Seongcheol Im is a second-year Master of Urban Innovation student at the University of Toronto, pursuing research at the intersection of mobility of care, urban infrastructure of care, and regional innovation systems, focusing on how transit systems and local service provision shape time-feasible access to everyday opportunities, particularly for young adults and caregivers. He studied urban administration and entrepreneurship in Seoul and is now supported by the Korean Government Scholarship for Study Overseas to specialize in comparative urban and regional development. His current research examines how transit networks, work-home-care travel time *by gender, and care-related service delivery jointly shape caregiving feasibility and family life opportunities across city-regions.
In South Korea, he founded and led two language and intercultural EdTech startups, coordinated international higher-education initiatives at the Ministry of Education, and advised national and local governments, informing youth and entrepreneurship policymaking. He has also contributed to applied geography and planning research with national research institutes and city partners, including the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements and the City of Mississauga, translating theoretical inquiries into actionable evidence.
Mobility of Care in Auto-Oriented Cities: A Comparative Study of Mississauga and Nagoya – Mitacs Globalink Research Award (2026)
Mobility of Care in Mississauga’s Bus Network – Graduate Fellowship (2025), School of Cities, University of Toronto
MiWay Project – CUE Summer Research Award (2025), Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto
TRBOT Case Competition: Protecting Employment Lands in the GTHA – Top Award (2025), Toronto Region Board of Trade
Korean Government Scholarship for Study Overseas, General Track, Regional Studies – North America (2023), Ministry of Education
Ncode Technology Hackathon – Top Award (2019), NeoLAB Convergence Inc.
UOS Entrepreneur Competition – Top Award (2019, 2017), Excellence Award (2018), University of Seoul
ACE+ Global Program – International Field Research Grant; Shenzhen, China (2018), University of Seoul
Future City Frontier Program – International Field Research Grant; Beijing, China (2018), University of Seoul
CKL Entrepreneur Competition – Top Award (2018), Excellence Award (2017), Content Korea Lab
UOS Entrepreneur Scholarship (2018, 2017), UOS Youth Education Scholarship (2018, 2014), University of Seoul
UOS Outstanding Extracurricular Achievement Award (2018), University of Seoul
Seoul Startup Hub Entrepreneur Competition – Merit Award (2017), Seoul Metropolitan Government
Smart Creation Center Entrepreneur Competition – Excellence Award (2017), Ministry of SMEs and Startups
UOS International Friendship Achievement Award (2017), University of Seoul
EBS Content Creation Contest – Excellence Award (2017), Korea Educational Broadcasting System
Global Business & Entrepreneurship Study Program – International Field Research Grant; Jakarta, Indonesia (2014), University of Seoul
LG Dream Challenger Studentship (2014), LG Corporation
Seoul Jungnang-gu Youth Education Scholarship (2013), Jungnang-Gu Office, Seoul Metropolitan Government