Yonghee Kim

Yonghee Kim

Ph.D. Candidate | Researcher | Counselor

Specializing in Counseling Psychology, I explore vocational identity formation among regional university students.

Research Interests

Vocational Identity

Investigating the processes and determinants in the formation of vocational identity during the college years.

Regional Students

Understanding the unique experiences and challenges of regional university students.

Narrative Approaches

Utilizing narrative approaches to uncover personal stories.

Mixed Methods

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods to provide comprehensive insights.

Education

2021 - Present

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Education

Pusan National University, Korea

Specialization: Counseling Psychology

2014 - 2016

M.A., Graduate School of Education, Psychology

Hiroshima University, Japan

Specialization: Developmental Psychology

Thesis: Examination of the Relationship between Vocational Identity and Planned Happenstance Skills in University Students

2007 - 2013

B.A., Department of Japanese Language and Literature

Dong-A University, Korea

Counseling Experience

Guest Counselor

Sep. 2025 – Present

Student Counseling Center, Busan University of Foreign Studies

Individual counseling, career counseling, psychological assessment interpretation.

Guest Counselor

Mar. 2025 – Present

Student Counseling Center, Dong-Eui University

Individual counseling, career counseling, group counseling, psychological assessment interpretation, special lectures.

Guest Counselor

Mar. 2023 – Aug. 2025

Career Development Center, Dong-A University

Career counseling, psychological assessment interpretation, special lectures on psychological assessment, career workshops.

Guest Counselor

Mar. 2024 – Feb. 2025

Student Career & Psych. Counseling Center, Busan Institute of Science & Technology

Individual counseling, career counseling, psychological assessment interpretation, career special lectures.

Counseling Volunteer

Mar. 2023 – Feb. 2024

Geumjeong-gu Family Center, Busan

Individual counseling (telephone counseling).

Guest Counselor

Mar. 2022 – Feb. 2023

Student Counseling Center, Dong-A University

Individual counseling, psychological assessment interpretation.

Counselor / Trainee

Sep. 2018 – Feb. 2022

Wooridle Psychological Counseling Center, Changwon

Individual counseling, psychological assessment interpretation.

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Counselor, Level 2 (Korean Counseling Association)
  • Youth Counselor, Level 2 (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
  • Specialist in Brief Family Therapy (Korea Brief Family Therapy Institute)
  • Clinical Psychologist, Level 2 (Human Resources Development Service of Korea)

Publications & Presentations

Journal Articles

  • Kim, Y., & Yoo, S. (2026). Why did they choose to "wait and see?": Understanding undifferentiated vocational identity status in Korean university students. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 48(24), 1-25.
  • Kim, Y., Nam, H., Jeong, J., & Yoo, S. (2024). An exploratory study on the master narratives and alternative narratives perceived by regional university students: Based on the CQR-M. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 31(7), 369–397. [In Korean]
  • Kim, E., Jeong, J., Kim, Y., & Yoo, S. (2023). Analysis of research trends on career transition in Korea. Journal of Career Education Research, 36(1), 67–94. [In Korean]
  • Kim, Y., Yoo, S., Kim, E., & Jeong, J. (2022). An analysis of research trends on vocational identity of university students in Korea. Journal of Educational Research, 20(2), 61–85. [In Korean]
  • Jeong, J., Kim, Y., Kim, E., & Yoo, S. (2021). The types of stress among university students during COVID-19 situation using Q methodology. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 28(10), 427–451. [In Korean]

Books & Book Chapters

  • Sugimura, K., Tokuoka, M., Nishida, W., Hihara, S., Kajiyama, N., & Kim, Y. (2018). Perspectives on generativity research: From identity to generativity (Generativity series). In Y. Okamoto, Y. Kamite, & M. Kanno (Eds.), Generativity in adolescence (pp. 281–297). Nakanishiya Publishing. [In Japanese]

Selected Presentations

  • Kim, Y., & Yoo, S. (Jan. 2024). Why did they choose to "wait and see?": Understanding undifferentiated vocational identity status in Korean university students. International Conference on Business, Education and Social Sciences, Hokkaido, Japan. [Oral]
  • Nam, H. R., Kim, Y., & Jeong, J. (Jan. 2024). A study of internalized regional discrimination experiences among university students in Busan. International Conference on Business, Education and Social Sciences, Hokkaido, Japan. [Oral]
  • Kim, Y., Nam, H., Kim, E., Jeong, J., & Yoo, S. (Dec. 2023). An exploratory study of intersectional experiences on regional and gender discrimination among university students. New Directions and Roles of Education in the Era of Digital Transformation. [Oral]
  • Kim, Y., Kim, E., Jeong, J., & Yoo, S. (Feb. 2022). Research trends on career identity in Korean college students. 30th Anniversary Conference of the Korean Society for Educational Thought. [Poster] — Excellence Award

Professional Experience

Peer Review

Emerging Adulthood (Mar. 2026, Sep. 2025)

Graduate Researcher

BK21 Research Group on Social Responsibility of Education, Pusan National University (Mar. 2021 – Feb. 2022; Sep. 2023 – Feb. 2025)

Academic Advisor

Student Career and Psychological Counseling Center, Busan Institute of Science and Technology (Sep. 2024 – Feb. 2025)

Research Student

Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University, Japan (Oct. 2013 – Mar. 2014)

Featured Lectures & Workshops

  • "Future-Self Connected", Dong-Eui University, 2026
  • "Finding My Direction", Dong-Eui University, 2025
  • "A Journey of Self-Discovery through Film", Dong-Eui University, 2025
  • Career and Psychological Assessment, Dong-A University, 2025
  • "Re:start – Imagining My Future Self", Busan Institute of Science and Technology, 2024
  • "Culturally Responsive Career Planning", Dong-A University, 2024
  • "Pre-service Teacher Competency Enhancement Program", Dong-A University, 2022