Biography

Professor O. Yul Kwon holds the Korean Foundation Chair in Korean Studies at Griffith University, Australia since 1996. He is also the Director of the Australian Centre for Korean Studies at Griffith University. He has been appointed as an adjunct professor of the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Canada. Prior to joining Griffith University, Professor Kwon was a professor of Administration at the University of Regina, Canada over the period 1975-1995, teaching a broad range of courses in the areas of economics, international business and East Asian business culture and practices. In addition, he taught at other universities as visiting professor including Seoul National University and Korea University in Korea, Queenís University, Canada, and the University of Waikato, New Zealand. He also holds a chair professorship at Mokpo National University, Korea. Professor Kwon also worked for the Bank of Korea (the central bank) for three years and for the Department of Finance, the government of Canada in Ottawa for five years (1971-1975). He has served as a Commissioner of the Saskatchewan Securities Commission, a Board Member of the Korea Exchange Bank of Canada, and Vice President of Net Five Telecom Corporation in Canada. He has also served as a consultant to various organizations in the public and private sectors in Canada and abroad, and provided numerous workshops on dynamics of East Asian business. Professor Kwon's education includes a bachelor of commerce degree from Seoul National University in Korea, and MA and Ph.D. degrees in economics from McMaster University, Canada. Professor Kwon has published nine books and edited three books. Another one will be published in early 2013. Two of his books are translated into Japanese. He has published numerous articles in refereed journals and business magazines, chapters of books, and op-ed columns in newspapers. He has also presented lectures, seminars and papers in more than 30 countries. Professor Kwon is well fit. He runs full marathons two to three times every year and jogs more than 2000km a year.