Rudiger Frank is Professor of East Asian Economy and Society – EcoS, and Head of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna. He holds an M.A. in Korean Studies, Economics and International Relations and a Ph.D. in Economics. In 1991/1992, he spent one semester as a language student at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang and has been researching North Korea ever since. Visiting positions included Columbia University New York, Korea University Seoul and Seoul National University. His major research fields are socialist transformation in East Asia (with a focus on North Korea), state-business relations in East Asia, and regional integration in East Asia.
His most recent books are: (2018) „Unterwegs in Nordkorea: Eine Gratwanderung“, and (2017) „Nordkorea: Innenansichten eines totalen Staates“ (revised edition).
Prof. Frank is regularly consulted by governments, media and businesses on North Korea and East Asia. Since June 2011, he has been working with the World Economic Forum, currently in its Global Future Council on the Korean Peninsula. In September 2013, the leading German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung included Prof. Frank in its list of the 50 most influential German economists.