Ilcheong YI is Research Coordinator at UNRISD. He specializes in the issues of poverty, social policy, labour policy and historical analysis of the economic and social development process. Prior to this, he was Associate Professor of Kyushu University, Japan (2004-2008), Korean Foundation Visiting Professor, Department of East Asian Studies of Malaya University, Malaysia (2003-2004) and Visiting Research Fellow of the Stein Rokkan Centre, Bergen University, Norway (2002-2003).