Professor Ahn served as a faculty member in the School of Economics at Chung-Ang University for 33 years, during which he published numerous internationally recognized books and academic papers, particularly on East Asian economic development and integration. During his tenure at Chung-Ang University, he also served as President of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy and as Chair of the APEC Economic Committee while on sabbatical. After his retirement, he further contributed to international policymaking on the liberalization and facilitation of cross-border trade and investment as the Foreign Investment Ombudsman.
Professor Choi Ho-jin (1914–2010), after graduating from Gyeonggi High School and majoring in economics at Kyushu University in Japan, played a pivotal role in establishing economics as a formal academic discipline in Korea after liberation. He also served as President of the Korean Economic Association from 1956 to 1978, laying the foundation for the Association’s development. In honor of his distinguished contributions, the Korean Economic Association established the Choi Ho-jin Academic Award.