Born in Busan, he immigrated to the United States while studying at Chung-Ang University. After majoring in photojournalism at New York University, he began working as a photojournalist for The New York Times in 1994. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002, alongside The New York Times photo team, for breaking news coverage of the 9/11 attacks and a feature story depicting people suffering amid the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2008, he received the Grantham Award for his series 'Choking on Growth,' addressing environmental issues related to China's economic growth. His multimedia video work, 'Second Chance,' earned him praise and a second-place award from the New York Press Photographers Association (NYPPA).

He began his career as a Program Director at Hatje Cantz Publishing, which originally started as separate companies—Hatje Publishing and Cantz Publishing—before assisting in their merger in 1990. After the merger into Hatje Cantz Publishing, he pioneered the establishment of a photography program. In the current era of digitalization and globalization, he continually reflects on the present and future of traditional publishing, often writing about it.

She is an international contemporary art curator, having served as the head of the academic department at Gwangju City Museum of Art, senior curator at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, director of the China Contemporary Art Award, and guest curator at the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange.

She is a cognitive scientist specializing in photography and works at the Yonsei University Institute of Cognitive Science. She pioneered a unique field by integrating visual psychology and photographic theory, exploring the fusion of science and art. Engaging in foundational research analyzing photographic images using psychological research methods, she oversees various applied areas such as exhibition planning, publishing, photography education, and artist support. Currently, she holds various roles, including exhibition advisory board member at Artsonje Center, creative director at Hanjin Group Ilwoo Foundation, legal advisor for Imprima Korea's image copyright, advisory board member for the Han ASEAN Center, public relations advisor for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and director at Ryu Hwa-rang Foundation. She also contributes columns to Chosun Ilbo, Central Sunday, The Economist (Perspectives), and Monthly VON.

Her authored works include , , and . Additionally, she has curated over 40 exhibitions domestically and internationally, such as , , , and .

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees (Meister) from Cologne University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in various countries, including Fotoforum Schwarzbund in Bielefeld, Gallerie Fabrik Heeder in Krefeld, Seoul Arts Center, Sunjae Museum of Art, The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, Williams Tower Gallery in Houston, and the Museum of Modern Art in Saitama, Japan. He is currently a professor in the Department of Photography at Baekje University, and his works are held in collections at the National Library of France (Bibliotheque Nationale) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.