Kyoochul Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University. His research focuses on the North Korean economy, with particular emphasis on macroeconomic dynamics, foreign trade, and the welfare and income of North Korean households. In recent years, he has examined the economic impact of international sanctions, the COVID-19 border closure, and the deepening North Korea–Russia alliance, drawing on a range of quantitative and alternative data sources.