[2024 Fall Semester New Faculty Interview] Professor Baek Jung Kim – The Business School as a Launchpad for Learning and Growth with Infinite Possibilities... I Want to Be a Supportive and Warm Professor Alongside My Students

[2024 Fall Semester New Faculty Interview] Professor Baek Jung Kim

Korea University Business School (Dean: Eonsoo Kim) has appointed five new faculty members as of September 2024: Professor Baek Jung Kim (Marketing), Min Jung Kim (Strategy), Jongsoo Kim (Strategy), Hae Kang Lee (Finance), and Viacheslav Savitskiy (Global Business). In this context, KU Business Journal conducted an interview with the new faculty members to share their aspirations with readers. 

Q: Can you introduce your journey so far? 

A: I’m Baek Jung Kim, and I’ve recently joined Korea University Business School as a full-time faculty member in the fall semester of 2024. My research focuses on quantitative marketing, where I analyze the underlying behavioral drivers—such as peer effects, consumer learning, engagement, and habit formation—that arise when consumers interact with online platforms. Prior to joining Korea University, I spent five years as an assistant professor of marketing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. 

Q: What motivated you to choose the path of an academic after graduating? 

A: From an early age, I was exposed to the academic world through my father, who was a mathematics professor, giving me many opportunities to naturally consider a life in academia. Additionally, after various internship experiences during my undergraduate years, I realized that I enjoyed and thrived on thinking deeply and systematically about problems and deriving solutions. During this time, I had the opportunity to spend a year in the U.S. as an exchange student, which sparked my desire to pursue research. This experience led me to continue my studies in the U.S. for graduate school, ultimately choosing the path of an academic career. 

Q: What led you to join Korea University Business School? 

A: The opportunity to engage in diverse research alongside outstanding faculty in a world-class business school is a significant attraction for me. Additionally, I wanted to return to Korea University Business School, where I experienced considerable personal growth and learning as an undergraduate, to contribute to the development of current students. I believe that the exceptional faculty and comprehensive support for research and teaching at the business school provide an excellent opportunity for my growth as a scholar. 

Q: What teaching methods do you employ as a faculty member? 

A: I want to teach courses that foster critical thinking skills in students, empowering them to think independently. By training them in both quantitative and qualitative methods, I aim to help business students develop the ability to derive excellent solutions to the business questions they will face in their respective professions. 

Q: What research achievements do you aspire to as a faculty member of Korea University Business School? 

A: I aspire to conduct research that can positively impact a wide range of people, from businesses and consumers to society as a whole. 

Q: You described the Business School as a launchpad for learning and growth with infinite possibilities. Why do you think so? 

A: I refer to the business school as a launching pad because studying under world-class professors provides an opportunity for students to learn not only about academia but also about life, fostering limitless possibilities for their future. I hope that students at Korea University Business School will engage deeply, learn extensively, and grow through their experiences. 

Q: How would you like to be remembered by your students as a professor? 

A: I aspire to be a professor who can connect with students. I want to understand their learning and growth desires, as well as the challenges they face. My goal is to be a warm-hearted professor who can empathize with students’ struggles, share in their joys, and provide support along the way.