Melanie (Hyo-In) Han
Pronouns: she/her
Academic and research departments
Literature and Languages, Mobilities in Literature and Culture Research Centre.About
My research project
Modern Sojourners and Multicultural Poets: A Critical and Creative Exploration of Postcolonial Transnationalism, Trauma, and Identity Reflected in Fragmented Form and Multilingual PoetryThis project critically and creatively examines the intersectionality of postcolonial transnationalism, trauma, and identity, and how these concepts are reflected in fragmented form and multilingual poetry. Korean-American poets Don Mee Choi, Cathy Park Hong, and Emily Jungmin Yoon are the three poets whose works I'm researching while writing my own collection of poems based on my life of having been born in Korea and raised in East Africa, and my family's experiences as postcolonial transnationals. Each chapter of the critical investigation dives into the three main topics of the study: theme, form, and language. In my own collection of poems, I showcase my concerns with my heritage by utilizing formally inventive techniques such as narrative poems, prose, erasure, and others. By thinking through the concept of postcolonial transnationalism as defined by Bahri, Ramazani, and others, this research brings out the importance of Choi, Hong, and Yoon's works, as well as my own, in the context of our current, ever-global society.
Biography
Born in Korea and raised in East Africa, Melanie Hyo-In Han (she/her) recently moved from the U.S. to the U.K., where she is a Ph.D. candidate in Creative Writing. She is the author of Uprooted, Replanted, Uprooted Again (FlowerSong Press, forthcoming in 2026), Passing Notes in Secret (boats against the current, 2025), Abecedarian: Banff, Canada (kith books, 2025), My Dear Yeast (Milk & Cake Press, 2023) and Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021), as well as the translator of several collections of Spanish poetry (Hebel Ediciones).
Her work has been supported by fellowships from Gladstone's Library, The Society of Authors, Sundress Academy for the Arts, Kees Eijrond Foundation, Casa Uno, and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Han has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize and awards from “Boston in 100 Words,” Valiant Scribe, The Lyric Magazine, and elsewhere.
As a Third Culture Kid (TCK), the inspiration behind her poetry comes from her own childhood experiences and an exploration of identity, belonging, and culture through the use of fragmented form and inclusion of multiple languages. She also writes nonfiction and does translation work between English, Spanish, and Korean.
Currently, Han is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Flora Fiction and the Two Languages Prize Editor at Gasher Press.
Supervisors
This project critically and creatively examines the intersectionality of postcolonial transnationalism, trauma, and identity, and how these concepts are reflected in fragmented form and multilingual poetry. Korean-American poets Don Mee Choi, Cathy Park Hong, and Emily Jungmin Yoon are the three poets whose works I'm researching while writing my own collection of poems based on my life of having been born in Korea and raised in East Africa, and my family's experiences as postcolonial transnationals. Each chapter of the critical investigation dives into the three main topics of the study: theme, form, and language. In my own collection of poems, I showcase my concerns with my heritage by utilizing formally inventive techniques such as narrative poems, prose, erasure, and others. By thinking through the concept of postcolonial transnationalism as defined by Bahri, Ramazani, and others, this research brings out the importance of Choi, Hong, and Yoon's works, as well as my own, in the context of our current, ever-global society.
Biography
Born in Korea and raised in East Africa, Melanie Hyo-In Han (she/her) recently moved from the U.S. to the U.K., where she is a Ph.D. candidate in Creative Writing. She is the author of Uprooted, Replanted, Uprooted Again (FlowerSong Press, forthcoming in 2026), Passing Notes in Secret (boats against the current, 2025), Abecedarian: Banff, Canada (kith books, 2025), My Dear Yeast (Milk & Cake Press, 2023) and Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021), as well as the translator of several collections of Spanish poetry (Hebel Ediciones).
Her work has been supported by fellowships from Gladstone's Library, The Society of Authors, Sundress Academy for the Arts, Kees Eijrond Foundation, Casa Uno, and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Han has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize and awards from “Boston in 100 Words,” Valiant Scribe, The Lyric Magazine, and elsewhere.
As a Third Culture Kid (TCK), the inspiration behind her poetry comes from her own childhood experiences and an exploration of identity, belonging, and culture through the use of fragmented form and inclusion of multiple languages. She also writes nonfiction and does translation work between English, Spanish, and Korean.
Currently, Han is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Flora Fiction and the Two Languages Prize Editor at Gasher Press.
My qualifications
(Summa Cum Laude, Departmental Honors)
(Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement)
(English 8-12 and Spanish 5-12)
(TEFL Certificate)
(Bill Knott Thesis Award)
Affiliations and memberships
News
In the media
ResearchResearch interests
- Postcolonialism
- Transnationalism
- Innovative and experimental poetry
- Multilingual poetry
- World literature
Awards
- Winner of Surrey 3 Minute Thesis “People's Choice Award” — 2025
- Recipient of The Arts in Society “Emerging Scholar Award” — 2025
- Winner of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences “Postgraduate Researcher Poster Competition” — 2024
- Winner of Doctoral College “Project as a Poem” Competition — 2022
Conference Papers
- “Between Languages: Negotiating Linguistic Borders through Translingual Poetry”
Somewhere in Between: Borders and Borderlands (LCIR) Conference
Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
April 2026
- “Creative Writing as Inclusive Practice: A Participant-Led Case Study”
SAHCI Conference
University of Surrey, UK
January 2026
- “Translingual Poetry as a Site of Resistance within Korean History and its Diaspora”
IR/RELEVANT — English Department PGR Conference
King’s College, UK
May 2025
- “Poetry as Witness: Memory, Trauma, and the Korean Diaspora”
Bridging Disciplines – PGR/ECR Conference
University of Surrey, UK
May 2025
- “Reframing Public Memory: The Role of Art in Postcolonial Narratives”
The Arts in Society Conference
Carnegie Mellon University, USA
May 2025
- “From Comfort Women to Cultural Stereotypes: Korean Women's Bodies in Poetry”
Northeast Modern Language Association Conference
La Salle University, USA
March 2025
- “Unveiling the Resilience of Human Stories in Poetry”
The Human in Humanities SLL PGR Conference
University of Surrey, UK
May 2024
- Narratives of Transnational Korea: Migration, Identity, and Cultural Resilience in Cathy Park Hong’s Poetry
International Society for the Study of Narrative
Newcastle University, UK
April 2024
- Fragmented Form and Spatiotemporal Experiences in Transnational Women's Poetry
European Narratology Network
Monopoli, Italy
September 2023
- Han in Physical and Literary Spaces: Korea’s Statue of Peace and Emily Jungmin Yoon’s Poetry
The Place of Memory and the Memory of Place
Oxford University, UK
June 2023
Research interests
- Postcolonialism
- Transnationalism
- Innovative and experimental poetry
- Multilingual poetry
- World literature
Awards
- Winner of Surrey 3 Minute Thesis “People's Choice Award” — 2025
- Recipient of The Arts in Society “Emerging Scholar Award” — 2025
- Winner of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences “Postgraduate Researcher Poster Competition” — 2024
- Winner of Doctoral College “Project as a Poem” Competition — 2022
Conference Papers
- “Between Languages: Negotiating Linguistic Borders through Translingual Poetry”
Somewhere in Between: Borders and Borderlands (LCIR) Conference
Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
April 2026
- “Creative Writing as Inclusive Practice: A Participant-Led Case Study”
SAHCI Conference
University of Surrey, UK
January 2026
- “Translingual Poetry as a Site of Resistance within Korean History and its Diaspora”
IR/RELEVANT — English Department PGR Conference
King’s College, UK
May 2025
- “Poetry as Witness: Memory, Trauma, and the Korean Diaspora”
Bridging Disciplines – PGR/ECR Conference
University of Surrey, UK
May 2025
- “Reframing Public Memory: The Role of Art in Postcolonial Narratives”
The Arts in Society Conference
Carnegie Mellon University, USA
May 2025
- “From Comfort Women to Cultural Stereotypes: Korean Women's Bodies in Poetry”
Northeast Modern Language Association Conference
La Salle University, USA
March 2025
- “Unveiling the Resilience of Human Stories in Poetry”
The Human in Humanities SLL PGR Conference
University of Surrey, UK
May 2024
- Narratives of Transnational Korea: Migration, Identity, and Cultural Resilience in Cathy Park Hong’s Poetry
International Society for the Study of Narrative
Newcastle University, UK
April 2024
- Fragmented Form and Spatiotemporal Experiences in Transnational Women's Poetry
European Narratology Network
Monopoli, Italy
September 2023
- Han in Physical and Literary Spaces: Korea’s Statue of Peace and Emily Jungmin Yoon’s Poetry
The Place of Memory and the Memory of Place
Oxford University, UK
June 2023
Teaching
At the University of Surrey, Han has been a seminar leader for ELI 1033: Thinking Like a Critic I, ELI 1034: Thinking Like a Critic II, ELI 1021: Understanding Poetry, and ELI 1026: Introduction to Creative Writing. She's currently teaching the Creative Writing seminar for ELI 2058: Life Writing.
She also teaches Introduction to Creative Writing at Accent Society and has led workshops through The Poetry Lab, Sundress Academy, Being Human Festival, and others.
Publications
Highlights
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
- “Fragmented Form and Spatiotemporal Experiences in Transnational Korean Women’s Poetry.”
Enthymema, 11 Mar. 2025, pp. 258–269. https://doi.org/10.54103/2037-2426/24020 - “Korean Transnational Poetry and the Negotiation of Identity: Korean, English, and Konglish.”
International Journal of Bilingualism, 28 Aug. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367006925136382.
Books
- Uprooted, Replanted, Uprooted Again (FlowerSong Press, forthcoming in 2026)
- Passing Notes in Secret (boats against the current, 2025)
- Abecedarian: Banff, Canada (kith books, 2025)
- My Dear Yeast (Milk and Cake Press, 2023)
- Sandpaper Tongue, Parchment Lips (Finishing Line Press, 2021)
Poetry
- “MV Sewol” forthcoming in Choa Magazine
- “The Uber Driver and Me” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “when i am asked where “home” is, i say…” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Sushi Kimbap” in West Trestle Review
- “Introductions: The Korean Way” in Arcana Poetry Press
- “Sōshi-Kaimei” in The Literary Times
- “Tomorrow 만약에…” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Point” and “The Word for “Pocket” is “주머니”” in Cosmic Daffodil Journal
- “Routine” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Istanbul Airport” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Leaf Boat, A Haibun” in The Haiku Shack
- “Mahindi” in Bread & Butter Press (print)
- “An Apple as Apology” in Yellow Arrow Publishing
- “Saying Goodbye to My Parents” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Traveler’s Guilt” in Di Biase Poetry
- “Obituary 2024” in Serpentine Lit Zine (print)
- “A Compliment” and “Island Baby” in Culture Cult Magazine
- “My grandma is the cause of my body dysmorphia” and “korea said, japan said” in AL at DiziBooks
- “Passing Notes” in Sapiens Magazine
- “Fluent in Worlds” and “3 30 AM, Jetlag Thoughts” in Flora Fiction
- “Learning the 가나다s” in Barahm Press
- “Korea and Japan: The Differences”, “Statue of Peace”, “When Whales Fight”, and “The Korean Word for “Again”” in Arteidolia
- “Banff”, “Johnston Canyon”, “Queen’s Cup”, and “Zenith” in East Ridge Review
- “Delonix regia” in Wingless Dreamer (print)
- “Homes I Cannot Return to” in Transients Magazine
- “Dance Dance Evolution” and “Babel’s Legacy” in Aloka Magazine
- “Roots” in Eclectica Press
- “Invisible” in Nothing Much Poetry Magazine (print)
- “Let Us Possess One World”, “Minari”, and “Tightrope” in Nothing Much Poetry Magazine (print)
- “엄마 grew up by the water” in Hanok Review
- “Project as a Poem” in University of Surrey Doctoral College
- “Windy Hill” in Lacuna Festivals
- “The Release” in The MockingOwl Roost
- “Again and Again” in Nevermore Journal
- “April 2, 2015” in Stripes Magazine
- “My ex came to me in a dream last night” in Lacuna Festivals
- “Abecedarian in 한글 (Hangul)” in Feral: A Journal of Poetry and Art
- “Tumaini” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Korean Survivors of the Japanese “Comfort Women” System” in Valiant Scribe
- “please don't refuse me” in Peach Velvet Mag (print)
- “Happy Bi(rth)day” in Serpentine Lit Zine
- “9” in Mason Street Review
- “A Necessary Choice” in Constellations
- “traditions” in Constellations
- “and you told me” in The Lake
- “Unrealistic” in Anti-Heroin Chic
- “Tell Me 사랑해” in Vita Poetica
- “there were reasons” in Flora Fiction
- “Morogoro, Tanzania” in Fathom Mag
- “About Acacias” in Thimble Magazine
- “To Miss Tranquist” in And So Yeah
- “Ukombozi Hospital” in The Blue Nib
- “Can I Roll, Slice, Stack Memories” and “My Childhood Alphabet” in Among Worlds Magazine
- “Holding On” in Anti-Heroin Chic
- “Goodbye, Raven, Goodbye” in Chachalaca Review
- “You had spent your entire life in one home” in Red Planet Magazine
- “But this is a pain I enjoy” in Flora Fiction
- “Onslaught” in Valiant Scribe
- “Language Miracle” in Culture Miks
- “Dar es Salaam Delicacies” in Noggy Bloggy
- “Fertilized Love Giggles” in Noggy Bloggy
- “Exponential” in Global Poemic
Fiction & Nonfiction
- “Review of Ocean Vuong's Night Sky with Exit Wounds” in Sound and Vision (print)
- “A Quest for Conversation” in Gladstone’s Library Blog
- “Tumaini La Maisha” in Marrow Magazine
- “My Dear Yeast: Embracing and Appreciating Language as Identity” in Tint Journal
- “Letters to You” in Ruminate Magazine
- “Corona, Corona: In the Cycle of Grief” in Erraticus
- “One Liners Abound” in Ponder Savant
- “Finding Home in Chinatown” in Boston in 100 Words
Reviews & Interviews
- “Shaping Stories and Scholars” in Surrey Black Scholars: September Edition
- “Echoes of Resilience” in Jottings Tangents Misc. (print)
- “Pier-Glass Spotlight” in Pier-Glass Poetry
- “Fragments of Inspiration: Interview with Melanie Hyo-In Han” in MockingOwl Roost
- “On Global Anti-Asian Sentiment and Hate-Crimes” in Valiant Scribe
- “Dispatch from the Morning Calm” in Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo
- “Destinations and Directions to Two Worlds: A Review of Moisés Park’s Y el verso cae al aula” in EcoTheo
- “Review of Shrapnel Maps by Philip Metres” in Entropy Mag
- “Featured Poet Interview” in The Blue Nib
- “My Dear Yeast: Q&A” in Tint Journal
Translations
- “Hasta marearme de su aroma a paraíso” in Hebel Ediciones (Spanish → English and Korean)
- “Sabios delitos” in Hebel Ediciones (Spanish → English)
Creative Writing Awards & Nominations
- “Tomorrow 만약에…” – Sundress Publications
Finalist (2024/5 Broadside Contest) - “Triptych: Comfort Women” – The International Human Rights Art Movement
1st Place Winner (Art of Creative Unity) - “Letters to You” – Between These Shores
Pushcart Prize Nomination - “Abecedarian in 한글 (Hangul)” – Feral: A Journal of Poetry and Art
Pushcart Prize Nomination - “Dar es Salaam Delicacies” – The Lyric Magazine
1st Place Winner - “Finding Home in Chinatown” – Boston in 100 Words
2nd Place Winner - “Korean Survivors of Japanese Comfort Women” – Valiant Scribe
2nd Place Winner - “An Exponential Function” – Constellations
2nd Place Winner - “Tumaini Wa Maisha” – Emerson College
Fiction Honorable Mention