Skip to main content
Myoung-Gi Chon

Myoung-Gi Chon

Associate Professor

Public Relations

Communication & Journalism

Myoung-Gi Chon

Contact Me

334-844-2721

mzc0113@auburn.edu

237 Tichenor Hall

Office Hours

Wednesday 2–5 pm or by appointment

In the news

Education

PhD, Media and Public Affairs, Louisiana State University

MA, Media and Communication, Korea University

BA, English (Major) and Media & Communication (Minor), Korea University

About Me

Myoung-Gi Chon, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University. His research examines how publics communicate, make sense of problems, and take action in response to organizational, social, and international issues. More broadly, his scholarship investigates how strategic communication helps organizations build relationships with publics and address complex societal challenges, including organizational issues, public health, activism, and environmental issues.

Dr. Chon has contributed to the development of theoretical frameworks and measurement approaches in strategic communication, including research on activism, the RAPIDS framework for issues and crisis communication, and Allegiant Communication Behavior. His recent work focuses on artificial intelligence and public communication, particularly responsible AI use, AI ethics, misinformation, organizational trust, and the implications of emerging technologies for strategic communication. His research also extends to public diplomacy. From 2024 to 2026, Dr. Chon has served as a Research Fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, examining how soft power and strategic communication can strengthen mutually beneficial relationships between South Korea and the United States.

At Auburn, Dr. Chon directs SoliU, an interdisciplinary research lab. The lab has developed and launched a free mobile application designed to support mental health and well-being. He also serves in Auburn University's AI@AU Initiative, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts to advance responsible applications of artificial intelligence. In 2024, he earned a Certificate in Data Science and Machine Learning from MIT's Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. Dr. Chon previously served as Graduate Program Officer for the School of Communication and Journalism from 2023 to 2026 and as co-advisor for the Public Relations Student Society of America from 2018 to 2022. He has served as faculty advisor for Auburn's Korean Student Association since 2019.

Research Interests

AI-Mediated Public Communication, Crisis Management, Health Communication and Public Diplomacy

Publications

  • Chon, M. (2026). Toward a theoretical framework for national reputation: Soft power and relational dynamics in South Korea-U.S. Context. CPD Perspectives. https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/TheoreticalFramework_Chon_2026.pdf

  • Jiang, Y., S.W. Kim, & Chon, M. (2026). Asian celebrity voices against Anti-Asian racism: An experiment with young adults. Mass Communication and Society, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2026.2718205

  • Chon, M & S. Kim (2026). Building a bridge over troubled water: Exploring the RAPIDS model for effective crisis management from a strategic–behavioral perspective. Public Relations Review, 52 (2), 102688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2026.102688 

  • Subaşı H & Chon, M (2026). From online to the streets: Applying the integrative model of activism and subjective Norm to Türkiye’s refugee Issue. Sage Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440261423601 

  • Chung, E., Chon, M., & Kinsey, D. (2025). Generative AI Through the Eyes of Aspiring PR Professionals in the US: A Q-Methodology Study. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator. DOI: 10.1177/10776958251382567

  • Kim, S., & Chon, M. (2025). Unpacking Generative AI-Powered Crisis Communication from a Moral Angle: The Role of Moral Outrage, Authenticity, and Forgiveness. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.70066

  • Hae, S., Chon, M., Woo, J., & Lee, H. Y. (2025). Mediating Role of Racial Discrimination on the Relationship between English Proficiency and Health Outcomes among Korean Americans during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2025.2511947

  • Chon, M., & Kim, J. (2025). Classifying environmental publics: a public segmentation framework to predict climate change-related information seeking and activism. Journal of Communication Management. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/jcom-04-2024-0062/full/html

  • Chon, M.-G. (2025). Beyond K-Pop: Building a bridge between South Korea and the United States through soft power. The National Bureau of Asian Research. Retrieved from https://www.nbr.org/publication/beyond-k-pop-building-a-bridge-between-south-korea-and-the-united-states-through-soft-power/

  • Chon, M., & Chung, A. (2024). Driving climate action via government public relations: The role of government-citizen relationships and situational perceptions. Journal of Public Relations Research, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/1062726X.2024.2354177

  • Chung, E., & Chon, M. (2024). Promoting the use of electric vehicles on social media: The effects of message framing, point of reference, and political affiliation on perceived information value and purchase intention. Communication Reports. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934215.2024.2328515

  • Kim, J. Xu, L., Chon, M., & Liu, J. (2024). The effects of trust, distrust, and motivation on information behaviors: The cases of GM food and food additives in China. SAGE Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241248917

  • Chon, M., & Harrell. J. (2024). Building bridges for anti-racism activism: Testing situational theory of problem solving and problem chain recognition effect. Public Relations Review, 50(1), 102425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2024.102425

  • Tam, L., Chon, M., & Kim, J.-N. (2024). Country-of-Origin Relationship (CoOR): A Relational Approach to Understanding the Association between a Multinational Company in Crisis and its Country of Origin. International Journal of Strategic Communication https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2024.2313644

  • Chang, B., & Chon, M. (2024). Moving beyond the sector: The spillover effects of an NPO’s crisis on the same and different sectors. Public Relations Review, 50(1), 102423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2024.102423 

  • Chon, M. (2023). The role of social media in empowering activism: Testing the integrative model of activism to anti-Asian hate crimes. Asian Journal of Communication. Published Online First https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2023.2251131

  • Chon, M., & Taejun, Lee (2023). Fighting the spread of COVID-19 misinformation in social media: Predicting two types of misinformation-sharing behaviors via risk perception, social media literacy, fear, and organizational trust. Journal of Public Relations, 27(3). 269-297. https://www.earticle.net/Article/A435831

  • Kim, S. & Chon, M.* (2023). Teaching social media analytics in public relations classes: Focusing on Python program. Journal of Public Relations Education.9(1) 117-146. *Corresponding author https://journalofpreducation.com/2023/05/31/teaching-social-media-analytics-in-pr-classes-focusing-on-the-python-program/

  • Chon, M., & Kim, S. (2022). Combating COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy: A synthetic public segmentation approach for predicting vaccine acceptance. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2022.282

  • Chon, M., Kim, J.-N., Xu, L., Kim, J., & Liu, J. (2022). From mind to mouth: Understanding active publics in China and their communicative behaviors on GM foods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 578. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010578

  • Kim, H., & Chon, M. (2022). When work and life boundaries are blurred: the effect of after-hours work communication through communication thechnology on employee outcomes. Journal of Communication Management 26(4) 386-400.  https://doi.org/10.1108/JCOM-06-2022-0073

  • Chon, M., Xu, L., Kim, J., & Liu, J. (2022). Understanding active communicators on the food safety issue: Conspiratorial thinking, organizational trust, and communicative actions of publics in China. American Behavioral Scientist. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642221118284

  • Chon, M. (2022). Coping with mental health issues via communicative action in the digital age: Testing the cybercoping model with anxiety and depression Issues. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2022.2050039

  • Kim, S. & Chon, M. (2022). Embodying temporality in fear appeal: How coping appraisal motivates preventive behaviors in a pandemic. Health Communication. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2069316

  • Kim, Y., & Chon, M. (2022). Exploring effects of message framing on supportive behaviors toward environmental corporate social responsibility. Corporate Communications: An International Journal https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-01-2022-0003

  • Chon, M., & Kim, S. (2022). Dealing with crisis of COVID-19 spread: Theoretical application of social media analytics in government crisis management. Public Relations Review 48(3) 102201 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102201

  • Chon, M., Kim, J.-N., & Tam, L. (2022). From messaging to behavioral strategy:    Constructing a model of relationship- and action-focused crisis communication principles. International Journal of Communication 16(2022). 2103-2125. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/18185/3751

  • Chon, M., & Kim, S. (2022). Fostering compliance with COVID-19 guidelines: Insights for risk communication strategies during a pandemic. The Social Science Journal. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03623319.2022.2049555

  • Chon, M., & Kim, H. (2021). Misinformation and government crisis management in South Korea: Understanding active publics’ belief in misinformation of Yemeni refugee issues and its effect on active communication behaviors. Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication, 4(3), 545-578.

  • Andreu, L, Chon, M.*, Vibber, K., & Kim J.-N. (2021). Classifying foreign publics: Examining the relationships behavioral experience, symbolic environment and communication behaviors among key foreign publics. Politics & Policy, 49(6), 1308-1322. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12439  *Corresponding author

  • Xu, L, Liu, J., Kim, J., & Chon. M. (2021). Are Chinese netizens willing to speak out? The spiral of silence in public reactions to controversial food safety issues on social media. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413114

  • Chon, M., Kim, J.-N., & Kim, C. (2021). Conceptualizing allegiant communication behavior: A cross-national study of employee’ self-orchestration of voice and silence. Public Relations Review. 47(4). 102093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2021.102093

  • Chon M., & Kim, Y. (2021). Megaphoning effects of skepticism, cynicism, and situational motivation on an environmental CSR activity. Public Relations Review, 47(4). 102082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2021.102082

  • Chon. M., Tam, L., & Kim, J.-N. (2021). How conflict-prone organizations pay extra penalties during COVID-19: Exacerbating effects of employee problem-activeness on negative megaphoning and turnover intention. Journal of Communication Management., 25(3), 298-315. DOI: 10.1108/JCOM-10-2020-0114

  • Lee, Y., & Chon, M. (2021). “Don’t go, don’t buy”: Understanding the motivations of the anti- Japan boycott movement in South Korea during an international conflict. Negotiation and Conflict Management Research 15(1) . https://ncmr.lps.library.cmu.edu/article/id/458/

  • Chon, M. & Park, H. (2021). Predicting public support for government actions in a public health crisis: Testing fear, positive organization-public relationship, and behavioral intention in the framework of the situational theory of problem solving. Health Communication, 36(4), 476-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2019.1700439

  • Chon, M. & Park, H. (2020). Social media activism in the digital age: Testing an integrative model of activism on contentious issues. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. 97(1), 72-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077699019835896

  • Lee, Y., & Chon, M. (2020). Transformational leadership and employee communication behaviors: The role of communal and exchange relationship norms. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 42(1), 61-82.  Online First. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-02-2020-0060

  • Chon, M. & Lee, H., & Kim, J.-N. (2020). Values of government public relations for a rocky road to participatory democracy: Testing public engagement, empowerment, and serenity hypotheses in public sector communication. Partecipazione e Conflitto [Participation and Conflict], 13(2) 2020: 1110-1131. https://doi.org/10.1285/i20356609v13i2p1110

  • Chon, M. (2019). Government public relations when trouble hits: exploring political dispositions, situational variables, and government–public relationships to predict communicative action of publics. Asian Journal of Communication, 29(5), 424-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2019.1649438

  • Chon, M. & Fondren, E. (2019). Seeing a crisis through colored glasses: How partisan media leads to attribution of crisis responsibility and government trust. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1950

  • Jeong, J., Kim, Y., & Chon, M. (2018). Who is caring for the caregiver? The role of cybercoping for dementia caregivers. Health Communication, 33(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1242030

  • Chon, M., & Park, H. (2017). All does not fit all: Health audience segmentation and prediction of health behaviors in cancer prevention. Health Marketing Quarterly. 34, 202-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/07359683.2017.1346434

See the full list of publications by Myoung-Gi Chon

Courses Taught

  • PRCM 2400 Foundations of PR
  • PRCM 3090 PR in Political Processes
  • PRCM 3236 Strategic Communication
  • PRCM 3283 Social Media and PR
  • PRCM 4400 PR Research
  • COMM 7070 Crisis Communication
  • COMM 7020 Empirical Approaches to Communication Research
  • COMM 7480 Seminar in Organizational Communication