Son Daekwon (Will Son)
Unit#501, Building 43, Zhongjiang 650 Avenue, Putuo District
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
son.daekwon@sovip.org, +86-132-6998-7705, http://www.sondaekwon.com
Academic Position
East China Normal University (Shanghai, China)
Associate Researcher (Aug, 2020 - Present)
Education
Peking University (Beijing, China)
Ph.D. in International Relations (Supervisor: Wang Dong, June 2020, with distinction)
Dissertation: “竹幕”背后——朝鲜战争时期中国对外政策的内政基础
(Behind the Bamboo Curtain: Domestic Foundation of China’s Foreign Policy during the Korean War)
Peking University (Beijing, China)
Master in International Relations (Supervisor: Wang Zhengyi, June 2014)
Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan)
Exchange Student, Graduate school of Asia-Pacific Studies (Sep 2012-Feb 2013)
Korea University (Seoul, South Korea)
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor in International Studies (Feb 2011)
Professional Experience
• James A. Kelly Nonresident Fellow, Pacific Forum CSIS (Dec 2018-May 2019)
• KIM Jun-Yop Fellow, Institute of Social Science (Sep 2018-Aug 2019)
• Korea Foundation Fellow, Pacific Forum CSIS (May 2017-Dec 2017)
• 2016 Asia-Pacific Nuclear History Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center (Nov 2016)
Honor and Grants
• 北京大学优秀博士论文奖 PKU Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award (Jul 2020)
• 北京大学优秀毕业生奖 PKU Best Graduate Student Award (Jun 2020)
• 中国教育部优秀来华留学生奖学金 Ministry of Education Scholarship for International Student (Nov 2019)
• 方正奖学金 Founder Foundation Scholarship (Dec 2018)
• 三好学生奖励 PKU Merit Student Award (Dec 2018)
• 北京大学留学生学习优秀奖一等奖 PKU International Student Academic Award First Prize (Nov 2018)
• 北京大学创新奖 – 学术类 Exceptional Award for Academic Innovation (Dec 2017)
• 章文晋奖学金 ZHANG Wenjin Scholarship (Dec 2017)
• 三好学生奖励 PKU Merit Student Award (Dec 2017)
• 三好学生奖励 PKU Merit Student Award (Oct 2016)
• 五四奖学金 May-Fourth Scholarship (Oct 2016)
• 中国政府奖学金 Chinese Government Scholarship – Chinese University Program (Sep 2015-Jul 2020)
• 北京大学留学生学习优秀奖 PKU International Student Academic Award and Grant (Nov 2013)
• 光宙奖学金 Guangzhou Scholarship for Academic Excellence (Nov 2013)
• EAUI Campus Asia Program Scholarship (Sep 2012)
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (in English)
• [Online First] “Bringing North Korea to the Negotiating Table: Unstable Foundations of Kim Jong-un’s North
Korean Regime,” International Relations of the Asia-Pacific (SSCI, 2018 IF: 1.23).
https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcz0242
• “Sino-DPRK Geopolitical Curse behind Kim Jong-un’s Olive Branch,” Pacific Focus, Vol. 35, No. 1 (April
2020), pp. 29-58, with Jang Youngduk (SSCI, 2018 IF: 0.38).
http://doi.org/10.1111/pafo.12157
• “Domestic Instability as a Key Factor Shaping China's Decision to Enter the Korean War,” The China Journal,
Vol. 83 (January 2020), pp. 34-57 (SSCI, 2018 IF: 2.65).
https://doi.org/10.1086/705539
• “Evolution of North Korea’s Peace Treaty Proposals and Sino-DPRK Relations behind the Scene,” Korea
Observer, Vol. 50, No. 4 (Winter 2019), pp. 505-533 (SSCI, 2018 IF: 0.20).
https://doi.org/10.29152/KOIKS.2019.50.4.505
• “Flawed Assumption in Pro-Nuclear Arguments and South Korea’s Strategic Choice,” Asian Perspective, Vol.
43, No. 1 (Winter 2019), pp. 123-144 (SSCI, 2018 IF: 0.50).
https://doi.org/10.1353/apr.2019.0004
• “Who Restrains Who?:Sino-DPRK Strategic Interaction During the Second Nuclear Crisis,” The Korean Journal
of Defense Analysis, Vol. 130, No. 2 (June 2018), pp. 153-168, with Song Wenzhi (SSCI, 2018 IF: 0.20).
• “Did Deng’s China Follow A Developmental State Model?: A Study of State Autonomy and State Capacity
during the Deng Xiaoping’s Era,” The Journal of Northeast Asian Research, Vol. 28, No.1 (2013), pp. 225-256.
https://doi.org/10.18013/jnar.2013.28.1.008
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (in Korean)
• “앵거스 워드(Angus I. Ward)사건: 쐐기전략의 실패와 일변도 정책의 형성 (The Ward Case: A
Failure of Wedge Strategy, and a Move to China’s “Leaning-to-One-Side” Policy),” Sino-Soviet Affairs, Vol. 41,
No. 2 (August 2017), pp. 109-150.
http://doi.org/10.21196/aprc.41.2.201708.005
• “주한미군 사드(THAAD) 배치 결정에 대한 북한의 보도행태 및 전략적 함의: 『로동신문』과
『우리민족끼리』기사를 중심으로 (An Analysis of North Korean Media's Coverage of the THAAD
Deployment and Its Strategic Implications: With Special Reference to Rodong Sinmun and Uriminzokkiri),” with
Ahn Seul Ki, East Asian Studies, Vol. 36, No.1 (2017), pp. 63-101.
http://doi.org/10.33334/sieas.2017.36.1.63
• “중국 서부의 지역별 투자적합도 및 투자 현황 비교분석: 한국과 대만 사례를 중심으로 (A
Comparative Analysis of Investment Suitability and its Efficiency in Western China: Special Reference to Korean
and Taiwanese Cases),” with Lee Kyungjin, and Lee Jinsang, Journal of China Studies, Vol. 15 (2013) pp. 109-
148.
http://uci.or.kr/G704-SER000001567.2013..15.011
Book Review
• [Forthcoming] The Hijacked War: The Story of Chinese POWs in the Korean War, By David Cheng Chang.
Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2020, Pacific Affairs, Vol. 94, No. 1 (March 2021) (SSCI, 2018 IF: 0.86).
• A Misunderstood Friendship: Mao Zedong, Kim Il-Sung, and Sino-North Korean Relations, 1949-1976, by
Zhihua Shen and Yafeng Xia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2018, The China Journal, Vol. 83 (January
2020), pp. 204-206 (SSCI, 2018 IF: 2.65).
https://doi.org/10.1086/706694
Current Projects
• “Mao’s Erroneous Decision? China’s Decision to Cross the 38th Parallel Revisited,” [In Progress].
• “We are Brothers, Not Allies: Sino-DPRK Relations over Sino-ROK Diplomatic Normalization,” [In Progress].
Op-Ed Articles
• “I Visited the Chinese-North Korean Border. Here’s What I Found,” The National Interest, October 3 2018.3
• “Kim Jong-un’s Olympic Olive Branch to South Korea Reflects His Confidence – Not a Willingness to
Denuclearise,” South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018.
• “South Korea’s Search for Autonomy,” with Andrady Abrahamian, Lowy Interpreter, December 15, 2017.
• “Moving On: China Resolves THAAD Dispute with South Korea,” with Andray Abrahamian, 38 North,
November 9, 2017.
• “Xi Jinping Thought Vs. Deng Xiaoping Theory,” The Diplomat, October 25, 2017.
• “Interpreting Xi Jinping’s Power from the CCP 19th Party Congress,” PacNet, October 13, 2017.
• “Can China Curb North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions?,” The Diplomat, August 22, 2017.
• “What Does North Korea Think of China's 'Dual Freeze' Proposal?,” The Diplomat, July 25, 2017.
• “China's North Korea Solution: A PLA Publication Helps Explain China’s Priorities and Strategy for the Korean
Peninsula.,” The Diplomat, July 21, 2017.
• “‘4月攻朝论’如何看? (How to Look at the Rumor about April Crisis),” Cankaoxiaoxi, April 17, 2017.
• “韩日慰安妇协议: 仍未弥合的分歧 (Korea-Japan Comfort Women Agreement: Not Yet Settle a Feud),”
China Newsweek, No. 2, 2016, pp. 33-35.
• “中国看世界的心态还需历练 (China’s World View Still Needs to be More Trained),” International Herald
Leader, Vol. 829, No. 33, April 21, 2016, p.18.
• “伊核问题解决了，下一个该朝核了？(Iran Nuke’s Done. Is it North Korea’s Turn?),” Guanchazhe, June 22,
2015.
Conferences and Presentations
• “Pouting Lips and Grinding Teeth: Sino-DPRK Relations behind Pyongyang’s Volte-face,” in FES-KISA 10th
Annual Conference (Seoul, Nov, 2018)
• The 11th CSCAP General Conference (Chiang Mai, Dec 14-15, 2017)
• Northeast Asia Regional Young Leaders Security Seminar (Seoul, Nov 27-28, 2017)
• The 4th CSCAP Study Group on Nonproliferation and Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific (Hanoi, Oct 26-27, 2017)
• Northeast Asia History Meeting (Honolulu, Jun 22-23, 2017)
• US-ROK-Japan Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (Maui, Jun 19-21, 2017)
• “China’s Counter Terrorism Policy and Global Governance,” in Beijing Graduate Student Forum (Beijing, Dec,
2015)
• “Where to Invest? Comparative Study of Korean and Taiwanese FDI toward China,” in Beijing University
Graduate Student Forum (Beijing, Mar, 2014)
• “Did Deng Xiaoping Lay the Foundation for Development Trajectory of China?,” in Beijing Graduate Student
Forum, Beijing, China (Beijing, Dec, 2013)
• “Is China Sustainable?: New Engine for Sustainable Development,” in 3rd Seminar of Beijing School of
Economic and Political Science, Beijing, China (Beijing, May, 2012)
Language Skills
• Korean (Native)
• English (Academic Fluency in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
• Mandarin Chinese (Academic Fluency in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)