Appointed by board on June 30

New director known as housing policy adviser to Lee administration

Im Jae-man, director of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements [Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements]
Im Jae-man, director of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements [Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements]

Im Jae-man, a professor at Sejong University, was appointed director of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements and held his inauguration ceremony Tuesday. The Economic, Humanities and Social Research Council convened a board meeting June 30 and named Im the institute's new director. His term runs through June 30, 2029.

Im graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in business administration after attending Daeseong High School in Daejeon. He has served as civilian chairman of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) reform committee, a senior researcher at the Korea Real Estate Research Institute, and president of the Korea Real Estate Analysis Association.

Im served as a housing policy adviser to President Lee Jae Myung when Lee was Gyeonggi Province governor in 2021, advising on the "basic housing" model — a public housing scheme allowing people without homes to rent at low cost for extended periods. He went on to advise on public housing policy through Lee's think tank during the 2022 presidential election, and most recently served as an outside member of the Democratic Party's livelihood council real estate subcommittee during the latest presidential election.

The Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements is a government-funded research body covering land policy, urban planning, housing, transportation and regional development. The institute has operated under an acting director for about a year since former director Shim Gyo-eon stepped down in July 2025, before his term was due to end in August this year.


smh@heraldcorp.com