He is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at GW's Elliott School and a Japan Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Previously, he was a Keio Exchange Scholar at Harvard-Yenching Institute (2011-2012). His research focuses on contemporary Korean politics, international relations of East Asia and Japan-Korea relations. He also served as a Special Analyst in the Intelligence and Analysis Service of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2007), and was a Special Assistant at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul (2002-2004). He received his B.A. and M.A. from Keio University, and Ph.D. in Political Science from Yonsei University in South Korea.