative is intertwined with original hand sketches, providing readers with a vivid visual dimension that reflects her interdisciplinary practice as both filmmaker and visual storyteller.
As a filmmaker-educator, Ang’s publication reflects an extension of her creative pursuit, demonstrating how storytelling can bridge disciplines, cultures, and communities while expanding perspectives on global media and lived experience.
As part of the book’s promotional activities, Ang was also invited as a guest speaker at Oneworld Hanxin College and INTI International College, where she spoke to students about her creative journey spanning over two decades from her early career as a film editor, director, and writer to her present role as an educator. Her talks emphasized the evolving relationship between industry practice, real life experience, and teaching, encouraging students to see creative work as a lifelong, interdisciplinary pursuit.
Congratulations, Professor Ang!