Khun Byun is a Nonresident Kelly Fellow at Pacific Forum. His research examines alliance effectiveness and how states make security decisions under economic and geopolitical constraints. He focuses on South Korea’s security choices amid U.S.-China strategic competition, North Korea’s military threat, and regional economic interdependence. His current project analyzes how the U.S.-ROK alliance can prepare for the economic coercion and alliance credibility risks South Korea may face during a Taiwan contingency. Byun previously served as an Administrative Officer at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago. He holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Chicago, an MA in Law and Diplomacy with concentrations in Political Economy and Development Economics from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a BA in Journalism from Indiana University Bloomington. He also served as a sergeant in the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA)