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Join the Political Economy Section in their next book talk Critically Capitalist, a monograph that presents an ethnography of South Korea’s asset seekers, including amateur stock investors, real estate enthusiasts, and money coaches, to demonstrate how financialized asset capitalism is sustained. As they hunt for profit margins, rent, and dividends, they simultaneously critique capitalism and posit their pursuit of assets as a form of resistance. 

Bohyeong Kim theorizes this new spirit of capitalism in South Korea as “critical capitalism,” arguing that it reflects the popular discontent with both national development and financial neoliberalism. As a paradoxical critique and legitimation, Bohyeong Kim argues that critical capitalism valorizes the capitalist economy not through a triumphant narrative, but by highlighting the emotional wounds, destroyed communities, and oppressive tactics of modern capitalism. 

Drawing on multi-sited ethnography and in-depth interviews with a broad community of aspiring millionaires, Critically Capitalistilluminates how contemporary capitalism thrives by channeling discontent into financial and real estate markets, which in turn has cemented critical capitalism as the cultural and affective backbone of South Korea’s economy.

The book author, Bohyeong Kim, will share highlights of the book. Q&A will follow.

Date and time: 

Monday 9 March, 2026 @ 18h00 Los Angeles / 21h00 New York

Tuesday 10 March, 2026 @1h00 UTC / 06h30 Kolkata/ 10h00 Seoul / 11h00 Brisbane. 

Pre-registration is required by 8 March. Register here.

Sponsored by: IAMCR's Political Economy Section.