[KDI School of Public Policy and Management] KDI국제정책대학원 전임교원 초빙공고

KDI School of Public Policy and Management

Job Openings for Tenure-Track Professors

KDI School of Public Policy and Management invites applications for full-time, tenure-track faculty positions at all levels in the fields listed below.

Established in 1997 as the educational arm of the Korea Development Institute (KDI)—South Korea's leading think tank—KDI School is committed to excellence in policy education and research. In the QS World University Rankings 2025 in Social Policy & Administration, KDI School ranked 51+ worldwide and 2nd globally in Citations per Paper. With NASPAA accreditation for its MPP, MDP, and MPM programs, our diverse academic community represents 141 countries across a global network of alumni.

KDI School offers both master’s and doctoral programs. Master’s programs include majors in Public Policy, Development Policy, Public Management, Data Science for Public Policy and Management, Intellectual Property & Development Policy, and Public Policy and Management, while doctoral programs offer majors in Public Policy, Development Policy, and Public Policy and Management.

Faculty are expected to teach four courses in English over three semesters per year and are provided with a comprehensive range of benefits, including research funding, and support for conference participation.

Located in Sejong, Korea’s administrative capital, the KDI School campus offers direct access to the country’s policy and research leaders within the National Research Complex. Centrally located, Sejong is connected to Seoul via high-speed train in about an hour, with access to other major cities within two hours.

As a graduate-level policy school committed to fostering a diverse learning environment, we take pride in mentoring students from across the globe, including many from developing countries. We actively encourage applications from candidates who value diversity and inclusion in both teaching and research. KDI School is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

KDI School is now accepting applications for positions in the following fields:

1. International Economics
2. Strategic Management in the Private and Public Sectors
3. Public Administration, Public Management, and Governance
4. Industrial Policy
5. AI / Data Science for Public Policy
6. Development Economics (Empirical & Applied)
7. International Political Economy
8. Economics (General)

Field Descriptions

1. International Economics

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in International Economics at any rank. We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in Economics or a closely related field whose research focuses on international economics, particularly international trade and trade policy. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade agreements, trade barriers, global value chains, and the economic effects of trade policies. Candidates should have a strong theoretical and/or empirical foundation and demonstrate a commitment to policy-relevant research. Successful candidates are expected to teach graduate-level courses in international economics and international trade.

2. Strategic Management in the Private and Public Sectors

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in strategic management with a cross-sector emphasis on private and public organizations. We prefer candidates with academic rigor and practical experience, as well as research and teaching interests in the application and implementation of strategy in public organizations. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to: technology & innovation management, business-government relations in economic development, ODA/FDI strategy in development, competitive strategy of nations, and case studies of Korea’s dynamic companies. Candidates must have a doctoral degree in business administration, public administration, or a closely related field by the start date.

3. Public Administration, Public Management, and Governance

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in public administration, public management, and governance.The ideal candidate should have a solid grounding in the core theories and traditions of public administration and demonstrate the ability to make original and significant contributions to research and teaching in the field. The successful candidate is expected to establish a strong research agenda and teach core courses in the foundations of public administration, public organizations and management, and the theories and practices of the policy process. We welcome applicants with academic and practical expertise in various subfields of public administration, including, but not limited to, social and/or environmental security, disaster management, and ethics in public administration and management.

4. Industrial Policy

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in industrial policy at any rank. We seek candidates whose research focuses on the design, implementation, and economic effects of industrial policy and the role of government in industrial development, particularly in the context of economic development and structural transformation. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, industrial upgrading, technological innovation, manufacturing competitiveness, and global value chains. Preference will be given to candidates with research expertise in, or the ability to teach courses on, industrial policy in Korea and/or China. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, Business Administration, or a closely related field, demonstrate strong theoretical and/or empirical research capabilities, and show a commitment to policy-relevant research. Successful candidates are expected to teach graduate-level courses in industrial policy and economic development.

5. AI / Data Science for Public Policy

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in AI for Public Policy within its Data Science program. We seek scholars whose research advances our understanding of the applications, governance, or societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the context of social sciences and public policy. Areas of particular interest include human-AI interaction, geographic information science (GIS) and spatial analysis, and AI governance and policy, although we welcome applicants from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds, including political science, sociology, communication, public policy, and management. Successful candidates should demonstrate a well-defined research agenda, methodological rigor, and the potential to make significant scholarly contributions to their respective fields.

6. Development Economics (Empirical & Applied)

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position from candidates whose research addresses labor and other microeconomic topics in developing countries and regions. We are looking for colleagues who bring credible causal identification, whether through field experiments, quasi-experimental designs, or other rigorous empirical approaches, to questions of clear policy relevance. Candidates with substantive field research experience would be particularly welcome. Experience working with governments, NGOs, or international organizations on evaluation, program implementation, or policy design is an advantage, though not required. The successful candidate will teach and mentor graduate students, many of whom are policymakers and practitioners from developing countries.

7. International Political Economy

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in International Political Economy at any rank. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, geoeconomics and economic statecraft, the political economy of geopolitical competition, international security, and changes in the international order. Preference will be given to candidates whose research addresses geopolitical rivalry among major powers-including the use of trade, investment, technology, and finance as instruments of statecraft-and its implications for international relations and public policy. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field, and demonstrate strong theoretical and/or empirical research capabilities. Successful candidates are expected to teach graduate-level courses in international relations, international political economy, and related fields such as geoeconomics and economic security.

8. Economics (General)

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Economics at any rank. We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in Economics or a closely related field. Candidates should demonstrate strong training in applied empirical methodology and a commitment to policy-relevant research. Successful candidates are expected to teach graduate-level courses in economics, including core courses and courses in their areas of expertise.

Qualifications

1. Individuals who meet the general qualifications for faculty under the Private School Act and KDI School regulations.
2. Ph.D. degree holder in a relevant field, or candidates expecting to receive their Ph.D. by August 31, 2027.
3. Individuals with no grounds for disqualification under Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act.
4. Individuals eligible for international travel.
5. Preferred Qualifications:
   • Strong background and training in empirical methodology.
   • Demonstrated capability to meet the educational demands of an international policy school with a diverse student body.
   • Teaching or policy research experience suitable for tenure-track faculty positions at all levels.

Application Instructions

1. Number of Openings: Up to 6 positions

2. Selection Process

1. Document Review: Shortlisting up to 6 times the number of openings per field.
2. Interview: Online interview assessing general competencies and disciplinary expertise (shortlisting up to 5 times the number of openings per field).
3. Job Seminar: In-person research presentation and in-depth evaluation.
4. Committee Review
5. Final Announcement

3. Application Deadline

1. Deadline: December 04, 2026, 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5)
2. All application materials, including three letters of recommendation, must be submitted by the deadline.

4. Application Submission Method

1. Applications must be submitted online at: https://apply.interfolio.com/197025
2. Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by the referees through Interfolio before the deadline.

5. Required Documents (All materials must be in English)

1. Cover Letter (Must explicitly state the recruitment field applied for)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Research Papers (1 or 2 recent working papers or publications)
4. Three Letters of Recommendation
5. Consent to Provision·Collection·Use of Personal Information (Attachment 1)
6. Written Pledge and Confirmation of Fair Recruitment (Attachment 2)

(※ By submitting an application, candidates are deemed to have agreed to all terms in Attachments 1 and 2.)

6. Grounds for Disqualification

1. Individuals falling under Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act.
2. Individuals whose civil rights have been suspended or revoked by law.
3. Individuals with a history of evading military service obligations.
4. Ineligibility for international travel.
5. Individuals restricted from employment under Article 82(1) of the Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Operation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
6. Individuals whose employment at another public institution was canceled due to fraudulent recruitment within the last 5 years.

7. Additional Points (Preference Points)

1. Persons with Disabilities: Additional 5% of the total score in each evaluation stage.
2. National Meritorious Persons (Veterans): Additional 5% or 10% of the total score in accordance with relevant laws.
3. Non-Metropolitan and Relocation Area Talent: Additional 3% of the total score in the document review stage. (※ If multiple preference points apply, only the single most advantageous point will be granted.)

8. Others

1. Notifications will be sent individually to successful candidates only. If no suitable candidate is identified, the position may remain vacant.
2. Finalists will be required to submit additional career and official personnel documents at a later stage.
3. If any fraudulent activity or misrepresentation is discovered, the acceptance and appointment will be immediately revoked.
4. If research performance and evaluation results do not meet the required standards during the initial contract period (3 years), reappointment may be denied.
5. In the event of a vacancy due to waiver of appointment, disqualification, or early resignation within 3 months of appointment, reserve candidates may be selected in order of merit.
6. Inquiries:
   • Human Resources Division, KDI School of Public Policy and Management
   • email: personnel_faculty@kdis.ac.kr | Tel: +82-44-550-1169
   • Address: 263 Namsejong-ro, Sejong-si, 30149, Republic of Korea

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

KDI School of Public Policy and Management shall abide by the requirements of Article 4-(3) of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act promulgated by the government of the Republic of Korea. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, or regional origin.