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About

Short bio

I am an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I serve as a social media engagement officer at the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management and an editorial board member at the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Cases. I am also a member of the necessary condition analysis (NCA) development team. I had both academic and industry experience - I served as a Senior Lecturer at the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines; worked as a Tourism Planning Consultant on various projects; and co-founded a web development company (DINOFALLO) where I served as a Project Manager. I earned my PhD in Tourism and Hospitality this July 2024 after joining the Fox School of Business as a Temple Presidential Fellow in 2020.
My research focuses on technology-mediated services/experiences, hospitality value management, as well as necessary causality and necessary condition analysis (NCA). I have published 10+ papers in leading journals including the International Journal of Hospitality Management and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. He has been recognized as a four-time best paper awardee/finalist at leading international conferences, including the 26th and 28th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism in 2021 and 2023.
You can find more information about me on Google ScholarSchool Profile, NCA Website, LinkedIn, and CV.

Education

PhD, Business Administration

Fox School of Business | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | 2024

MA, Tourism

Division of Tourism | Hanyang University | Seoul, Korea | 2017 - 2019

BS, Business Administration

HUBS | Hanyang University | Seoul, Korea | 2010 - 2018

Academic appointment

Assistant Professor (Tenure-track)

School of Hotel and Tourism Management | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | 2024 - Present

NCA Development Team Member

Necessary condition analysis (NCA) development team | Erasmus University | Netherlands | 2020 - Present [link]
NCA support (2023 - Present)
Researching the philosophical/theoretical basis of necessary causality and NCA
NCA ambassador (2020 - 2022)
Published a method book chapter on the application of NCA in tourism and hospitality research
Facilitated seminars, conference events, and MOOC content
Provided guidance/support to researchers by addressing questions and issues related to the proper application of NCA in their work

Senior Lecturer

Asian Institute of Tourism | University of the Philippines | Manila, Philippines | 2019 - 2020
Brought a diverse perspective to the academic environment as the first foreign faculty member of the department.
Taught an undergraduate course (solo instruction) and a graduate course (guest lecture)
Participated in a consultancy project with a regional government in the Philippines.

Industry Experience

Co-founder / Project Manager

DINOFALLO (Web development/design company) | Seoul, Korea | 2019 - 2020
Led the development and execution of business strategies
Managed a team of designers and developers
Oversaw the delivery of high-quality web development and design projects for clients
Selected project

Tourism Planning Consultant

In S. Korea and the Philippines, conducted data-driven case studies and situation analyses to offer clients (i.e., tourism public sectors) strategic recommendations and implementation plans for their destinations or products.
Invited projects:
"Night-time Tourism Activation Planning" | Contract with Project Soo | Feb-May 2021
Promotional video
"Gotochi Shuttle Tour Project with KTO" | Contract with Plan Issue | Mar-April 2020
Promotional video
“Branding and Materials Development Workshop” | Contract with the Philippines Department of Tourism (Region 2) | Dec 2019
"Metropolitan Area Tourism Plan" | Contract with Gangwondo Tourism Association | Jun-Dec 2018

On-the-job Trainee

Mövenpick Hotel | Cebu, Philippines | 2014
Gained practical experience in the food and beverage industry by serving customers in the main restaurant while expanding my knowledge of other departments within the hotel.
A little bit more about Wangoo

Photo Highlights

Best paper award in 28th Grad Conference (with Dr. Lu Lu, 2023)
Band UPSTREAM concert (joined as a keyboardist, 2019)
Philippine Research Conference of Tourism and Hospitality (with AIT Dean and faculty, 2018)
Best Reviewer Award for ICHRIE Research Report (2023)
Grad Conference (with Temple STHM family, 2023)
With my students of Tour 197 (Special Topics in Tourism) (2019)
Visiting TAMU for a guest lecture (w/ Drs. Brian King & Po-Ju Chen, 2024)
(w/ SM Universe & Wedu Communications, Jun 2023)
Research Competition Award (with Dean Anderson, 2022)
Global Congress of Special Interest Tourism & Hospitality Conference (w/ Dr. Youcheng Wang and Timothy Lee, 2017)