Hogeun Park is an Urban Specialist with the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP) region of the World Bank’s Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, and Land Global Practice. 

My work focuses on the intersection of international development and spatial analytics, applying rigorous methodologies and empirical evidence to deliver impactful projects. I have led multiple World Bank operations and knowledge programs across MENAAP, securing approximately $8 million from donor funds, pioneering innovations in financing and inclusion, and forging global partnerships with leading technology and space agencies to advance data-driven urban development.

Prior to joining the World Bank, I was a Big Pixel Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, San Diego. I have published extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals on international development, urbanization, spatial inequality, and remote sensing. I earned my Ph.D. in Planning from Michigan State University with a fellowship from the Korean government. My previous research and professional experience include work with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), The Asia Foundation (TAF), and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC).