Park Hye-jun

Park Hye-jun is a full-time Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at Seoul National University's College of Human Ecology. She currently serves as Director of the Center for Students with Disabilities at Seoul National University and previously served as Head of the Department of Child and Family Studies (2023-2025) and Director of Seoul National University Childcare Support Center (2019-2021).

• Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University (2003)
• Master's degree in Special Education from New York University (1997)
• Bachelor's degree from Seoul National University College of Education, Department of Ethics Education (1995)

Professor Park's research centers on child counseling, special education, and disability studies with a distinctive focus on understanding disability as diversity rather than deficit. Her work examines the experiences of children with disabilities and their families through inclusive education frameworks and international development cooperation contexts. She explores how families navigate parenting challenges, particularly regarding children with special needs, and investigates educational systems that support diverse learners.

Her recent publications reveal consistent thematic focus across multiple domains including the development of mobile applications for caregiver-professional communication, the impact of maternal social competence during pandemic conditions, and longitudinal studies on adolescent development. These works demonstrate her commitment to translational research that connects academic theory with practical applications in educational and family settings.

Professor Park leads the SPECTRUM Lab (Special Education & Translational Research for Universal Design and Inclusive Minds), which conducts educational and practice-based research focusing on challenges and disabilities throughout child development. The lab emphasizes practical contributions to early childhood development within international contexts, particularly through developmental assessments and early intervention strategies tailored to local needs.

She has secured numerous research grants including projects on Cambodian landfill residents' social safety nets, mobile applications for children with developmental disabilities, and policy research for character education vision establishment. Her work bridges academia with practical applications through service learning approaches and community engagement initiatives.