|
|
|
 |
Dr. SaKong served in the government of the Republic of Korea as Minister
of Finance (1987-88), Senior Secretary to the President for Economic
Affairs (1983-87), Senior Counselor to the Minister of Economic Planning
Board (1982) and Senior Economist of the Council on Economic &
Scientific Affairs for the President (1979-80). During his tenure
at these key posts in the Korean government, Dr. SaKong played the
leading role in framing and implementing Korea's most successful development
strategy and economic policies of the 1980s.
He also served the Korean government as Ambassador for International
Economy and Trade (2000-02), Member of the Council of National Economic
Affairs for the President (2001-02), and Senior Member of the Council
of National Economic Affairs for the President (2003-04).
Before joining the Korean government, Dr. SaKong was Senior Fellow,
Research Director, and Vice-President at the Korea Development Institute
(KDI), the leading national economic think-tank for the Korean government
(1973-1982). Dr. SaKong also served as President of the Korea Institute
for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), another national think-tank
(1983).
Dr. SaKong was Special Consultant to the International Monetary Fund
(1989-98). He was Chair of the ASEM Vision Group, established at the
1998 ASEM Summit in London. The Vision Group consisted of 26 representatives
from ASEM member countries and the European Commission. It authored
For a Better Tomorrow: The Asia-Europe Partnership in the 21st Century
(1999). He also chaired the Emerging Markets Eminent Persons Group
(EMEPG) for reforming international financial architecture. The EMEPG
consisted of 11 members, mostly former finance ministers and central
bank governors from major emerging market economies in Asia, Latin
America and Africa. It published Rebuilding the International Financial
Architecture (2001). In addition, he was a member of the Private Independent
Experts for APEC, the Korea-U.S. Wisemen Council, the ASEM Task Force
for Closer Economic Partnership Between Asia and Europe, and co-host
of the Korea-U.S. 21st Century Council. Currently, Dr. SaKong is a
member of the Board of Governors of the East-West Center after serving
the center as a member of the International Advisory Panel.
Dr. SaKong graduated from Seoul National University (1964) and received
his MBA (1966) and Ph.D. (1969) from the University of California
at Los Angeles. Dr. SaKong taught economics at New York University
(1969-73) and the University of Sheffield (1971-1972). Since September
2003, Dr. SaKong has been giving occasional special lectures at Korea
University as a Distinguished Professor.
Dr. SaKong has written and edited many books and numerous articles
in professional journals dealing with the Korean economy, major issues
in economic development, and international finance and trade policy
issues. They include: Government, Business, and Entrepreneurship in
Economic Development: The Korean Case, Harvard University, 1980 (co-authored);
Korea in the World Economy, Institute for International Economics
in Washington, D.C., 1993; The Korea-United States Economic Relationship,
Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C., 1997 (co-edited);
and The World Doesn't Wait for Us, Maeil Business Newspaper, 2001.
Dr. SaKong has received various honors and prizes, including the Korean
government's Order of Civil Service Merit "Blue Stripes"
(1990), the Republic of China's Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand
Cordon (1987), the Kingdom of Belgium's Order of the Crown (1986),
the Korean government's Order of Civil Merit “Moran Medal” (1983),
and Korea University's Grand Prize for Distinguished Policy Makers
(2002).
Dr. SaKong makes frequent contributions to major Korean and international
journalistic publications.
Office of Special Economic Advisor to the President and Chairman of
the National Competitiveness Council
Tel. 82-2-770-7680 Fax. 82-2-770-4898
e-mail. ilsakong@president.go.kr |
|
|
