“The addition of Yong to our Korean Studies Program is a tremendous step,” said Shin, who chaired the search committee that identified Lee. “Yong has a diverse background and brings an interdisciplinary approach that will advance our research direction. He will round out a cadre of experts at Shorenstein APARC who cover a wide range of issues facing the Korean Peninsula.”

Lee’s research intersects the fields of economic development, urban economics and international economics, with a regional focus on Korea and East Asia. His recent work examines the impact of economic sanctions on North Korea’s urban elites, and the impact of education policy on migration and intergenerational mobility in South Korea. 

Lee, who applies econometric technique in his research, is currently examining how large business groups impact entrepreneurial activity, whether increasing urban density can foster economic development, and whether female political leadership reduces socioeconomic gender disparity.

At Stanford, Lee will contribute to KSP research programs and help to expand Korean studies at FSI. He will also assist in teaching courses related to the economics of East Asia and urban economics and development, as an affiliate of the International Policy Studies program and Center for East Asian Studies.

His appointment has been made possible through the Foundation Academia Platonica in Seoul, Korea, which supports the development of research in the humanities.

“I am thrilled to join FSI as it continues its exciting growth within academia and the policy world,” said Lee, on the occasion of his appointment. “FSI’s interdisciplinary environment provides the ideal setting where I can conduct research that draws on Korea’s economic development process and the complex international challenges it faces. I also look forward to sharing what I learn with the students and the Stanford community.”

Prior to joining Stanford, Lee was an assistant professor of economics at Williams College in Massachusetts. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in architecture from Seoul National University, a master of public policy from Duke University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in economics from Brown University. Lee also worked as a real estate development consultant and architecture designer as he transitioned from architecture to economics.