Ra, Jongyil is a distinguished Professor at Gachon University. Born in Seoul, he holds a BA and MA from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, England. He held research and teaching positions in many academic institutes including Kyung Hee University, Hanyang University, Stanford University, University of Southern California, Athens University, and Cambridge University. He was Director of Administration in the 15th Presidential Transition Committee, 1st and 2nd Director of the National Intelligence Service, Senior National Security Advisor to the President, and Ambassador to the UK and Japan. He was the President of Woosuk University too.