Soogil Young

Dr. Soogil Young is a distinguished economist and sustainability expert who currently serves as a Leading Professor at SUNY Korea and Chairman of SDSN Korea, which he founded in 2013. His academic credentials include a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Seoul National University and a PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. As the former Chairman of Korea's Presidential Committee on Green Growth under President Lee Myung-bak from 2010-2012, he played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's environmental policies. His expertise spans sustainable development, green growth strategies, and economic policy, demonstrated through his leadership of various projects on Korea's green growth policies and deep decarbonization pathways. At KDI School of Public Policy and Management, where he serves as a visiting professor, he has contributed significantly to understanding South Korea's economic miracle and its lessons for sustainable development. His international influence extends through his role as an Emeritus Member of the UN SDSN Leadership Council, where he helps guide global sustainable development initiatives. Currently directing the Institute of Sustainable Development at SUNY Korea, he continues to shape policy discussions on environmental sustainability and economic development while mentoring the next generation of sustainability leaders.