News
2025.11.10
Former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Japan, Dr. Cheol Hee Park, Appointed as Special Advisor to the International House of Japan
Accelerating Japan–Korea and Asia-Pacific Initiatives
The International House of Japan (IHJ), a public interest incorporated foundation located in Minato-ku, Tokyo (Chair: Masaakira James Kondo), is pleased to announce that Dr. Cheol Hee Park, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Japan, has been appointed as Special Advisor to IHJ.
Dr. Park has long contributed to deepening mutual understanding between Japan and Korea and across the Asia-Pacific region. With his global perspective and deep insights, he has achieved distinguished accomplishments in both academic and policy spheres.
In his new role, Dr. Park will be based full-time at IHJ and will join the senior management team to advance our vision of becoming a central hub of knowledge in the Asia-Pacific.
Message from Dr. Cheol Hee Park
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan. I am deeply honored to assume the role of Special Advisor at the International House of Japan, a pioneering institution in private diplomacy in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Amid today’s increasingly unstable global landscape, traditional intergovernmental dialogue alone is no longer sufficient. The role of organizations like IHJ, which serve as platforms for private diplomacy, is becoming ever more crucial.
In the context of Korea-Japan relations, deepening strategic cooperation is vital. Both countries also face overlapping advanced societal challenges, which we must overcome together through mutual learning and cross-sectoral collaboration across government, industry, and academia. This is not only our responsibility to future generations but also to other countries that may follow a similar path.
Looking more broadly across the Asia-Pacific region, think tanks are called upon to develop pragmatic geoeconomic and geopolitical policy solutions, while cultural exchange organizations play a key role in fostering mutual understanding.
As a unique institution that encompasses both policy research and cultural exchange, IHJ is well positioned to contribute to a sustainable and forward-looking future for Korea, Japan, and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Profile of Dr. Cheol Hee Park
Dr. Cheol Hee Park is a Special Advisor at IHJ and Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University. Before Joining the IHJ, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Japan (2024-2025). He also served as Chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy(KNDA), which is an educational and research organ within the Korean Foreign Ministry.
He had been a long-time professor at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at Seoul National University (2004-2023). At Seoul National University, he assumed several key positions, including Director of Institute for Japanese Studies (2012-2016), Dean of the GSIS (2016-2018), and Director of Institute of International Affairs (2019-2023). Before joining a faculty at Seoul National University, he was an Assistant Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Japan (1999-2002) and the Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security (2002-2004).
In his personal capacity, Dr. Park served as President of the Korean Association for Contemporary Japanese Studies in 2017. He is a Co-Founder of the East Asia Consortium of Japanese Studies since 2016. Dr. Park worked as a board member at several think-tanks, including Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Sejong Foundation, East Asia Foundation, and Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. He also served as a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He was a visiting professor at Columbia University, University of Tokyo, Keio University, Kobe University, and Nankai University.
Dr. Park acquired Ph.D. degree at Columbia University in the City of New York, after obtaining B.A. and M.A. at the political science department at Seoul National University.
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