Dr. Chan-il Ahn is President of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, Chair Professor Emeritus of Open Cyber University of Korea, Co-Chair of Action for Korea United, Senior Advisor of Ministry of National Defense, and Member of National Unification Advisory Council. He was born in Uiju North Korea, then he defected to South Korea in 1979. He earned a PhD at Konkuk University in politics. MA at Korea University Graduate School, graduated college of Political Science and Diplomacy at Korea University.