Korea University
Professor, School of Law
Sei Yong Kim
Professor Seiyong Kim earned his B.A. and Ph.D. from Korea University, his M.L.A. from Seoul National University, and his M.A.U.D. from Columbia University. After teaching and conducting research at Columbia University, Harvard University, and Konkuk University, he has been a professor at Korea University since 2006.
He has devoted his career to understanding the evolving needs of urban space users and developing appropriate solutions. Over the past two decades, he has published more than 100 papers on urban design and housing, and has served as a master planner for major projects such as Songsan Green Smart City, Jangwi Newtown, the Administrative City, and Campus Town.
From 2018 to 2021, he served as CEO of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), leading innovations in public housing under the slogan “Space is welfare.” During his tenure, he spearheaded initiatives such as the Space Welfare Project, Housing Supply by Life Cycle, and Compact Smart City. He currently serves as President of the Urban Design Institute of Korea (UDIK), one of the nation’s largest organizations of urban professionals, bringing together over 6,000 designers, planners, and scholars to envision better cities.
Practice Areas
Education and Career
Academic Degree Information
‧ B.A, Dept. of Architecture, Korea University
‧ MLA, GSES, Seoul National University
‧ MAUD, GSAPP, Columbia University, US
‧ Ph.D, Korea University
Career/Awards
· 2006~ Professor, Dept. of Architecture, Korea University
· 2006~2010 Master Planner, Seoul Metropolitan City
· 2012~2013 Fulbright Fellow, Harvard University, US
· 2012~2015 Vice President for Campus Planning, Korea University
· 2013~2014 Member, Urban Planning Committe, Ministry of Land & Transportatin
· 2013~2015 Member, Presidential Committe for Architectural Policy
· 2014~2015 Adjunct Professor, GSAPP, Columbia University, US
· 2015~2016 Specialist, UN Habitat, UN
· 2014~2017 Member, Urban Planning Committe, Seoul Metropolitan City
· 2018~2021 CEO, SH(Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation)
· 2019~ Member, National Academy of Engineering of Korea
· 2020~2022 Special Member, Presidential Committee for Policy Planning
· 2022~2024 President, UDIK(Urban Design Institute of Korea)
· 2022~2025 CEO, GH(Gyonggi Housing & Urban Development)
· 2025 Member, Presidential Committee on Policy Planning
Achievements
Dr. Seiyong Kim studied at Korea University(B.A,Ph.D), Seoul National University(MLA), and Columbia University(MAUD). After teaching and researching at Columbia University, Harvard University, and Konkuk University, he joined as a professor, Korea University since 2006.
Prof. Kim has put a lot of efforts into tracking changes on the needs of urban space users and finding appropriate solution. Over the past 20 years, he has published over 100 articles on urban design and housing. Also he led many new towns and urban regeneration projects as a master planner in many cities including Songsan Green Smart City, Jangwi Newtown, New Capital City and Campus Town.
From January 2018 to April 2021, he was working at SH(Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation). AS a CEO, he propelled in changing the paradigms of public housing. Under the slogan of “Space is welfare”, he led a representative project such as the 'Space Welfare Project', which carried out qualitative expansion of housing and convenience facilities for Seoul citizens.
Another big project was 'Housing Supply by Life Cycle', which analyzed the needs of residents in their 20s to 60s and developed housing types in response to their needs. 'Compact Smart City' which used underutilized spaces such as rainwater pumping stations combined with public dwellings was also shifted the paradigm of supplying smart housing in Seoul.
Currently he is leading UDIK(Urban Design Institute of Korea) which is one of the largest and representative organization of urban specialists in Korea as a president. More than six thousands of urban designers, planners and scholars are gathered to think and make better cities there.