YOOK Dong Il, President of the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration (Urban and Local Administration) from Yonsei University, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of New Haven.

He has contributed to the advancement of local autonomy and balanced regional development in Korea through various leadership roles, including President of the Korean Association for Local Government Studies, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Urban and Autonomous Convergence Studies at Chungnam National University, and Chair of the Council of Chairs of Metropolitan and Provincial Committees for Decentralization and Balanced Development.

In November 2024, he was appointed President of the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration and has since been leading the institute. His major publications include 《Vision and Strategies for National and Regional Development in the With-COVID Era》 (2021) and 《2025 Local Administration Trends》 (2024).