Mar. 1981 – Feb. 1985
B.A. in Economics, College of Economics and Administration, Hanyang University

Mar. 1986 – Mar. 1988
M.A. in Economics, Michigan State University

Mar. 1991 – Sep. 1995
Ph.D. in Economics, Michigan State University

Jan. 2024 – Jun. 2025
Minister for Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea

Aug. 2023 – Jan. 2024
President, Korea Strategic Trade Institute (KOSTI), 6th President

Dec. 2022 – Jan. 2024
Chair, Economic Security Subcommittee, National Economic Advisory Council
(a constitutional advisory body)

Oct. 2022 – Jul. 2023
Non-Executive Auditor, Korea Foundation (KF)

Jul. 2015 – Sep. 2018
Vice President, Inha University

Dec. 2013 – Sep. 2015
Head of Evaluation Committee, National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (NRC)

Apr. 2012 – Apr. 2018
Policy Advisory Committee Member / Evaluation Committee Member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Ministry of Economy and Finance

Mar. 2011 – Feb. 2013
Co-Chair, Private Advisory Committee on Trade Negotiations
(a statutory body)

Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2012
Inha Fellow Professor, Inha University
(top 1% distinguished researcher)

Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2010
President, Korean Association of Negotiation Studies

Jul. 2009 – Feb. 2013
President, Korea International Trade Association

May 2009 – May 2012
Policy Advisory Committee Member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Feb. 2009 – Jan. 2013
Outside Director / Senior Outside Director, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)

Sep. 2008 – Aug. 2009
Member, Legislative Advisory Committee, National Assembly

Feb. 2006 – Dec. 2008
Member, International Economic Policy Committee, Ministry of Economy and Finance

Jan. 2005 – Jun. 2007
Member, Agricultural Trade Committee, Presidential Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Policy

2005
Expert Member, External Economic Affairs Subcommittee, National Economic Advisory Council

2003
Visiting Research Fellow, National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA), Japan

Dec. 1999 – Dec. 2001
Invited Research Professor, International Centre for the Study of East Asian Development (ICSEAD), Japan

Jan. 1996 – Feb. 2004
Secretary-General, East Asia Vision Group (EAVG)
Research Fellow, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Head, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Research Team
Head, Southeast Asia Team

Winner of the Citation by the Deputy Prime Minister of Economy (No. 1226) - December 31st, 2019
(Contributions to Korean trade policy in the context of CPTPP, RCEP and global protectionism)

Winner of Korea President’s Award - March 3rd, 2011
(Contributions to improvement on FTA tariff system (Commemoration of the Taxpayers’ Day))

Appointed as Fellowship Professor, Inha University - March 1st, 2011
(Received benefits for excellent professors who were appointed as IFP)

Winner of the Best Research Award, Northeast Asia Research Foundation - 2nd June, 2008
(Excellent Research for Northeast Asian Economic Cooperation)

Winner of the Best Research Professor Award, Inha University - January 2nd, 2007
(Excellent Research)

Winner of the Federation of the Korean Industries Market Economy Award in Publishing - December 18th, 2006
(The book Arguments for and against the Korea-U.S. FTA, What’s the Reality? won the Market Economy Award)

Winner of the Commissioner of Customs’ Citation (No. 11097) - March 27th, 2003
(Contributions to developments of tariff administration for smoothening trade)

Winner of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Citation (No. 4978) - December 31st, 1999
(Contributions to Korean diplomatic development: active participation in APEC, research of Korean FTA policy and trade policies related with U.S. etc.)