Dr. Danhong Fu | Rural planning | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Danhong Fu, Sun Yat-sen University, Best Researcher Award

Dr. Danhong Fu is a dedicated urban planning researcher pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Rural Planning at Sun Yat-sen University (2020–2025). Her academic focus spans urban design, spatial analysis, regulatory planning, and urban economics. She has co-authored impactful research, including publications in Land (2025) and the Journal of Western Human Settlements Environment (2024), exploring innovation space development and community-led urban regeneration in Guangzhou. Danhong integrates multi-scale quantitative methods, GIS tools, and strategic planning to analyze innovation ecosystems and urban renewal mechanisms. Her excellence is recognized with the National Undergraduate Scholarship, First Prize in the Excellent Student Scholarship, and honors in design and athletics. She is proficient in ArcGIS, SPSS, AutoCAD, and Photoshop, with strong English skills (IELTS 6.5) and a 4.1/5.0 GPA. Demonstrating rare research productivity and interdisciplinary skills at an undergraduate level, Dr. Fu stands out as a promising voice in urban planning and sustainable city development.

Educational Background

Dr. Danhong Fu is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Rural Planning at Sun Yat-sen University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions, from September 2020 to June 2025. Her academic journey is grounded in a comprehensive curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with practical application. She has undertaken a wide array of specialized courses that include Urban Design, City Comprehensive Planning, Community Planning, Urban Spatial Analysis and Planning Application, Detailed Regulatory Planning, Urban Economics, and Principles of Urban Planning. These courses have provided her with a deep understanding of spatial organization, sustainable city development, economic frameworks, and community-based planning strategies. Through this rigorous education, Dr. Fu has developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills essential for addressing contemporary urban challenges. Her academic foundation is further enriched by her active engagement in research and hands-on projects, preparing her to contribute meaningfully to the field of urban and regional planning

Honors and Awards

Dr. Danhong Fu has received multiple prestigious awards that reflect her academic excellence, creative talent, and well-rounded capabilities. In 2024, she was honored with the National Undergraduate Scholarship, a highly competitive award granted to outstanding students across China. Her innovative design thinking earned her the Second Prize in the “Vitality Cup” Design Competition in 2023, showcasing her ability to integrate urban planning concepts with practical design solutions. That same year, she demonstrated strong teamwork and athletic dedication by securing Fourth Place in the 12th Guangdong Provincial Volleyball League, reflecting her commitment to holistic development. Earlier in her academic journey, she was awarded the First Prize in the Sun Yat-sen University Excellent Student Scholarship in 2021, recognizing her exceptional academic performance and leadership potential. These accolades collectively highlight Dr. Fu’s diverse strengths in research, design, academics, and extracurricular activities, making her a distinguished and dynamic young scholar in her field

Research Focus

Dr. Danhong Fu’s research primarily centers on urban planning, community regeneration, and innovation space development, with a particular focus on participatory approaches and spatial analysis. Her studies delve into the evolutionary patterns and optimization mechanisms of public participation in community regeneration planning, as seen in her 2025 publication in Land, which examines case studies from Guangzhou. She also explores self-organization mechanisms within community-led urban regeneration, emphasizing the comparative frameworks of Chinese planning approaches. Utilizing multi-scale quantitative analysis, GIS-based tools, and strategic planning perspectives, Dr. Fu investigates how community involvement and spatial design contribute to innovation-driven urban development. Her work addresses critical issues such as the integration of grassroots initiatives in formal planning systems, spatial agglomeration of innovation zones, and renewal mechanisms that support sustainable city growth. This positions her research within the broader field of urban studies, participatory planning, and spatial governance, making valuable contributions to sustainable and inclusive urban transformation.

Publication Top Notes

📄 Evolutionary Patterns and Mechanism Optimization of Public Participation in Community Regeneration Planning: A Case Study of Guangzhou – Land, 2025 – DOI: 10.3390/land14071394 – 🖊️ Authors: Danhong Fu, Tingting Chen, Wei Lang – 📅 Published: July 2, 2025 – 🔍

📄 Exploring Self-Organization in Community-Led Urban Regeneration: A Comparative Analysis of Chinese Approaches – Land, 2025 – DOI: 10.3390/land14020330 – 🖊️ Authors: Wei Lang, Danhong Fu, Tingting Chen – 📅 Published: February 6, 2025 – 🔍

Dr. Se Hoon Park | Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Se Hoon Park, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, South Korea

Se Hoon Park is a distinguished urban planning expert from South Korea, currently serving as Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS). With a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Seoul National University, his research focuses on state-society relations in urban development, culture-led urban regeneration, and planning history. He has collaborated with organizations like UN-Habitat, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Dr. Park has held notable roles, including Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Director of KRIHS’s Global Development Partnership Center. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and influential policy reports, contributing extensively to urban policy advancements. His dedication has earned him several awards, including the Excellent Paper Award from the Korea Planning Association.

Publication Profile

Scopus

📚 Education

Se Hoon Park earned his Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Seoul National University in 2001, focusing on urban social policies in colonial Korea. His dissertation explored the intricate relationships between neighborhood associations, moral indoctrination, and district welfare commissioners under the guidance of Professor Tai-Joon Kwon. Prior to his doctorate, he completed a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Seoul National University in 1994. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering from Yonsei University in 1992. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Park has deepened his expertise through international research experiences, including a visiting scholar role at the University of Tokyo and a Senior Visiting Fellowship at the London School of Economics in 2023, further contributing to his comprehensive understanding of urban development challenges and solutions.

🏢 Experience

Dr. Se Hoon Park has over two decades of experience in urban planning and policy. Since 2003, he has served as Associate Researcher, Research Fellow, and Senior Research Fellow at KRIHS. His leadership roles include Director of the Urban Research Division and Director of the Global Development Partnership Center. Dr. Park’s international experience includes a Senior Visiting Fellowship at the London School of Economics and a consultancy with UN-Habitat. He has also served as a consultant to the Office for Government Policy Coordination in South Korea and worked as an Associate Researcher at the Seoul Development Institute. Additionally, his academic engagements include serving as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Tokyo. His extensive experience in advising urban policy reforms, promoting sustainable urban development, and fostering international partnerships makes him a leading figure in the field of urban planning.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Se Hoon Park has received numerous accolades for his impactful contributions to urban planning. His awards include the Excellent Paper Award from the Korea Planning Association in 2018 and the International Activity Award in 2016 for his research on urban growth regimes. In 2016, he received an Official Commendation from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport for his policy contributions. He was also honored with the Book of the Year Award by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2014 for his edited volume, Beyond Creative Cities: From Cultural Developmentalism to Creative Community. In addition, he earned an Official Commendation from the Minister for Cabinet Office in 2008. These accolades reflect his dedication to advancing urban policies and fostering inclusive, sustainable urban environments.

🧪 Research Focus

Dr. Se Hoon Park’s research spans state-society relations in urban development, culture-led urban regeneration, and planning history, particularly in Korea and East Asia. He critically analyzes the impacts of government-led cultural districts and explores how urban policies shape societal dynamics. His work often investigates creative city strategies and their implications for urban resilience. Additionally, he examines international development cooperation from an urban perspective, contributing to sustainable urban growth frameworks. Dr. Park’s recent publications address participatory urban governance, urban regeneration in Incheon, and marketization’s influence on North Korean urban planning. His interdisciplinary research bridges urban sociology, policy analysis, and cultural geography, making significant contributions to both academic scholarship and policy implementation.

Publication Top Notes

📝 Park, S.H. (2025) – New Urban Governance and the Dilemma of Participatory Planning in South Korea, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Forthcoming.
🖼️ Park, S.H. and Shin, H.R. (2024) – The Entrepreneurial Creative City and Its Discontents: The Politics of Art-led Urban Regeneration in Incheon, South Korea, Urban Studies, [Cited By: –].
🏙️ Park, S.H. and Kim, J.E. (2018) – Constructing ‘Participating Citizen’: Urban Regeneration Activists and Changing State-Civil Society Relation in Seoul, Space and Environment, 28(3), pp. 9-39, [Cited By: 15].
🌆 Park, S.H. and Song, J.E. (2017) – Marketization and its Impact on Urban Planning Practices in North Korea, Journal of Korea Planners Association, 52(7), pp. 55-71, [Cited By: 22].
🏢 Sonn, J.W., Shin, H.R., and Park, S.H. (2017) – A Mega Urban Project and Two Competing Accumulation Strategies: Songdo International Business District Development, International Development Planning Review, 39(3), pp. 299-317, [Cited By: 38].
🎨 Park, S.H. (2016) – Can We Implant an Artist Community? Government-led Cultural Districts in Korea, Cities, 56, pp. 172-179, [Cited By: 29].
📍 Joo, Y.M. and Park, S.H. (2016) – Overcoming Urban Growth Coalition: Culture-Led Urban Revitalization in Busan, South Korea, Urban Affairs Review, 53(5), pp. 1-15, [Cited By: 31].
🏛️ Park, S.H. (2016) – Understanding the New Urban Agenda of Habitat III: Background, Features and Implications for Korean Cities, Space and Society, 26(4), pp. 9-39, [Cited By: 12].
🌉 Shin, H.R., Park, S.H., and Sonn, J.W. (2015) – Multi-scalar Growth Regime and Scalar Tension in Songdo New City, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 33, pp. 1618-1638, [Cited By: 44].
🧩 Park, S.H. (2015) – Operational Characters of Intermediary Organizations in Community Planning, Journal of the Korean Urban Management Association, 28(3), pp. 75-104, [Cited By: 10].

Se Hoon Park | Urban Planning | Best Researcher Award