Dr. Kon Kim is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Urban Planning and Design in Design School at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). Kon was educated as an architect at Korea National University of Arts. He broadened his horizon towards Urbanism and Planning during his studies for Master’s degree in Urban Regeneration at University College London and, then, for Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Design at University of Westminster, sponsored by the Ministry of Education of South Korea. Kon is a Chartered Architect of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). Prior to joining XJTLU, Kon was a Research Professor in Urban Humanities at the University of Seoul and a Visiting Lecturer in Architecture at Korea National University of Arts. His professional experiences include civic research at Suwon City Research Institute, and architectural coordination at Innocean Worldwide and STX offshore shipbuilding. Kon’s work and contribution sit within the interface of architecture, planning, urban studies and humanities. His research interests span across alternative urbanism (tactical/temporary/pop-up/DIY place-making), social infrastructure of cities, politics of urban diversity, and dynamics of community participation with a focus on transformative governance arrangement and network structure, particularly in the Asian context of urbanisation. His recent research explores the social infrastructure of secondary cities (small-medium-sized towns) where young people can experiment with their alternative lifestyles beyond metropolitan mainstream against a backdrop of high unemployment, social exclusion, and ageing society.

Urban-to-Rural Migration of Young People

Alternative Urbanism (tactical/temporary/DIY place-making)

Dynamics of Community Participation

Social Infrastructure of Cities

Politics of Urban Diversity

Programme Director, MSc Urban Planning (Specialization in Urban Design), 2024-Present

Deputy Programme Director, MSc Urban Planning (Specialization in Urban Design), 2023-2024

Assistant Professor, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 2023-Present

Research Professor, University of Seoul, 2021-2023

Visiting Lecturer, Korea National University of Arts, 2022-2023

Urban Researcher, Suwon City Research Institute, 2016

Architectural Coordinator, Innocean Worldwide, 2010-2014

Designer, STX offshore shipbuilding, 2010

BNV 402 Urban Design Inquiry (Studio)

BNV 403 Dissertation

UPD 110 Neighbourhood Planning

UPD 201 Environmental Sustainability

UPD 305 Final Year Project and Dissertation

UPD 409 Dissertation

ENT 405TC Work Placement (Smart City Pathway)

Planning Policy and Design Intervention

Planning Research: Methods and Skills

Critical Thinking in Architecture

Seminar in Architectural Criticism