Rami Kim, first Korea Chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies / Courtesy of Korea Foundation

Rami Kim, an expert in nuclear technology and East Asian security, has been appointed as the inaugural Korea Chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London.

The Korea Chair at IISS is the first permanent Korea-focused research professorship established at a European policy institute. Korea Foundation, which created the position with support from Hanwha, said the appointment marks a milestone in strengthening Korea’s presence within European security and policy networks.

IISS, founded in 1958, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading security think tanks. It publishes The Military Balance, a globally referenced assessment of defense capabilities, and hosts high-level international security forums including the Shangri-la Dialogue in Asia.

Based at IISS headquarters, Kim will conduct research on advanced technologies and defense and security issues, areas expected to grow in strategic importance as geopolitical competition intensifies. Kim officially assumed the role Monday (local time).

Before joining IISS, Kim served as a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies under the U.K. Ministry of Defense and previously worked at Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She has held research roles at major institutions including the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Woodrow Wilson Center, East-West Center, Stimson Center, Harvard University’s Belfer Center and Seoul National University. Kim earned her doctorate from Tufts University’s Fletcher School and a master’s degree from Harvard.

Korea Foundation President Song Gui-do described the inaugural appointment of the IISS Korea Chair as an important step in elevating Korea’s strategic standing within key security policy networks in the U.K. and Europe.

“We expect this appointment to deepen cooperation between Korea, the U.K. and Europe, particularly on advanced technology and defense and security issues,” he said.

“I am very pleased to join IISS and look forward to working with its outstanding researchers,” Kim said.

Source: Korea Times News