Sharing the lecture held on September 26, 2023.

Why Koreans don’t sleep:
A psychological glimpse into why Koreans are always tired

SPEAKER: Dr. Sooyeon “Aly” Suh

SUMMARY:

Korea is one of the countries notoriously known to have the shortest sleep duration. As a sleep researcher, I will talk about interesting cultural phenomonen surrounding why many people curtail their sleep. Some topics include reasons why we can’t stop scrolling before bedtime (bedtime procrastination), gender differences in nighttime childcare, and reasons why some people should seek a sleep divorce. In addition, some helpful tips on how to sleep and battle insomnia will also be introduced.

BIO:

Sooyeon “Aly” Suh is currently a professor in the Department of Psychology at Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul, Korea. Professor Suh’s research focuses on clinical research in helping individuals sleep without medication. She works with specific populations, including PTSD patients, shift workers, and mothers caring for infants (who won’t sleep). Her secondary research interest includes incorporating digital technology into sleep research, such as wearables, auto-videosomnography, and digital apps. She has authored or co-authored several papers and chapters on these topics. She has spent the last year as a visiting professor at Stanford University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.