Rüdiger Frank

Dr. Rüdiger Frank is a Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna, where he established the English-language MA program on East Asian Economy and Society (EcoS). He founded and directs the European Centre for North Korean Studies (ECNK), a multidisciplinary research platform. His expertise spans the political economy of North Korea, economic reform, state-socialism, and Korean unification.

• Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna
• Director, European Centre for North Korean Studies (ECNK)

His research focuses on North Korea's economic history (1950s), post-1990s ideological shifts, state-socialist transformation, tourism, trade, and unification's political economy. He has advised governments and international bodies, served in World Economic Forum councils since 2011, and authored books exploring socialist modernity, economic crisis, and unification challenges.

Recent publications examine North Korean parliamentary sessions, ethical research dilemmas, and comparative authoritarian strategies. The ECNK platform facilitates interdisciplinary analysis of North Korea through a global lens.

Scientific Recognition:

• Named among 50 most influential German economists by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (2013)

His career integrates academic leadership, policy consultancy, and public engagement via media appearances and teaching roles in East Asian economic systems.