In Jae Lee

Lee In Jae is President of the Korea Social Capital Research Center in Seoul, where he leads research on how trust and mutual cooperation can help Korean society reduce polarization, renew the values of community, and respond to the challenge of climate change. He also serves as a visiting professor, teaching international students about the Korean Wave and Korean cultural content.

Lee devoted more than three decades to public service, working across local government, central government, and the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. Over time, he became known for a way of working grounded not in slogans or authority, but in judgment, responsibility, trust, and execution—qualities that define the spirit of K-attitude at the heart of his work.

Lee holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, where his research focused on collective action and social capital. He also earned an MPA from Seoul National University and a B.A. in English Education. His honors include the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit (2013), Korea’s Top Management Award during his tenure as Chairman of LOFA (2023)

His former leadership roles include Chairman of the Korea Local Finance Association (LOFA), Assistant Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), President of the Local Government Officials Development Institute (LOGODI), Director General for Planning and Coordination of Jeollabuk-do Province, and Assistant Press Attaché at the Korean Embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C.