Kim Hee-chul, a branch manager at Kookmin Bank, became the country’s first bank employee to obtain a doctorate in North Korean studies.

Kim obtained the degree from Dongkook University with his thesis on expenses arising from unification of the two Koreas that examines estimates of the costs and measures for raising the funds. The thesis also put forward new ideas such as gift vouchers for raising capital to fund the unification of the peninsula.

Kim chose to study North Korean studies after he received an MBA from the University of Helsinki after deciding that he needed to have a unique edge in his industry.

Saying that North Korean studies presented an opportunity for securing competitiveness in a field that is mostly looked over, Kim said that knowledge in North Korean affairs will come to be in wider demand within the financial industry following the unification of the two Koreas.

(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)