Professor at Jeonbuk National University, South Korea
Professor Jee Wook Hwang, born on August 2, 1965, in Seoul, is a distinguished academic in the field of urban and spatial planning. He currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Urban Engineering at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), South Korea. With an academic background rooted in both South Korea and Germany, Professor Hwang has developed a unique international perspective that blends theoretical depth with practical policy engagement. He is not only a scholar but also an active contributor to national and regional development policies, holding advisory positions in several governmental and civil society organizations.
Publication Profile
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Educational Background 🎓
Professor Hwang pursued his undergraduate studies in Philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, where he earned his B.A. degree in 1988. He then moved to Germany for graduate studies in Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund, one of the leading institutions in the field. Over a decade of study at TU Dortmund, he obtained his Vordiplom (1993), Dipl.-Ing. (1996), and Dr.-Ing. (2000) degrees. His doctoral studies were supported by a prestigious German government scholarship awarded through the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation.
Professional Experience 💼
Since 2002, Professor Hwang has been a faculty member at Jeonbuk National University. In addition to his teaching and research duties, he has taken on significant administrative and public service roles. He currently serves as the Director of the Career and Employment Support Office at JBNU and is a specialist on the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development. He leads the national Smart Geospatial Talent Cultivation Program and chairs its affiliated association. He has advised the Governors Association of Korea and served on the Jeollabuk-do 8th Gubernatorial Transition Team. As Chair of the Jeollabuk-do Government Innovation Committee and long-time executive member of the Korea Planning Association, he has influenced urban policy and planning practices nationwide. His international experience includes a visiting professorship at Texas A&M University between 2009 and 2010.
Research Interests 🔬
Professor Hwang’s research focuses on urban regeneration, spatial planning strategies for declining regions, and the cultivation of geospatial talents aligned with national development goals. He is also deeply interested in the professional identity of urban planners, having authored reflective books that explore the societal roles and self-conceptions of professionals in his field. His work frequently bridges academic research with policy implementation, making him a critical figure in spatial development discourse in Korea.
Awards and Honors🏆✨
Professor Hwang’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors. In 2024 alone, he received both the Best Paper Award and the Excellent Paper Award from the Korea Urban Regeneration Association. In earlier years, he earned the Excellence in Urban Studies Award from the Korea Planning Association (2019), the DMZ Peace Prize in the academic category (2015), and the Minister’s Commendation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (2013). He has also been commended by Jeonbuk National University and awarded multiple academic paper prizes. Notably, his academic journey began with the German Government Scholarship, a testament to his early promise as a researcher.
Conclusion🌟
In sum, Professor Jee Wook Hwang is a leading figure in South Korea’s academic and policy circles related to urban and spatial planning. His career reflects a deep commitment to public service, interdisciplinary scholarship, and the mentorship of future spatial planners. With a foundation in German academic rigor and a keen understanding of Korea’s development challenges, he continues to bridge theory and practice in ways that benefit academia, government, and society alike.
Publications 📚
Title: Can smart city development alleviate urban shrinkage in the traditional urban development process?
Journal: Cities
Date: May 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.105847
Authors: DongLin Yuan, Jeewook Hwang