Hi, I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at The University of Iowa, with plans to defend my dissertation in the spring of 2025. My research focuses on comparative politics, public opinion, and political behavior, particularly exploring populism, political representation, public support for democracy, and democratic backsliding. Methodologically, I utilize various quantitative methods, including multilevel modeling, computational text analysis, and machine learning. My research has been published or forthcoming in Democratization and International Migration Review.
With a focus on public support for populism as a response to discontent with contemporary democratic systems, my dissertation investigates how issue-congruence between the public and political parties influences public support for populism in different regions. I also examine how individuals’ diverse perceptions of democracy moderate their susceptibility to populist appeals, given that populism claims to restore “true” democracy.
As a dedicated scholar, I serve on the Steering Committee of the Young Scholars Initiative on Populism (OPUS), a division within the international research network in populism studies, Team Populism. I hold both an M.A. and a B.A. (Graduated with High Distinction) in Political Science from Kyung Hee University, South Korea.
A copy of my Curriculum Vitae can be found here.