Dongkeun Lee is a PhD candidate at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC) at the Australian National University (ANU). Before joining SDSC as a PhD candidate in February 2022, he served for three years as an intelligence officer in the ROKN. His thesis analyses the development of sea power in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on geopolitics and maritime strategic culture. Furthermore, his dissertation examines how sea power influences the shaping of maritime order in the Indo-Pacific through English School theory. His case studies include the United States, China, Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea. Besides the thesis, his research interest lie in maritime security and international order of the Indo-Pacific region. His works are featured in various outlets such as Marine Policy, Asan Forum and ORF. From 2024 to 2025, Dongkeun has been a doctoral fellow of the Japan Foundation, conducting research based at Keio University.
