I was born in Anyang, South Korea, and was raised in Calgary, Canada. After living in Calgary for 11 years, I later moved back to South Korea together with my family, where I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Social Work at Sungshin Women's University and Master's degree in International Studies at Korea University. 

I identify myself as a 1.5 generation (Korean-Canadian), which is why I have diverse experience both linguistically and culturally. My experiences in South Korea, Canada (a few months in Thailand), and now in the United States extend to my research interests, mostly in attempting to measure social equity and democratic governance within public management, government performance, human resource management, and street-level bureaucracy.

Outside of academia, I enjoy traveling and engaging with the arts, from creating artwork and visiting museums to watching films. I am also a passionate foodie, exploring cultures through diverse foods and cuisines. In my free time, I love spending time in nature with my dog, Lucky (see photos in Contact).