Professor Ki-Young Lee Invited 

as Regular Member of the Finance Theory Group (FTG)

Professor Ki-Young Lee of the Department of Economics has been invited as a regular member of the Finance Theory Group (FTG), a globally renowned academic organization in the field of financial theory. This invitation is particularly significant as it marks only the second case of a researcher affiliated with a Korean institution being selected, following Professor JungSuk Han of the College of Business at Seoul National University.

The Finance Theory Group (FTG) is an international academic organization dedicated to advancing and disseminating theoretical research in financial economics, with a focus on corporate finance, financial institutions, and financial markets. FTG aims to ensure that financial theory leads academic discourse, drives empirical research, and contributes to policy implications. The organization hosts two regular conferences each year in spring and fall, providing a platform for members and fellows to present and discuss their latest research. In addition, FTG operates various academic programs, including the Summer School, Summer Conference, “Bridging Theory and Empirical Research in Finance” Conference, and Asian Conference.

FTG is a relatively small research network composed of approximately 200 regular members and around 40 fellows. Membership is granted through an invitation-only process, requiring nomination by existing members and review by the board. As a result, its members consist of leading scholars in financial theory from top universities and research institutions worldwide. The composition of its past and current leadership further demonstrates this level of excellence. Founding co-chairs Itay Goldstein and Gustavo Manso, along with prominent scholars such as Zhiguo He, Martin Oehmke, Simon Gervais, and Uday Rajan, have led the organization. Its fellows and members also include globally renowned scholars and Nobel laureates in economics, such as Bengt Holmström, Oliver Hart, Jean Tirole, and Douglas Diamond, as well as distinguished mid-career and emerging researchers actively publishing in top-tier journals.

Professor Ki-Young Lee, who has been selected as a regular member of FTG, has actively conducted research in financial economics theory. He has accumulated outstanding international research achievements, including publications in the Journal of Finance and the Journal of Financial Economics, which are among the most prestigious journals in the field. His current research focuses on key topics in modern financial economics, such as banking, financial crises, ESG, decentralized finance, and artificial intelligence, continuing to make significant academic contributions through theoretical analysis.

Professor Ki-Young Lee’s invitation to FTG membership can be seen as recognition of his academic contributions within the international financial theory research community. It is expected that, through active engagement with leading global scholars, he will further enhance the international standing of research in financial economics theory and contribute to strengthening the global research competitiveness of the Department of Economics at SKKU.