Minjin Seo

Research

Work in Progress

Unintended Consequences of Employment Protection: Evidence from Korea's University Lecturer Protection Law

abstract: This study examines the impact of the Higher Education Act amendment (the Lecturer Law) on faculty composition and university course offerings . Using disclosure data from general universities between 2016 and 2023, we compare institutional responses based on their reliance on lecturers. The results show a decline in the share of lecturers in university teaching, accompanied by substitution toward other non-tenure-track faculty. While the reliance on lecturers did not significantly affect public universities, private universities displayed patterns similar to the overall findings, indicating heterogeneous responses by institutional type. These differences persisted throughout the post-reform period. The study contributes by empirically assessing the effects of the Lecturer Law and providing evidence on how employment protection legislation designed to improve working conditions influences employment structures. 

Long-term Misfortune of Meeting Superior Peers: Evidence from International Mathematical Olympiad Contestants 

abstract: This study analyzes peer effects among gifted students by examining contestants of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).  We estimate the relationship between team composition and long-term outcomes in mathematics, such as obtaining a Ph.D., earning a Ph.D. from a top-10 university, and pursuing an academic career. We find that the average performance of teammates is significantly correlated with long-term outcomes, with higher-performing teams negatively associated with individual long-term success. Moreover, students who ranked first within their team were significantly more likely to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics compared to their peers. These results suggest that the composition of peers at the IMO can shape career choices, with relative standing within the team potentially serving as a key mechanism. 

The Effect of Household Income on Plan to Apply for Special Purpose High Schools

Mandating a Minimum Retirement Age of 60 and Changes in the Wage Structure

Publications

The Effect of Residential Regions on Perception on Unification in South Korea

with Byung-Yeon Kim and Jungmin Lee

Journal of Peace and Unification Studies, 14(2), 2022. (in Korean)