image: Prof. Dr. Junic Kim, JOI Founding Editor-in-Chief at MDPI
Credit: MDPI
Seoul, South Korea (January 26, 2026)—MDPI, the open access publisher, has appointed Sangwoo Lee as head of its South Korea office. Mr. Lee joins from Public Relations agency Prain Global, where he served for more than three years as chief director of strategic communications consulting institute. In his new role, Mr. Lee will lead MDPI’s operations in South Korea and oversee marketing, communications, and external affairs.
Mr. Lee brings more than 20 years of experience in communications (public affairs, crisis management, public policy, and public relations), including senior roles at Synergy Hill and Knowlton (now Synergy Burson) and Macoll Consulting Group. His previous clients include Procter & Gamble, McDonald’s, International Finance Centre Seoul (IFC Seoul), Microsoft, and AirAsia.
Over the past two years, Mr. Lee has supported MDPI’s public relations and public affairs strategy in South Korea while working with Prain. His work focused on engagement with policy stakeholders, university libraries, and key partners to strengthen regional support for open-access publishing.
Mr. Lee holds a B.A. in Fiber and Polymer Science from the College of Engineering at Seoul National University. He currently serves as external relations director of the Korean Academic Society of Public Relations (KASPR), industrial director of the Korea Association of Advertisement and PR (KADPR), education director of the Korea PR Association (KAPR), and as a judge for the PRO Globe Communication Achievement Awards.
Commenting on his appointment, Sangwoo Lee said: “My priority is to support the continued growth and excellence of MDPI Korea. We are already a trusted partner of the South Korean research community, having published nearly 11,000 research articles from South Korea in 2025 alone. This is an exciting moment for MDPI and for open-access publishing in Korea and I am thrilled to be part of it.”
MDPI CEO Stefan Tochev said: “Sangwoo joins MDPI at a time of significant growth in South Korea, including the appointment of our first South Korean Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Junic Kim. Deepening local leadership and engagement is essential as we continue to build trust, editorial excellence, and long-term partnerships in South Korea. These developments reflect our commitment to inclusivity, editorial leadership, and the expansion of Open Access knowledge worldwide.”
MDPI Launches 500th Journal with First South Korean Editor-in-Chief
The appointment coincides with a major milestone for MDPI Korea: the launch of the Journal of Innovation (JOI, ISSN: 3042-8629), MDPI’s 500th journal. Prof. Dr. Junic Kim of Konkuk University’s School of Business has been appointed founding Editor-in-Chief. He is the first South Korean scholar to serve as Editor-in-Chief of an MDPI journal.
The journal is currently recruiting leading scholars to its Editorial Board and invites submissions of high-quality research to advance business innovation and global academic exchange.
Subject of Research
Not applicable