Phillip H. Park

Phillip H. Park is a professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Kyungnam University and a leading expert on the North Korean Economy. His journey into the study of North Korea began when he, as President of the Committee for Korea Studies (CKS) at UC Berkeley, co-hosted the first Berkeley Reunification Symposium. This historic event marked the first time delegates from both North and South Korea met on American soil, sparking Phillip's deep curiosity and desire to understand the northern part of his homeland, the DPRK, a place he knew little about despite his mother's roots there

Driven by a passion for understanding North Korea's economic development, Phillip pursued doctoral studies under the renowned economist, Professor Keith Griffin. Phillip's doctoral thesis on North Korean economic development (1949-1995) was a groundbreaking contribution to the field, subsequently published by Routledge as Self-Reliance or Self-Destruction?: The DPRK's Development Strategy of Self-Reliance, "Juche."

Phillip has held prestigious academic positions at Columbia University, the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, and Waseda University. His career also includes a stint at the Boston Consulting Group, where he hoped to contribute to inter-Korean economic cooperation. While that goal was temporarily derailed by political tensions, Phillip's commitment to understanding the DPRK has remained steadfast.

The author of seven books on the North Korean economy and political economy, Phillip's work has been recognized by the ROK's National Academy of Sciences with two "Excellent Books of Basic Science" awards. His latest book, History of Economic Management in North Korea: From Planned Economy to Socialist Enterprise System, is a revised, extended, and English version of his previous Korean-language work.

Currently, he is emabarking on a comprehensive new research project exploring the historical foundation of the DPRK. His ongoing research and publication continue to shape our understanding of this complex and enigmatic nation.