Youngsun Kwon, Ph.D.
School of Business & Technology Management, College of Business,
Joint Professor, School of Computing, College of Engineering,
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
Phone)+82-42-350-3612, Fax)+82-42-350-6339
Email: yokwon@kaist.ac.kr
[Current Professional Positions]
Head, Graduate School of Bio Innovation Management, College of Business, KAIST
Professor, School of Business & Technology Management, College of Business, and Joint Professor, School of Computing, College of Engineering, KAIST
Editorial Board Member, Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier
External Board Member, Hana Bank, South Korea
[Educational Background]
Ph.D., Urban Economics, Syracuse University, June 2000
– Dissertation: Income, spatial competition and welfare (Advisor: Prof. John Yinger)
M.P.A., Public Policy, Seoul National University, February 1989
B.A., Public Administration, Yonsei University, February 1986
[Fields of Research Interests]
Artificial Intelligence, Internet Regulation Policy, Spectrum Management Policy, Network Economics and Regulation Policy, Economic Policy Analysis, Urban Economics, R, Python, and JAVA Programming for Economists.
[Recent Invited and Plenary Session Speeches]
“Enhancing AI literacy for AI development and business? A Korean and Global Case” Plenary Panel B (Fostering AI Literacy: Learning from Global Perspectives and Collaborative Strategies) Speech at the 24th Biennial Conference of the International Telecommunications Society, Seoul, South Korea (June 25, 2024).
“Harnessing AI to increase well-being for all: Asian countries’ perspectives and roles” Plenary Panel 2 (AI Governance and Ethics: Asian Countries’ Perspectives) Speech at the 16th ITS Asia-Pacific Conference, Bangkok, Thailand (November 27, 2023).
“Do more AIs imply greater stability of economy and society?” Plenary Session Presentation and Discussion at the 15th ITS Asia-Pacific Conference, Bangkok, Thailand (October 29, 2019).
Invited Speech at the 2019 Global Artificial Intelligence Technology Conference, China Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI), May 25~26, Nanjing, China.
“Brief AI history and AI applications for business” Plenary Session Presentation and Discussion at the 2018 ITS Biennial Conference, Seoul, Korea (June 26, 2018).
Keynote Speech at the ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Bridging the Standardization Gap, Seoul (October 24, 2017).
National Chengchi University (NCCU). (Dec. 2012). Telecom law and convergence: Korea. Symposium on Telecom and Media in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan: Policy and Industry Strategies. Taipei, Taiwan.
TEDx-Unisinos. (Oct. 2011). Smart education plan of Korea as a new paradigm of innovation in education. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
[Recent Major Professional Responsibilities]
(Jul. 2023 – Current) Head, Graduate School of Bio Innovation Management, College of Business, KAIST
(Feb. 2018 – Current) Editorial Board Member, Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier
(Mar. 2023 – Current) External Board Member, Hana Bank, South Korea
(Sep. 2019 – Dec. 2024) Local Board Member of the Scopus Expert Content Selection & Advisory Committee-Korea
(Jan. 2024 – Jun. 2024) 2024 ITS Biennial Conference Co-organizer, Seoul, Korea
(Jun. 2023 – Nov. 2023) 16th ITS Asia-Pacific Conference Program Committee Member, Bangkok, Thailand
(Feb. 2022 – Feb. 2023) Visiting Scholar, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
(Mar. 2021 – Feb. 2022) Economic Advisor to the Bank of Korea, Daejeon-Chungnam Province, Daejeon, Korea
(Mar. 2019 – Feb. 2021) Dean, KAIST Academy, KAIST
(Mar. 2019 – Feb. 2021) Director, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, KAIST
(Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2024) Board Member, the Korean Association for Information Society, Seoul Korea
(Mar. 2015 – Mar. 2019) Chair, School of Business and Technology Management, College of Business, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
(Jun. 2015–Jul. 2017) Head, Graduate School of Innovation & Technology Management, College of Business, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
(Apr. 2013 – Mar. 2017) Director, Spectrum and Future Research Center (SFRC)
(Mar. 2012 – Mar. 2015) Economic Advisor to the Bank of Korea, Daejeon-Chungnam Province, Daejeon, Korea
[Recent Research Papers]
Nam, S., & Kwon, Y. (2026). The impact of platform-level privacy policies on users’ privacy concerns: Evidence from Apple App Tracking Transparency via a dynamic difference-in-difference analysis. Telecommunications Policy, 50(6), Article 103192.
Kim, C. H., Lee, K. Y., & Kwon, Y. (2025). Does VAR reduce referee bias? Causal evidence from global professional football leagues. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541251391395
Kwon, Y. (2025). A New Approach to Developing and Controlling AI: AGI with Autonomy. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5361833.
Nam, S., & Kwon, Y. (2024). Is pay-or-consent for privacy justifiable? Evidence from different users’ privacy attitudes toward behavioral data collection in South Korea. Telecommunications Policy, 48(7), Article 102794.
Lee, K. Y., Jung, H. J., & Kwon, Y. (2024). Boundary-spanning technology search, product component reuse, and new product innovation: Evidence from the smartphone industry. Research Policy, 53(4), Article 104959.
Park, S., & Kwon, Y. (2023). Disentangling the effects on OTT platform performance of three strategies: Pricing, M&As, and content investments. Telecommunications Policy, 47(8), 102600.
Chung, D., Kwon, Y., & Kim, E.Z. (2023). Technology life cycle and commercialization readiness of hydrogen production technology using patent analysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 48(33), 12139–12154. DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.12.186.
Yang, S., & Kwon, Y. (2022). Effects of mobile networks and Covid-19 on mobile shopping sales in South Korea. Telecommunications Policy, 46(9), 122408.
Teklemariam, M.H., & Kwon, Y. (2020). Differentiating mobile broadband policies across diffusion stages: A panel data analysis. Telecommunications Policy, 44(8), 102006.
Feijoo C., & Kwon, Y., et al. (2020). Harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to increase wellbeing for all: The case for a new technology diplomacy. Telecommunications Policy, 44(6), 101988.
Feijoo, C., & Kwon, Y. (2020). AI impacts on economy and society: Latest developments, open issues and new policy measures. Telecommunications Policy, 44(6), 101987.
[Awards]
International Cooperation Award (2025.02), KAIST
Impact Research Award (2024.12), KAIST
Link Genesis Best Teacher Award (2022.05), KAIST.
Impact Research Award (2021.12), KAIST
Best Paper Award, the 2019 Spring Conference of the Korea Society of Strategic Management, Seoul, Korea.
2013 Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing, Telecommunications Policy and Elsevier
Best Paper Award, the 2005 Korea Management Information System (KMIS) International Conference, Jeju island, Korea.
KB Best Paper Award, the AsRes/AREUEA 2002 Joint International Conference, Seoul, Korea.