Professor Young-Ae Ha (aged 64) is an expert and an educator in the field of comparative Chinese politics, local self-administration in Taiwan, and women’s studies. She obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science from Konkuk University, and received a Ph.D. in political science from National Taiwan University in 1989. She traveled to Peking University and Tsinghua University in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as a visiting scholar, and has served as an advisor to the Korean Association in China, a member of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Appeals Review Committee, chairwoman of the Kyung Hee University Women Professors’ Association, and vice president of the Korea National Council of Women (KNCW). She is presently the chair of international relations at KNCW.
Outside of the academia, she is also the president of the Korea-China Women’s Association and vice president of the Korea-China Friendship Association, where her work won her the National Medal (2003). In addition, she is taking the lead in civilian diplomacy between Korea and China, with the title of Honorary Ambassador to Shandong, China.