Pukyong National University · Busan, Korea
Hak-Seon Kim, Ph.D.
김학선 교수 · Professor
We study how people choose, taste, and travel, using data.
About
Data-driven research for hospitality and tourism
Hak-Seon Kim is a Professor at Pukyong National University (PKNU) in Busan, Korea, where he leads the Business Analytics Research Lab (BAR Lab). His work turns big data, GeoAI and eye-tracking into evidence for better decisions in hospitality, tourism and foodservice.
He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Asia Business and Service Innovation (ABSI) and Culinary Science and Hospitality Research (CSHR). Before joining PKNU in 2026, he spent fifteen years at Kyungsung University, where he was Founding Dean of the Global College, Founding Director of International Affairs, and founder of the Wellness Tourism Big Data Research Center.
He received his Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration from Texas Tech University and his B.S. and M.S. from Seoul National University.
Appointments
- ProfessorPukyong National University
- Visiting ScholarDept. of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi
- Founding Dean, Global CollegeKyungsung University
- ProfessorKyungsung University
- Research ProfessorFlorida State University
Education
- Ph.D., Hospitality AdministrationTexas Tech University
- M.S. and B.S.Seoul National University
Research
Four connected areas
Each project starts from what people actually do: what they write, where they go, and what they look at.
Big data text mining
Online reviews and social media as measures of service quality and customer experience.
GeoAI and spatial analytics
Location intelligence for tourism demand, urban parks and destination connectivity.
Eye-tracking consumer behavior
Measuring what travelers and diners really notice, instead of relying on what they say.
Wellness and food tourism
How food, health and travel meet, with implications for policy and destinations.
Publications
Selected publications
More than 250 peer-reviewed papers. The complete, up-to-date list is on Google Scholar.
- 2026Leveraging big data and spatial analysis for customer-centric evaluation of Chinese tourism performing artsZhang, X., Zhong, Y., Ekaputra, R. A., & Kim, H.-S. · Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology
- 2025A geospatial and big data exploration of tourism destinations: A case study of Busan, Republic of KoreaKim, S., Riswanto, A. L., Williady, A., Ekaputra, R. A., & Kim, H.-S. · Electronic Markets, 35, 46
- 2024Exploring customers experience and satisfaction with theme hotels: A cross-cultural analysis of hotel reviewsZhang, X., Yu, J., & Kim, H.-S. · SAGE Open
- 2022The impact of hotel customer experience on customer satisfaction through online reviewsKim, Y.-J., & Kim, H.-S. · Sustainability, 14(2), 848
Editorial
Editor-in-Chief
Two peer-reviewed journals in business, service and hospitality research.
BAR Lab brings graduate researchers together around real data from hotels, restaurants, destinations and cities. Alumni now teach and work across Asia and beyond.
Prospective graduate students, including those interested in PKNU’s English-taught programs, are welcome to get in touch by email with a CV and a short research interest statement.
Contact