Ph.D., Economics, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006
Ph.D. Course Completion, Economics, Seoul National University, 1998
M.A., Economics, Seoul National University, 1994
B.A., Economics, Seoul National University, 1992 (Magna cum laude)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Dean of Planning and Budget Administration, GIST; Director, Board of Directors Secretary, GIST (July 2023 - Present)
Professor, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, GIST (March 2021 – Present)
Member, 6th Mid- to Long-Term Strategy Committee, Ministry of Economy and Finance (July 2023 – Present)
Member, Education Policy Empirical Research Council, Ministry of Education (April 2023 – Present)
Advisory Member, Glocal University Committee, Ministry of Education (March 2023 – Present)
Member, Macroeconomics Subcommittee, National Economic Advisory Council (June 2021 – June 2022)
Member, Special Committee on Future Talents, Deliberative Council of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council (October 2020 – September 2022)
Director, Education Innovation Center, GIST (July 2020 - June 2022)
Member, National Statistics Committee (January 2018 – December 2023)
Member, Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy (December 2017 – October 2022)
Associate Professor, GIST College (February 2016 – February 2021)
Adjunct Fellow, Korea Development Institute (KDI) (February 2016 – Present)
Director and Vice President, Department of Human Resource Development Policy, KDI (May 2015 - February 2016)
Fellow, Department of Public Finance & Social Policy, KDI (June 2006 - April 2015)
Adjunct Professor, KDI School of Public Policy and Management (May 2010 - May 2012)
Assistant Researcher, Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University (February 1994 - February 2001)
Assistant, Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University (June 1996 - July 2000)
HONORS AWARDS
Ministerial Commendation from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (2024) – Contribution to Empirical Research in Social Policy
Excellent Teaching Award, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 2022
Presidential Commendation on “Population Day” (2022) – Contribution to Population Policy
Merit Award, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 2021
Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Science and ICT (2020) – Contribution to Innovation in STEM Education
University Teaching Award, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 2019
Excellent Teaching Award, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 2017
Selected as a “3040 Power Economist” by Chosun Biz, Chosun Ilbo (2015)
Commendation from the President of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) for Outstanding Service (2015)
Excellence in Research Award, National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (2012)
Ilju Academy and Culture Foundation Overseas Graduate Fellowship (2001–2006)
Alumni Association Scholarship, College of Commerce, Seoul National University (1989–1992)
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Reform Measures to Enhance Productivity in the Korean Economy, Korea Development Institute, 2024. (Co-authored)
“An AI-Based English Education Platform during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Universal Access in the Information Society, 2024. (with Hyungna Oh, Hansuk Um, and Dain Choi)
Trends in Interclass Inequality and Social Mobility after COVID-19 and Policy Implications, Policy Report for the National Economic Advisory Council, Korea University Research and Business Foundation, 2023. (Co-authored with Kyungkeun Kim and Jaehwi Shim)
Studying Happiness: In Search of My Bluebird, Saenggakui Him, 2023.
“A Microeconomic Analysis and Policy Direction for Korea’s Ultra-Low Fertility,” Journal of Economic Development Studies, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2022.
Outlook for the Korean Economy 2023, 21st Century Books, 2023. (Co-authored)
Big Issues in the Korean Economy 2: Challenges for the Korean Economy in the Era of Great Transition, Saenggakui Him, 2022. (Co-authored)
Why Economics of Education Now?, EBS BOOKS, December 24, 2021. (Selected as a Sejong Book (General Category) in 2022)
“Analysis of the Effectiveness of an AI English-Speaking Program: Results from the AI PengTalk Pilot School,” Journal of Educational Methodology, Vol. 33, No. 3, 2021. (with Hansuk Um, Hyungna Oh, and Dain Choi)
“Intergenerational Mobility and the Role of Education in Korea,” in David Neumark et al. (eds.), Human Capital Policy: Reducing Inequality, Boosting Mobility and Productivity, Edward Elgar, 2021, pp. 12–53.
“Why Do We Go to School?: Effects of the Online Semester on College Freshmen,” Journal of Educational Methodology, Vol. 32, No. 4, 2020, pp. 651–678.
“Ensuring Basic Academic Competency and Reducing Educational Gaps in Remote Learning,” Issue Paper No. 5, Educational Policy Network · Korea Educational Development Institute, 2020.
“Effectiveness and Development Direction of Online University Education,” Policy Research Report, Secretariat of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 2020.
“Changes in Social Capital and Life Satisfaction after Systemic Transition,” Regional Development Studies, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2020, pp. 25–56. (with Changyong Choi and Hyeyoung Woo)
“The Hidden Costs of Education Policy: Teachers’ Efforts,” Secondary Education Research, Vol. 68, No. 2, 2020, pp. 295–331.
“Impact of Foreign Workforce Introduction on Domestic Employment: Analysis Using Monthly Workplace-Level Data,” Labor Policy Studies, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2020, pp. 33–72. (with Sungjin Jung)
“Policy Directions for Ensuring Basic Academic Competency to Overcome a Divided Society,” Social Security Studies, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2020, pp. 99–135.
“Formula for Future Generations’ Happiness and the Lives of the Young Generation,” KAIST Future Generation Happiness Committee, Conditions for the Happiness of Future Generations, Creator, 2020.
“Future Education Directions for Co-Prosperity,” in Woonchan Chung et al., Principles of Co-Prosperity and the Spirit of Capitalism, Institute for Co-Prosperity, 2020.
“A Behavioral Analysis of Demand for Private Education,” Applied Economics, Vol. 21, No. 4, December 2019, pp. 187–235.
“Happiness and Social Capital in Transition Economies,” International Regional Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3, June 2019, pp. 123–157. (with Changyong Choi and Hyeyoung Woo)
“Strategic Thinking Ability and Happiness,” The Korean Journal of Economics, Vol. 67, No. 2, June 2019, pp. 151–194. (Excellent Journal Article)
“Income Inequality and the Demand for Redistribution: A Test of Alternative Theories,” Journal of Economic Research, Vol. 24, 2019, pp. 67–89. (with Sam-Ho Lee)
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Grand Transition of Korean Education, Academic Research Report, Ministry of Strategy and Finance · Global Knowledge Cooperation Agency · Korea Development Institute, 2019.
The Role of Education in Social Capital and Policy Directions, Research Report, Korea Development Institute, 2017.
“Current Status and Policy Tasks of Intergenerational Conflict,” in Social Integration and Economic Growth: Reducing Inequality and Creating New Growth, National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2017.
“Multiple Disparities and Multi-Barriers to Social Integration: Synchronization of Economic, Human, and Social Capital,” in Kyuseong Hwang and Byeongik Kang (eds.), Multiple Disparities II: History and Structure, Paper Road, 2017. (Selected as a Sejong Book (Academic Category) in 2017)
Intergenerational Equity and Sustainability in Korea: Toward Participatory Policy Governance, KDI FOCUS, 2016. 8.
Intergenerational Equity and Sustainability in Korea (Editor, KDI Research Monograph, December 2015)
After-School Classes in Korea: Effects on the Demand for Private Tutoring and Academic Performance (in John Karl Scholz et al. (eds.), Social Policies in an Age of Austerity, Edward Elgar, 2015)
Social Mobility and the Role of Education in Korea (2014 KDI/EWC International Conference on Human Capital Policy, Honolulu, Hawaii, 21-22 August, 2014)
Status Race and Happiness: What Experimental Surveys Tell Us (Policy Study 2014-01, KDI, July 2014 with Fumio Ohtake)
Resetting Education Policy to Restore Social Mobility (KDI Focus No. 54, in English, September 2015)
Relative Concern: Pros and Cons and Lessons to be Learned (KDI Focus No. 44, in English, November 2014)
What Do Academic Achievement Analyses Say about Primary and Secondary Education(KDI Focus No. 30, in English, November 2013)
Equity and Efficiency of Koreans’ English Education Investments (KDI Policy Forum, 245, in English, August 2012)
The Effects of Substitutive Public Programs for Private Tutoring in Korea: Focusing on the After-School Class and EBS Programs (CR 2011-21, Korean Educational Development Institute, April 2011)
Why Is Self-Directed Learning More Important Than Private Tutoring(KDI Policy Forum, 231, March 2011)
Analysis of the Effects of Private Education on Academic Achievement and Labor Market Performance (KDI Research Monograph, December 2010)
Policy Evaluations of English Education and Proposals for Its Improvement (Policy Study for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, December 2010, coauthored)
Report on the 2010-2014 National Fiscal Planning on Educational Finance (2010, coauthored)
Analysis of Behavioral Responses to Public Transfers Using the Tax and Benefit Survey (The 2nd Conference of the Tax and Benefit Survey, Korea Institute of Public Finance, November 2010)
Job Opportunity of Local University Graduates: Reality and Policy Directions (Local Employment Focus, October 2010)
Analysis on the Labor Market Performance of Local University Graduates and Regional Education Gap (The KDI Journal of Economic Policy, 32(2), 2010)
Intergenerational Transfers and Old-Age Security in Korea (in Takatoshi Ito & Andrew K. Rose eds., The Economic Consequences of Demographic Change in East Asia, NBER East Asia Seminar on Economics, The University of Chicago Press, 2010)
The Effects of Basic Old-Age Pension on Poverty Reduction and Behavioral Responses (2010 Symposium of Korean Retirement and Income Study, June 2010)
English Divide: Reality and Policy Implication (The Korean Social Security Association, 2010 Spring Conference, June 2010)
The Effects of School Characteristics on Private Education Expenditure (Korean Journal of Labor Economics, 32(3), December 2009)
Analysis on Intergenerational Economic Mobility in Korea (KDI Policy Study, December 2009)
Methods of Analyzing Macroeconomic Indices for Guiding Financial Supervision (Policy Study for the Financial Supervisory Service, KDI, December 2009, coauthored)
How to Monitor Educational Policy Impacts on the Demand for Private Tutoring (Policy Study for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, December 2009, coauthored)
Analysis on Women's Job Destruction (KDI Economic Outlook, 26(2), November 2009)
Analysis on the School Characteristics Influencing Academic Performance and Demand for Private Education (Policy Study for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, July 2009, coauthored)
The Characteristics of Elderly Households in Poverty and Anti-Poverty Policies (The 2nd Symposium of Korea Retirement and Income Study, June 2009)
An Economist’s Investigation of Issues on Higher Education (Higher Education, 159, Korea Council for University Education, May/June 2009)
Education Gaps and Social Integration (Health-Welfare Policy Forum, 150, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, April 2009)
Intergenerational Economic Mobility in Korea and the Role of Education (The 10th Symposium of Korea Labor and Income Panel Study, February 2009)
Program Evaluation on National Scholarship for Regional University Students (KDI, December 2008)
Analysis on Regional University Problems and Policy Implications (in The Direction and Strategy of Regional Policy, KDI Research Monograph, December 2008)
An Evaluation of NURI (New University for Regional Innovation): Focusing on Changes in Graduate Employment (The KDI Journal of Economic Policy, 30(2), 2008, coauthored)
Private Income Transfers and Old-Age Income Security (The KDI Journal of Economic Policy, 30(1), 2008)
Old-Age Income and the Role of Children (The 1st Symposium of Korea Retirement and Income Study, June 2008)
Analysis on the Recent Slowdown of Job Increases (KDI Economic Outlook, 25(1), May 2008, coauthored)
Analysis on the Effects of Higher Education on Labor Market and Its Hierarchy Structure (KDI Policy Study, December 2007, coauthored)
Program Evaluation on the NURI (New University for Regional Innovation) Project (KDI, August 2007, coauthored)
Population Aging and Income Transfers: A Microeconomic Approach (KDI Research Monograph, 2006. 12.) [translated in Japanese and published in: The Frontiers of Research on Population Aging in Korea (Minerva Books, 2009)]
Three Essays Using Longitudinal Sibling Data (Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006):
1. The Military Draft and Career Disruption
2. Achievement or Background?: The Gender Asymmetry in Spouse Selection and Social Mobility 3. Parental Investment between Children with Different Abilities
The Economic Crisis in the 1970s and Labor Flexibility Strategy: Focusing on the Cases of the United States, Sweden, and Japan (M.A. Thesis, Seoul National University, 1994)
