Heechul Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Urban and Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University (SNU). He earned his B.S. in Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering, with a minor in Economics, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Design from SNU. He subsequently held postdoctoral appointments at SNU’s Institute of Engineering Research, Institute of Health and Environment, and Environmental Planning Institute. After serving on the faculty at Mokpo National University and Gachon University, he joined SNU in September 2026. He is currently active in several academic societies, including the Korea Planning Association, the Urban Design Institute of Korea, the Korean Regional Science Association, and the Korean Society of Civil Engineers.

Professor Kim’s research explores how urban spatial structures and planning can support sustainable cities, with a focus on the relationships between the built environment and social and economic activity. In particular, he empirically examines how land use and urban form shape everyday behavior and urban performance, using these insights to inform the planning of more walkable and sustainable cities. His work draws on urban computing methods—including statistical and spatial analysis, machine learning, GIS, and urban big data—to investigate the measurement and drivers of urban performance, the survival and transformation of commercial districts, neighborhood accessibility within the framework of the 15-minute city, and pedestrian-friendly urban form. Through this research, he provides empirical evidence and analytical methods to inform planning practice and urban policy evaluation.