I am a PhD candidate in Architecture History, Theory, and Society at the University of California, Berkeley, with an anticipated graduation in May 2025. My identity as a designer and researcher fundamentally shapes my investigations into making built environments more inclusive and sustainable in the digital age. My research focuses on the sociocultural implications of the digital transformation of cities, investigating ways to develop and operate inclusive and sustainable digital environments using operational frameworks and implementing creative design solutions.
My dissertation, “Korean Smart City Dreams: Government and Corporate Visions and the Realities of Smart Cities,” investigates how major stakeholders have shaped digital transformations of the built environment and the impact of these changes on citizens. Before starting the PhD program, I was a founder and creative director of the non-profit initiative Urban Platz. Supported by a $40,000 grant from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, my team worked toward cultivating understanding between North Korean defector students and South Korean students through art, design, and technology in urban and community spaces. I hold an MDes from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute.