I am a doctoral researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku. I hold an MA in International Relations with a focus on East Asian Studies from the University of Groningen, and a BA in Korean History and Chinese Studies from Kookmin University.
My research focuses on North Korea’s strategic behaviour, identity narratives, and nuclear policy from a constructivist perspective.

My doctoral research examines the evolution of North Korea’s nuclear policy and strategic posture across three leadership regimes; Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. By applying a constructivist lens and the National Role Conceptions framework, the research explores how identity narratives and regime legitimation shape the DPRK’s foreign policy and nuclear trajectory.
My broader research interests include inter-Korean relations, regional security in Northeast Asia, and the role of discourse and leadership in foreign policy making.

I have presented my research at several international conferences and workshops. In July 2025, my paper Explaining Inaction: North Korea’s Strategic Restraint in Times of Political Crisis in South Korea was awarded Best Paper Prize at the PSA Early Career Network Annual Conference 2025.

Manuscripts in Progress

• "Strategic Restraint or Missed Opportunity? North Korea's Reaction to South Korea's 2024 Constitutional Crisis."[Working paper] Paper presented at the 8th SoKEN Conference 2025, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 
• "Explaining Inaction: North Korea’s Strategic Restraint in Times of Political Crisis in South Korea." [Working paper] Paper presented at the PSA ECN Annual Conference 2025, “Politics in an Age of Uncertainty.” [Best Paper Prize awarded]
• "From Reunification to Separation: North Korea’s Ideological Shift under Kim Jong-un." [Working paper] To be presented at the 19th KSGSC, University of Lancashire, UK.

Conference Presentations

• SoKEN Conference 2025, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany (May 2025)

Presentation: Strategic Restraint or Missed Opportunity? North Korea's Reaction to South Korea's 2024 Constitutional Crisis

• Political Studies Association ECN Annual Conference, Online (July 2025)

Presentation: Explaining Inaction: North Korea’s Strategic Restraint in Times of Political Crisis in South Korea (Best Paper Prize awarded)

• 19th Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention (KSGSC), University of Lancashire, UK (September 2025, forthcoming)

Planned presentation: From Reunification to Separation: North Korea’s Ideological Shift under Kim Jong-un

I have completed pedagogical training for doctoral researchers at the University of Turku, including “Becoming a Higher Education Teacher” (2 ECTS) and “Digital and Interactive Teaching and Learning” (3 ECTS).
My teaching interests include regional politics and security in East Asia, inter-Korean relations, and identity and discourse in international relations.