Introduction

Joowon Park is a Ph.D. candidate at the KDI School of Public Policy with a strong academic foundation, holding an undergraduate degree in Forest Sciences and two master’s degrees in Forest Environmental Science and Development Policy. Joowon's dissertation explores how forest policy can foster participation in sustainable forest management across various contexts, including Korea's past development, ongoing community-based forest management in developing countries, and the international climate cooperation scheme REDD+. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, Joowon aims to reveal the incentive structures shaped by forest policy. With over 11 years of experience in forest-sector international cooperation, Joowon’s research interests encompass the role of the forest sector in national economic development and climate change mitigation through international cooperation and private-sector engagement. Aspiring to become a policy researcher or advisor, Joowon aims to address broader issues such as climate change, inclusive development, and sustainable commodity production through comprehensive forest management policies.