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Research

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  • Research
    Forecasting Disease, Advancing Preventive Health

    Advancing Prevention-Centered Healthcare Through Data-Driven Breakthroughs How profoundly would healthcare transform if medicine moved beyond reactive treatment to anticipate disease risks and intervene before onset? Guided by this fundamental question, Professor Dong Keon Yon has dedicated his research to realizing the potential of preventive healthcare. This vision drives his work at the nexus of digital health, clinical big data, artificial intelligence, and global health—investigating disease onset, transmission dynamics, modifiable risk factors, and long-term societal disease burdens. In recognition of these trailblazing contributions, Professor Yon was appointed a 2025 Kyung Hee Fellow. Reflecting on the honor, he remarked, "I view this recognition as an opportunity to critically assess my research trajectory, and I feel an enduring responsibility to advance scholarship that generates tangible clinical impact.” Professor Yon points to his large-scale predictive modeling—leveraging multinational datasets to quantify disease risk factors and forecast future epidemiologic burdens—as the principal body of work behind this honor. His findings have garnered international prominence across top-tier clinical journals, including four publications in Nature Medicine (IF: 58.7) alongside seminal papers in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association, IF: 55.0). Signature milestones include investigations mapping disease-specific risks using global burden of disease frameworks and in silico virtual clinical trials that harness clinical big data to forecast pharmaceutical efficacy and adverse drug reactions. While these publications address distinct therapeutic areas, they converge on a shared paradigm: illustrating how data science translates into actionable clinical guidelines and evidence-based public health policy. Translating Research into Policy and Clinical Practice Professor Yon does not measure the value of scholarship by publication metrics alone. "The true significance lies in generating actionable evidence that translates directly into clinical practice, reaching far beyond academic prestige," he explained. Anticipating disease trajectories and intervening preemptively curbs healthcare expenditures while empowering authorities to craft more rigorous, finely calibrated public health policies. This translational focus explains why his work commands widespread attention. Rather than stopping at novel empirical findings, his research delivers robust evidentiary frameworks that inform national health initiatives, clinical practice guidelines, and disease-prevention protocols—ensuring discoveries bridge the gap between academic journals and real-world deployment. This methodology proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Yon reflected, "When a novel pathogen emerges, conventional clinical trials face protracted timelines to recruit cohorts and characterize pathology. In contrast, harnessing clinical big data and AI allows us to forecast transmission risks and establish rapid response protocols almost instantaneously." His team’s agile pandemic modeling yielded findings that directly informed the in-flight infection control guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) alongside quarantine and mitigation strategies enacted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). He emphasized that such real-time computational analytics provide critical operational leverage for health authorities under crisis conditions. The Power of Trust-Based CollaborationProfessor Yon emphasizes that contemporary medical science—particularly data-intensive research—can no longer thrive in isolation. In his view, uniting specialists across data science, clinical medicine, and public policy is essential to broaden investigative scope and ensure findings remain grounded in practical healthcare applications. Multidisciplinary collaboration is thus embedded into his study design from the outset. At the Digital Health Center, roughly 100 researchers conduct investigations each year. Directing an operation of this magnitude requires close attention to interpersonal dynamics and collaborative workflows. "Collaboration is non-negotiable in modern science," Professor Yon noted. "The priority must be understanding one another’s scientific goals and unique strengths while establishing mutual trust." Prioritizing durable relationships over short-term publishing metrics has proven to be the cornerstone of his center’s long-term research productivity. Professor Dong Keon Yon discussing research strategies with members of his laboratory. Scalability Fostered by Kyung Hee’s Research EcosystemProfessor Yon underscores that systemic university backing played a pivotal role throughout his scholarly journey. "Nurturing the next generation of researchers demands a robust institutional ecosystem just as much as dedicated faculty mentorship," he noted. Flagship initiatives—such as the Mosaic Scholarship program, which rewards undergraduate students who author peer-reviewed papers, alongside competitive graduate fellowships for top-tier scholars—have provided vital incentives for students in his laboratory. The university's logistical commitment to dedicated research infrastructure proved equally decisive. Professor Yon highlighted that securing tailored physical facilities to accommodate the center's operations brought stability to daily laboratory management and substantially accelerated research output. He praised the university’s agile, responsive administration in providing targeted resources aligned with the evolving scale of his investigative projects. Transitioning from Fast Follower to First MoverFollowing his appointment as a Kyung Hee Fellow, Professor Yon’s overarching ambition is unequivocal. While his earlier milestones stemmed from responding swiftly to international scientific trends, he now seeks to move beyond tracking global momentum to charting entirely new trajectories. "My goal is to shift decisively from being a fast follower to acting as a first mover," Professor Yon stated, underscoring his drive to pioneer foundational research questions and analytical benchmarks that guide the global scientific community. Looking beyond individual scholarly accolades, Professor Yon is committed to positioning Kyung Hee University as a preeminent global research hub. Toward this end, he will continue pushing the frontiers of predictive disease modeling, expanding the horizons of prevention-centered medicine.

    2026.10.29
  • Global Eminence , Academics
    Discovering the Earth in a Maze

    The HIGH-CONCEPT FX Lab, directed by Professor Youbin Kim of the Department of Industrial Design, was selected for the 2026 Public Design Lab, co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF). Professor Youbin Kim’s research team in the Department of Industrial Design selected for the 2026 Public Design Lab initiative An experiential public design initiative engaging ecological awareness through playful exploration The HIGH-CONCEPT FX Lab, directed by Professor Youbin Kim of the Department of Industrial Design, has been selected for the 2026 Public Design Lab initiative, co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF). The Public Design Lab operates as an experimental testbed where undergraduate and graduate researchers identify everyday civic challenges, deploy tangible spatial design interventions, and evaluate public engagement in real-world settings. By installing interactive installations within heavily trafficked civic spaces, the initiative observes firsthand how design interventions function in daily life, rigorously evaluating both their practical feasibility and measurable social impact. Designing Experiences Through Future TechnologiesOperating under the theme of "Public Design Connecting Localities and Daily Life," the project will unfold within an indoor pop-up plaza at a major department store in Seoul, with outcomes slated for presentation at a performance-sharing symposium during the Public Design Festival this October. Commenting on the initiative, Professor Youbin Kim remarked, "I have long tracked this program with keen interest, as it provides an annual platform spotlighting innovative, experimental public design interventions nationwide. We aim to catalyze tangible shifts in civic life by leveraging the design ideas and technical expertise cultivated in our laboratory." True to its designation, the HIGH-CONCEPT FX Lab pursues creative design that radically reinterprets the essence of conventional challenges through fresh conceptual paradigms. Guided by the tenets of high-concept, high-quality, and high-end execution, the laboratory seeks to transcend superficial problem-solving, re-anchoring core design challenges in novel frameworks. "Consistent with our laboratory's identity, we look beyond existing technical capabilities to harness future-facing technologies, continually engineering unprecedented user experiences and visionary spatial planning," Professor Kim noted. While traditional design focused predominantly on the fabrication and commercialization of material goods, contemporary design has shifted decisively toward "experience design"—an ethos where users actively participate and construct enduring memories. Positioned at the vanguard of this paradigm shift, Professor Kim advances research that architects pioneering user experiences through the integration of emerging technologies. The laboratory’s experiential methodologies have already demonstrated practical viability in physical environments. Two years ago, a team of six undergraduate and graduate researchers curated an interactive exhibition in collaboration with the German toy brand Playmobil, earning selection for the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Young Design Fair. For this project, the team engineered an interactive photo kiosk embedded with AI facial-recognition technology capable of detecting and dynamically responding to visitors' emotional expressions in real time. Complementing the kiosk, the researchers designed an ESG-themed educational maze that utilized character-driven narratives to foster environmental awareness, seamlessly fusing interactive technology with immersive spatial storytelling. This past May, the laboratory took part in the 2026 DDP Children’s Design Festival at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, unveiling "RE:Play Green Hero"—a play-based environmental education program developed through an Industry-Coupled Problem-Based Learning (IC-PBL) partnership with the Seoul Design Foundation. Across a two-month span, 35 students spanning three academic departments, including Industrial Design, steered the initiative through every phase from initial conception to onsite execution. The four-day activation drew approximately 240,000 visitors and registered an exceptional 96 percent visitor satisfaction rate. The research team’s selection for the Public Design Lab marks the culmination of these sustained pedagogical and public engagement milestones. Informed by prior successes in AI photo kiosk engineering and play-based environmental education, the Public Design Lab project builds upon the accumulated design expertise of Professor Youbin Kim and her research team. From Static Fixtures to Experiential Nudge Design in Public SpacesAt the heart of the project is an indoor participatory maze constructed entirely from recycled substrates. Children navigate through an eight-stage sequential path from entry to mission completion, systematically engaging with the plastic waste crisis, the ecological toll on vulnerable wildlife, and circular resource dynamics. The maze embeds interactive stamp rallies, collaborative waste-sorting trials, and modular building activities using upcycled blocks, seamlessly harmonizing play-based discovery with ecological pedagogy. The journey is structured as a cohesive narrative arc engineered to spark sustained environmental stewardship long after participants exit the maze. The initiative’s central focus—circular resource management—anchors directly in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. "While children often learn about the gravity of plastic pollution in classroom textbooks, theoretical lessons rarely resonate viscerally," Professor Kim observed. "Immersive, kinesthetic engagement is the most effective medium for nurturing lasting environmental consciousness in youth." Departing from conventional Public Design Lab projects centered on static street furniture such as benches or decorative pavilions, this initiative integrates behavioral nudge design to establish an interactive, campaign-driven paradigm marked by active civic engagement. Seven undergraduate and graduate researchers are participating in the project. The deliberate inclusion of lower-division undergraduates enables early-career students to gain direct experiential insights by liaising with public agencies and industry partners, learning firsthand how governmental institutions articulate civic messaging and what sustainable imperatives the design sector prioritizes. To substantiate the installation’s real-world educational value, the research team is tracking participants' affective shifts before and after the maze experience and conducting follow-up parental interviews to assess behavioral changes at home. Using the Public Design Lab as a launching pad, Professor Kim plans to evolve the experiential maze from an ephemeral pop-up into a versatile mobile platform. "Whereas conventional academic research grants frequently culminate in one-off deliverables like technology transfers or patent filings, we envision this maze as an adaptable platform bridging indoor and outdoor public spaces—continually inviting broad civic participation and cultivating environmental literacy," Professor Kim emphasized. Envisioning the experiential maze not as a temporary installation but as a scalable public platform, Professor Youbin Kim noted, "Our goal is to create sustained touchpoints for civic participation across diverse public spaces."

    2026.10.29
  • Academics , Other
    Kyung Hee University Selected for Neuroscience Track in 2026 Bio-Health Global Scholar Mentorship

    Professor Dokyoung Kim of the College of Medicine at Kyung Hee University has been selected to lead the neuroscience track of the 2026 Bio-Health Global Scholar Mentorship Program. Integration of world-class scholar mentorship, multidisciplinary education, and collaborative research A premier training platform for the next generation of physician-scientists Kyung Hee University has been designated as a host institution for the neuroscience track of the 2026 Bio-Health Global Scholar Mentorship Program, an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). Professor Dokyoung Kim of the College of Medicine serves as the project's Principal Investigator (PI). Leveraging Kyung Hee’s integrated clinical-biomedical infrastructure and expansive international network, Professor Kim’s research consortium will officially launch a specialized platform designed to cultivate next-generation physician-scientists through direct mentorship from global intellectual leaders, convergent curricula, and high-impact joint research. Participating faculty include Professors Yong Jun Kim, Tong In Oh, and Somin Lee from the College of Medicine, alongside Professors Inhwa Baek and Jaehoon Sim from the College of Pharmacy. Elucidating Neurological Disorders from Molecules to Clinics Across Three Convergent Tracks The initiative is designed to cultivate future bio-health leaders by facilitating rigorous knowledge exchange and mentorship between distinguished international scholars and emerging domestic physician-scientists. For the 2026 funding cycle, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) solicited nationwide proposals for designated host institutions across five strategic priority areas: neuroscience, immunology, genetics, medical imaging and diagnostic support systems, and medical AI and digital health. Kyung Hee University secured the award for the neuroscience track, reflecting competitive external validation of the institution’s accumulated biomedical research leadership and international collaborative network. Under this grant, Kyung Hee University will administer an integrated interdisciplinary training curriculum that bridges neuroscience research across the full translational spectrum—spanning molecules, cells, and tissues to clinical applications. A defining feature of the initiative is its dual-mentorship structure, which pairs direct guidance from renowned global authorities with hands-on supervision by resident Kyung Hee faculty. The program is anchored by three foundational research tracks: 1) Molecular & Imaging; 2) Cellular & Disease Modeling; and 3) Tissue & Translational Medicine. Strengthening National Bio-Health Competitiveness Through Integrated Medical Infrastructure The Molecular & In Vivo Imaging Track investigates the etiology of neurological disorders utilizing single-molecule fluorescence imaging and super-resolution molecular dynamics. The Cellular & Disease Modeling Track examines pathogenic mechanisms underlying rare neurological conditions via human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal differentiation and patient-derived disease models. The Tissue & Translational Medicine Track accelerates the translation of foundational discoveries into clinical interventions, focusing on tumor microenvironment modulation in refractory brain cancers, targeted drug delivery platforms, intravital imaging, and translational clinical trials. The initiative brings together prominent international investigators, including Professors Taekjip Ha, Rakesh K. Jain, and Sua Myong of Harvard Medical School, alongside Professor Gabsang Lee of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Moving beyond episodic seminars, the program establishes a longitudinal pipeline spanning candidate selection, rigorous training, cooperative research, and research dissemination across nine specialized tracks: Global e-Mentorship, Neuroscience Convergence Microdegree, Summer Basic Research Bootcamp, Multidisciplinary Team Research "Re:Brain-X," Global Career Clinic, Medical Science Growth Camp, Innovative Open Colloquium, Overseas Training Fellowships, and the Grand Demoday Results Showcase. Through this curriculum, trainees systematically cultivate foundational wet-lab research proficiencies alongside international co-investigator experience, grant writing competencies, and strategic global career trajectories. "Kyung Hee University commands a unified medical sciences matrix encompassing conventional medicine, dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and East-West medical science, underpinned by research-driven hospital infrastructure and established international networks," noted Principal Investigator Professor Kim. "This national selection validates Kyung Hee’s institutional research caliber and collaborative global capacity. By anchoring our efforts in neuroscience, we will cultivate the next generation of biomedical researchers and physician-scientists while reinforcing the nation's bio-health competitiveness on the global stage."

    2026.10.29
  • Research , Global Eminence
    Kyung Hee University Signs MOU to Launch AI Design & Marketing 2.0 Initiative

    The Anchor Project Group signed an MOU for the "Academic Year 2026 AI Design & Marketing 2.0 Project" with five partner institutions. Competitive leap in design and marketing for Gyeonggi-do SMEs and merchants Creative resolution of on-the-ground industry challenges through student ideas The Anchor Project Group (Global) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the "Academic Year 2026 AI Design & Marketing 2.0 Project" with five partner institutions at Peace Hall on the third floor of the Global Campus Central Library. Participating entities included the Balanced Development Headquarters of the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator, the Commercial District Revitalization Center of Yongin Special City, the Southern Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, the Gyeonggi RISE Project Operation Team of Myongji University (Natural Science Campus), and the RISE Industry-Academia Cooperation Group of Hanyang University ERICA. As part of Gyeonggi Province's Regional Growth Talent Cultivation (Anchor) initiative, the AI Design & Marketing 2.0 Project aims to strengthen students' practical competencies and drive regional development by boosting the design and marketing competitiveness of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small merchants. The project will support 15 local SMEs, small businesses, and commercial districts alongside students from Kyung Hee University, Myongji University, and Hanyang University ERICA. The project unfolds across four sequential phases: Meet-up Day, Matching Day, educational programs, and a final competition paired with a performance-sharing showcase. Representative corporate personnel directly present real-world challenges—such as brand aging or a lack of digital marketing strategy—whereupon students analyze issues through Q&A and debate, subsequently forming interdisciplinary teams uniting design, marketing, and AI majors. Each collaborating institution fulfills assigned roles to power the initiative: the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator identifies and connects promising SMEs; the Small Enterprise and Market Service gathers small business challenges and recruits participating enterprises; and Yongin Special City uncovers projects within local alleyway commercial districts. Suk-Won Choi, Associate Director of the RISE Project Group (Global), stated, "We will execute this project thoughtfully so that talented students equipped with AI-based design and marketing capabilities gain invaluable experience solving tangible problems in our local community."

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    2026.10.21
  • Research
    East-West Medical School, Ourhome, and Samsung Noble County Target Senior Cognitive Health

    Kyung Hee University’s Graduate School of East-West Medical Science formalized a partnership with Ourhome Co., Ltd. and Samsung Noble County, establishing a testbed for the clinical validation of its research. Real-world demonstration framework for MAFRA national research projects Cross-sector collaboration system to spearhead the senior lifecare sector Kyung Hee University’s Graduate School of East-West Medical Science entered into a tripartite agreement titled "Lifecare Joint Research to Enhance Senior Cognitive Function" with food service enterprise Ourhome Co., Ltd. and senior-living community Samsung Noble County to collaboratively develop dietary interventions targeting cognitive health in older adults. Held on Thursday the 6th in the main conference room of the Central Library on the Global Campus, the signing ceremony brought together Yoo Kyoung Park, Dean of the Graduate School of East-West Medical Science; Jeong-Ik Yang, Executive Vice President of the MCP Business Division at Ourhome; and Seong-Hyun Park, Director of Samsung Noble County. Collaborative Development of Customized Senior Nutrition and Specialized Dining Services The partnership establishes a real-world clinical validation testbed for an ongoing national research project under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)’s "High Value-Added Food Technology Development" initiative, in which all three entities participate. With South Korea’s transition into a super-aged society, preventing cognitive decline has emerged as a national health priority, accelerating the need for targeted dietary interventions that support cognitive function. Serving as the project's principal investigator, Dean Yoo Kyoung Park will lead the multi-year study through December 2029. Under the framework of the agreement, the tripartite partners will co-design and develop tailored senior nutrition regimens and specialized dining services. From 2027 to 2029, the programs will be rolled out, managed, and clinically validated within the living facilities of Samsung Noble County. By leveraging longitudinal operational datasets—including nutritional tracking metrics, biomarker indicators, and resident satisfaction scores—the team will evaluate intervention efficacy and establish a scalable, sustainable operational model. The division of responsibilities among the three partners was also outlined in detail. Kyung Hee University will oversee the compilation of a comprehensive food-ingredient database while providing research and clinical oversight. Ourhome will formulate standardized recipes enriched with neuroprotective functional compounds and develop scalable commercialization models. Samsung Noble County will spearhead on-site clinical demonstrations and curate longitudinal lifecare data. Between August and December, the tripartite team will define dietary criteria, finalize the ingredient database, and prepare for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to conduct the clinical interventions. A pilot program scheduled for April next year will evaluate the initial efficacy of the specialized diets, paving the way for the deployment of tailored operational models—scaled to institutional capacity and resident health profiles—from 2028 through 2029. Dean Park remarked, "This collaborative framework establishes a vital empirical foundation for geriatric dietary research grounded in medical and nutritional sciences. By leveraging this cross-sector partnership, we will actively contribute our clinical expertise and research advisory to ensure these cognitive-enhancing regimens translate seamlessly into real-world senior care."

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    2026.10.21
  • Global Eminence
    Giving Back: Carrying Forward the Generosity Found at Kyung Hee

    Professor Dong Keon Yon of the College of Medicine was formally inducted into the Arete Club after pledging 50 million KRW to the Department of Digital Health Fund. The "Professor Dong Keon Yon Arete Club Pledge Ceremony" took place late last month in Room 213 of the University Main Building. Attendees included Jeong-Taek Woo, Vice President for Medical Affairs; Young Buhm Huh, Dean of the College of Medicine; Sang Youl Rhee, Professor of Medicine; Do-Gyun Kim, Vice President for External Affairs; and Jin-Mu Jung, Director of the College of Medicine Administrative Office. Emceed by Vice President Do-Gyun Kim, the event featured introductions of distinguished guests, congratulatory addresses, donor remarks, the presentation of the pledge certificate, and a commemorative photo session. In his congratulatory address, Vice President Jeong-Taek Woo highlighted that philanthropy extends far beyond financial assistance, serving as a compassionate commitment that uplifts the lives of others. "Professor Yon has continually elevated Kyung Hee's global academic stature through his prolific, world-class scholarship," Vice President Woo remarked. "I hope this gift establishes a vital cornerstone for mentoring future generations of scholars and cultivating the next cohort of leaders in his footsteps." He further commended Professor Yon's decision to foster an enriched research environment where emerging researchers and students can realize their full potential. Channeling the Momentum of Growth Back into Kyung Hee A board-certified pediatrician, Professor Yon broadened his scholarly horizon into healthcare artificial intelligence and medical big data while pursuing doctoral studies in software engineering. He currently serves as Chair of the Department of Digital Health at the College of Medicine and Vice Director of the Kyung Hee Digital Health Center. Continuing an extraordinary trajectory of academic productivity, he was named a 2025 Kyung Hee Fellow (Research) and recently underscored his global research impact by publishing as lead author in Nature (IF: 56.1). Reflecting on his journey, Professor Yon credited his collaborative work with faculty peers and students at Kyung Hee as the primary catalyst for his academic evolution. "Since joining Kyung Hee roughly four years ago, I have received immense support from the institution," he shared. "Without the encouragement of my faculty colleagues and the dedication of my students, achieving this level of research growth would have been impossible." "I decided to make this gift after considering how best to reciprocate that goodwill and provide tangible momentum to Kyung Hee," he added. "Moving forward, I hope to dedicate myself even more deeply to breakthrough research and mentorship, helping propel Kyung Hee into the ranks of the world’s preeminent research universities." The initiative took shape this past June when Professor Yon approached the Office of External Affairs with an intent to give. Aiming to foster cutting-edge growth in the digital health domain, he finalized a 50 million KRW pledge agreement for the Department of Digital Health Fund on July 1. Looking ahead, Professor Yon views this initial gift as the beginning of a sustained philanthropic commitment, with plans to expand into student scholarship endowments. "Working closely alongside our students, I witnessed firsthand how essential financial support can be," he remarked. "My ultimate aspiration is to contribute even more significantly over time and remain a steadfast partner in Kyung Hee’s long-term advancement." Research Collaboration Fosters a Shared Tradition of Giving Professor Sang Youl Rhee, Director of the Kyung Hee Digital Health Center, also attended the ceremony. Professor Rhee had previously been inducted into the Arete Club after pledging a 100 million KRW development fund to the university. Together, the two scholars have spearheaded high-impact research in healthcare artificial intelligence and medical big data at the center. Commending his colleague, Professor Rhee described Professor Yon as a scholar defined by both scientific brilliance and profound care for his students and mentees: "He has dedicated himself to the intellectual growth of our research community—closely mentoring students through their research and opening doors for domestic and international fellowships and exchange programs. Driven by his vision and decisive execution, research at the Digital Health Center has flourished." Professor Rhee added, "What stands out most is his dedication to uplifting students and peers alongside him rather than pursuing individual accolades alone. Having Professor Yon as a colleague is an extraordinary blessing for Kyung Hee." The funds pledged by Professor Yon will be dedicated to the Department of Digital Health Fund at the College of Medicine to advance faculty research and student support. Professor Dong Keon Yon reflects on the spirit of giving and the future of university advancement alongside guests at the pledge ceremony.

    2026.10.21
  • Research
    Simultaneously Diagnosing 7 Respiratory Viruses within 60 Minutes

    TThe "Rotary Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostic System for Rapid and High-Capacity Diagnosis of Multiple Respiratory Viruses," developed by Professor Tae Seok Seo's team in the Department of Chemical Engineering, was named to the "Top 30 Healthcare R&D Achievements of 2026" by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). The Top 30 Healthcare R&D Achievements highlights breakthrough healthcare research for the public. This year, assessing technological innovation, industrial impact, and public health contributions, the ministry selected 16 papers, 6 patents, 4 technology transfers, 3 commercializations, and 1 flagship achievement. Professor Seo's team was spotlighted as a key patent-category milestone. The team engineered a rotary point-of-care molecular diagnostic system capable of simultaneously detecting 7 types of respiratory viruses—including COVID-19—from up to 15 samples within 60 minutes. Reflecting on the honor, Professor Seo remarked, "Alongside the joy of seeing our research recognized, my thoughts immediately turn to the dedicated team members whose hard work made this possible. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that we did not remain confined to laboratory-scale findings, but advanced the technology into a deployable platform for real-world diagnostic settings." He emphasized, "Ultimately, what matters most is that this innovation directly informs clinical decision-making and patient treatment. Rather than an endpoint, this award marks a compelling new beginning," reaffirming his commitment to the next phase of research. Enhancing Accuracy, Speed, and Throughput in Tandem Because most respiratory infections present with overlapping early symptoms, clinical presentation alone is insufficient for identifying the underlying pathogen. When viruses such as COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) co-circulate, rapidly and accurately distinguishing between them becomes paramount. Conventional RT-PCR assays—the current diagnostic gold standard—deliver exceptional sensitivity and specificity, yet depend heavily on centralized instrumentation, trained operators, and time-intensive sample transport and preparation. Conversely, rapid antigen tests offer convenient point-of-care utility, but their lower analytical sensitivity introduces a substantial risk of false negatives. Seeking to bridge the gap between conventional laboratory assays and rapid screening, the research team engineered an advanced Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) system that preserves laboratory-grade diagnostic precision while processing multiple patient specimens on-site. "By automating the diagnostic pipeline from sample loading to readout, this platform slashes turnaround time and relieves the manual burden on clinical personnel," Professor Seo explained. Rapidly differentiating co-circulating respiratory viruses at the point of care empowers clinicians to make immediate decisions regarding patient isolation and targeted therapy, directly mitigating community transmission. "During surges driven by seasonal epidemics or large-scale infectious disease outbreaks," he added, "the system decentralizes the processing bottleneck on reference laboratories and maximizes clinical throughput." A Complete Molecular Diagnostic Pipeline on a Single Disc At the heart of this innovation lies a disposable centrifugal microfluidic disc measuring 130 mm in diameter. The disc integrates the complete architectural micro-structures required for specimen injection, nucleic acid extraction, washing, elution (recovering purified target nucleic acids), reagent metering, gene amplification, and real-time fluorescence detection. By dynamically modulating the disc’s rotational velocity and direction, internal reagents and samples navigate pre-programmed micro-channels via centrifugal force. This fully automates the intricate, multi-step protocols traditionally executed by laboratory technicians within a compact benchtop footprint, establishing a seamless "Sample-in-Answer-out" platform from initial loading to conclusive diagnosis. To regulate fluid dynamics with high volumetric precision, the team integrated a zigzag fluidic metering network, passive burst valves, dual-membrane filters, and phase-change wax-sealed valves. Complementing the disc architecture, they engineered a non-contact induction heating system optimized for rotary operation alongside a dual-color fluorescence detection module. Another technological cornerstone is their proprietary "Switching-PCR" method. By automatically cycling between primary pre-amplification and secondary target amplification within a single chamber, the assay maximizes sensitivity for trace pathogens. The team confirmed robust analytical sensitivity and high reproducibility, detecting targets even at ultra-low viral loads below 10 copies. Simultaneous Detection of 7 Pathogens Across Up to 15 Samples While conventional point-of-care molecular diagnostic instruments yield prompt results, their clinical utility is frequently capped by low sample throughput. Scaling capacity traditionally required chaining multiple instruments or modular cartridges, driving up laboratory footprints and equipment costs. The platform overcomes this trade-off by multiplexing analytical units around a single rotational spindle. Demonstrating scalable architectures configured for 5, 10, and 15 simultaneous samples, the team proved that processing throughput can be scaled without sacrificing system footprint. In its 15-sample configuration, the platform accurately differentiates 7 major respiratory pathogens in under 60 minutes. Beyond hospitals and public health centers, this platform holds significant deployment potential for high-density screening environments where large volumes of specimens must be triaged rapidly, such as port-of-entry quarantine checkpoints and specialized triage clinics. Furthermore, when novel pathogens or mutant viral strains emerge, the system's diagnostic scope can be swiftly reconfigured simply by swapping the assay reagents and primer sets within the disc. From Patent to Market: A Versatile Diagnostic Platform Moving far beyond benchtop prototyping, this achievement successfully navigated the complete pipeline of intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and regulatory clearance. The team secured a registered US patent for its foundational architecture, titled "Microfluidic Device Comprising at Least One Microfluidic Structure and Method for Analyzing Sample Supplied Thereto," and subsequently licensed the technology to startup Forevea Co., Ltd. In tandem, the researchers collaborated with industry partners—including co-development firm Haim Biotech Co., Ltd.—to commercialize their rotary microfluidic actuation and molecular diagnostic platforms. Leveraging this joint effort, four in vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagent kits for high-risk pathogen genetic testing have secured regulatory product approvals, with commercial market rollouts currently underway. Professor Seo noted, "Follow-up research focuses on expanding target diseases, enhancing accuracy and speed, and advancing a multiplex platform for simultaneous screenings," adding that they are exploring global market entry backed by US patents. Beyond respiratory viruses, the rotary point-of-care molecular diagnostic system applies to diverse infectious pathogens and genetic analyses. Adjusting diagnostic reagents and primers enables use in food safety, veterinary diseases, waterborne pathogens, and forensic genetics. Future advances in automated sampling and real-time data analytics will further extend its scope into infectious disease surveillance and digital healthcare systems. Convergence Research Bridges Hospitals and Industry This study united Chemical Engineering graduate students, clinicians from Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, diagnostic specialists, and corporate researchers. It exemplifies convergence research bridging microfluidics, molecular diagnostics, medical device engineering, clinical validation, and commercialization. Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong supplied clinical specimens and conducted performance evaluations. Industry partners managed regulatory approvals and commercialization pathways to translate the university’s foundational technology into market-ready products. Through this tripartite synergy, the team successfully bridged laboratory findings with technology transfer, clinical validation, and commercial product development. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary research, Professor Seo stated, "When convergence research involving universities, enterprises, and hospitals takes place, the expertise of each institution combines to maximize synergy. Based on this collaboration, we were able to advance research results into tangible stages of commercialization and product manufacture." Professor Tae Seok Seo's research team developed a rotary point-of-care molecular diagnostic system, achieving technology capable of simultaneously diagnosing 7 types of respiratory viruses from up to 15 samples within 60 minutes.

    2026.10.14
  • Global Eminence
    Paying It Forward: Supporting the Next Generation of Kyung Hee Scholars

    Alumna Jin-Chool Lim (Class of ’59, Political Science and International Relations) contributes KRW 100M to the College of Politics and Economics Inducted into the Magnolia Honors Club; Kyung Hee dedicates "Jin-Chool Lim Lecture Hall" "I wanted to return the spirit of love and service I learned at Kyung Hee to future generations" Alumna Jin-Chool Lim (Class of ’59, Department of Political Science and International Relations) has donated 100 million KRW to the College of Politics and Economics Development Fund. A trailblazing public figure, Lim built a distinguished career as a journalist with Kookje Daily News and a producer at Tongyang Broadcasting Company (TBC) before serving as a two-term member of South Korea's 15th and 16th National Assemblies. On Thursday, July 23, the university held a joint ceremony in Room 213 of the University Administration Building to celebrate Alumna Lim’s philanthropic gift and formal induction into the Magnolia Honors Club. Attendees included President Jinsang Kim, Executive Vice President for External Affairs Jongbok Kim, Secretary General of the Kyung Hee University System Hyun Kim, Dean of the College of Politics and Economics Yun-Seop Hwang, Vice President for External Affairs Do-Gyun Kim, alongside student leadership representatives from the college. President Jinsang Kim presented Lim with a commemorative donation certificate and a plaque commemorating her appointment to the Magnolia Honors Club. Following the ceremony, university leaders and students gathered at Room 401 of the College of Politics and Economics for an unveiling plaque ceremony to formally dedicate the "Jin-Chool Lim Lecture Hall" in her honor. Returning Gratitude to Her Alma Mater This philanthropic gift took root this past June during a gathering of "Mokryeonhoe," a regional alumni association convened in Gyeongju. Stepping back onto campus for the first time in years, Lim was flooded with memories of the mentorship, warmth, and encouragement bestowed upon her by the university's founder, her professors, and her peers. "Tears came to my eyes the moment I passed through the campus gates," she reflected. "The profound love, values, and guidance I received from Kyung Hee have stayed with me throughout my life." She spoke with particular warmth of Kyung Hee's late founder, Dr. Young Seek Choue (pen name Miwon), who treated her like family throughout her undergraduate years and continued to follow and champion her career long after she entered public life. Lim explained that this gift was the natural culmination of two enduring influences: the spirit of giving modeled by her parents, who regularly shared meals with neighbors in need during her childhood, and the ethos of active service instilled in her at Kyung Hee. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations and completing graduate coursework in political science, Lim established herself as a prominent journalist and broadcaster. She later entered public service, serving as a two-term lawmaker in South Korea's 15th and 16th National Assemblies, where she played key roles on the Special Committee on Women’s Affairs and the Culture and Tourism Committee. Fostering Future Talent and Energizing Academic Research "Alumna Jin-Chool Lim is a pioneer whose journey intertwines with our university’s history, having walked with Kyung Hee during the foundational era of its growth," President Jinsang Kim remarked. "We extend our deepest gratitude for her enduring devotion to her alma mater and this invaluable act of generosity." He pledged that the university will faithfully honor her vision by channeling the gift into the intellectual growth of younger students and the long-term advancement of the College of Politics and Economics. Speaking on behalf of the student body, Hyeong-Geun Oh, student council president of the College of Politics and Economics, expressed heartfelt thanks: "It is because distinguished alumni remember and cherish our alma mater that current students can carry forward an immense sense of pride as members of the Kyung Hee community." The contributed funds will be directed toward cultivating exceptional global talent and reinvigorating teaching and research initiatives across the College of Politics and Economics. In lasting recognition of her generosity, Room 401 of the college building was formally dedicated as the Jin-Chool Lim Lecture Hall. During the ceremony, Alumna Lim was also formally inducted as a committee member of the Magnolia Honors Club, Kyung Hee’s premier donor society established to recognize leadership benefactors and foster a vibrant philanthropic tradition across the institution.

    2026.10.14
  • Academics
    Translating Classroom Learning into Industrial Solutions

    ANCHOR Project Group hosts Spring 2026 Capstone Design Competition Student teams present solutions to industrial challenges and test feasibility for on-site implementation From an AI model predicting initial inventory order volumes for new convenience store products to an embedded system tracking human posture using Wi-Fi signals alone, an upcycled food byproduct snack tailored for senior nutrition, and an autonomous robot fetching items at a single natural-language command—these innovations showcase the ingenuity of Kyung Hee students after a semester of rigorous capstone design. Celebrating these student-driven breakthroughs, the ANCHOR Project Group hosted the Capstone Design Competition across both the Seoul and Global campuses. Team Thunder Eleven Claims Grand Prize with Data-Driven Product Planning Model The Capstone Design Competition serves as a proving ground where student teams qualifying through preliminary screening present their semester-long innovations and benchmark their feasibility for real-world deployment. Held in Orbis Hall, the "Spring 2026 Capstone Design Champions League" was staged to discover forward-looking, high-potential concepts and disseminate the outcomes of standout projects. The showcase opened with welcoming remarks from Jae-Hong Park, Associate Director of the ANCHOR Project Group (Seoul). "This gathering celebrates the dedication of students who have driven these projects forward over the past semester, bringing their endeavors to a fruitful culmination," Park remarked, commending the contenders. Rigorous presentations and Q&A sessions followed, in which the six finalist teams dissected pressing corporate bottlenecks or proposed data-backed products and services rooted in their academic disciplines. Following an intense round of evaluations, the Grand Prize went to Team Thunder Eleven (Hyunho Jung, School of Management; Jiyoon Ha, Department of Big Data Analytics). The duo unveiled a predictive data analytics platform engineered to streamline the planning and promotion of convenience store private-brand (PB) products. Integrating internal 7-Eleven retail and sales records with social media posts and consumer sentiment across South Korea’s top three convenience store chains, the team decoded recurring patterns behind bestselling items—spanning flavor profiles, product categories, intellectual property (IP) collaborations, and specific consumption occasions. Based on these correlations, they built an interactive merchandising dashboard that cross-references trend keywords input by planners against relevant products, core attributes, and IP tie-ins, generating optimized strategic keywords for conceptualization and marketing. The First Prize went to Team DaySeven (Dong-Geun Oh, Department of Big Data Analytics; Hyunjin Yoon, Department of Political Science and International Relations; Gyuwan Hwang, Department of Public Administration) for an industry-academic joint initiative with 7-Eleven: a "Data-Driven Initial Order Volume Forecasting Model for New Products." Leveraging pre-order demand, customer acquisition channels, regional store demographics, and historical trends for comparable SKUs, the team engineered a machine-learning algorithm and merchandiser dashboard to optimize initial supply allocations across 15 distribution centers nationwide. Validation against empirical sales data confirmed higher forecasting accuracy than conventional planner estimates, demonstrating the potential to curb average excess inventory by roughly 14%. Another First Prize recipient, Team You Better Run (Chaewon Yoo, Doyun Kim, Chaeyeon Kim, Dayoung Na, Yeonji Lee, and Chaeyeon Kim, Department of Food and Nutrition), engineered an iron-fortified energy slushie dubbed "YOU BETTER RUN," formulated to accelerate post-run recovery. Designed to replenish iron, vitamin C, carbohydrates, fluids, and essential electrolytes simultaneously, the product features a color-coded tripartite lineup—Green, Yellow, and Red—calibrated to running distances. Sold as a frozen pouch that naturally thaws into a consumable slushie during a run, the concept is amplified by a social media-driven "Butter Run Challenge." Grand Prize recipient Hyunho Jung shared, "The biggest challenge was bridging the gap between corporate expectations and what our student team could realistically implement. Though each member brought different strengths and problem-solving approaches, we grounded our discussions in data and evidence to refine our project logic." He added, "Analyzing real data to derive actionable insights strengthened my confidence in pursuing a career as a performance marketer," noting plans to leverage this experience in future projects and competitions. Interdisciplinary Innovations in AI, Robotics, and Advanced Materials Take Center Stage Simultaneously, the Global Campus hosted its own "Spring 2026 Capstone Design Competition," organized by the ANCHOR Project Group (Global). Eleven shortlisted finalist teams showcased interdisciplinary research spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductor materials, smart agriculture, and public design. Following evaluations by an expert judging panel, the competition awarded one Grand Prize and two First Prize honors based on cumulative scoring. In his congratulatory address, Suk-Won Choi, Associate Director of the Anchor Project Group (Global), praised the students: "Every project reflects immense effort, serving as a meaningful achievement in its own right. I hope this competition transcends evaluation to become a collaborative forum for exchanging ideas, inspiring students to embrace challenges and expand their horizons." The Grand Prize went to Team KCSI (Myeongcheol Kang, Jihyun Kim, Jiseon Park, and Geon Ahn, Department of Electronic Engineering). The team achieved the hardware implementation of a 2D joint-coordinate estimation model on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), driven entirely by Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI). By strategically placing Wi-Fi transceivers across an indoor space without a single optical camera, their embedded system captures micro-distortions in wireless signals to classify human postures—including walking, standing up, leg raises, and seated bending—in real time. The prototype demonstrated the viability of fully autonomous, privacy-preserving pose estimation running under strict low-power, ultra-low-latency constraints. First Prize honors were shared by two standout teams. Team HeuristiX (Kijin Kim, Namwook Kim, Yumin Kim, Chaehyun Lee, Donghwi Lim, and Jinwoo Choi, Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering) engineered an adaptive framework that empowers Large Language Models (LLMs) to self-evolve production dispatching rules during sudden supply chain disruptions. Benchmarking tests confirmed that the system cuts average order delivery delays by up to 9.7% relative to conventional static heuristics. Team History of HYPER (Chanwon Jung, Sanghyun Park, and Jaewon Heo, Department of Software Convergence) developed "NOVA," an autonomous robotic manipulation system capable of identifying, grasping, and relocating target objects through conversational natural-language prompts. By pairing a Vision-Language Model (VLM)-driven "slow brain" for high-level semantic reasoning with an ultra-responsive "fast brain" for real-time obstacle avoidance and trajectory planning, the system guarantees both operational safety and dynamic flexibility in human-robot collaborative workspaces. The ANCHOR Project Group continues to run comprehensive programs, including semester-long Capstone Design studios, to hone students' creative engineering and problem-solving capabilities. Select winning teams from this competition will advance to represent the university at the nationwide Capstone Design Competition hosted by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) later this fall.

    2026.10.14
  • Research , Academics
    From Field Internship to First Author of an International Journal Paper

    Research conducted by Won-Woo Noh, an undergraduate in the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, during his field practicum has been published in an international journal. Department of Industrial & Management Engineering student Won-Woo Noh develops AI algorithm to detect micro-defects in high-resolution printing Hands-on internship reveals real-world manufacturing constraints, showing how undergraduate theory guides industrial practice Research conducted by Won-Woo Noh, an undergraduate in the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, during a field internship in the second semester of last year has been published in IEEE Access, a peer-reviewed journal issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)—the world's largest technical professional organization for electrical, electronic, and computer engineering. While exploring career paths in quality management, Noh recognized that AI technology is pivotal to the future competitiveness of manufacturing quality control. "I first learned about the university's field internship program through a friend," Noh recalled. "Before graduating, I wanted to see firsthand how AI identifies defects and oversees quality control in real-world manufacturing environments, which motivated me to apply.” Upgrades Commercial Algorithm to Reduce False Detections by 21% Noh completed his internship at the Root Technology Institute of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), a research institute dedicated to commercializing foundational manufacturing technologies. Through its Manufacturing AI Center, KITECH develops shared solutions for small, medium, and mid-market enterprises. During his placement, Noh researched an AI model designed to detect micro-defects in high-resolution printed materials, such as collectible photocards. Premium printed goods like K-pop merchandise are manufactured in high-mix, low-volume runs. Consequently, production cycles often conclude before sufficient defect data can be gathered, even as consumers demand zero-defect quality. Conventional AI inspection models downscale images to lower resolutions, leaving them blind to microscopic defects of just 5 to 20 pixels. Furthermore, these systems frequently trigger false alarms because they cannot distinguish benign color and luminance shifts from genuine manufacturing flaws. To solve this, Noh developed a two-stage framework that benchmarks the captured image of the printed product (Vision Truth) against the original digital design file (Digital Truth). In the first stage, a learnable frequency (FFT) filter aligns the images, filtering out non-defect noise like lighting or color variations while preserving true defect signals. In the second stage, a dual-branch predictive architecture isolates micro-defects at exact spatial coordinates. "I improved the algorithm by structurally modifying an existing commercial model," Noh explained. The resulting framework achieved a 21.5% performance gain over conventional baseline methods, maintaining superior precision even on entirely new print designs. Undergraduate Coursework Guides Practice: Encouraging Field Internships Before Graduation The most demanding hurdle of the research was real-world industrial deployment. "The requirement was to detect defects within one second on low-spec edge devices without fail," Noh explained. "Because existing models were too computationally heavy, I iteratively optimized the architecture until inference time dropped to 0.5 seconds." Recognizing the commercial value of these findings, his host institution recommended turning the project into an academic paper. Noh reflected, "Having never written a research paper, I felt lost at first. However, working alongside my supervising Ph.D. mentor, I established a robust defensive framework and reinforced the dataset through follow-up experiments. Addressing reviewer critiques regarding discrepancies between digital design files and real-world manufacturing data was the steepest challenge, but receiving the final acceptance notice was extraordinarily rewarding." While the internship ultimately yielded standout results, stepping directly into cutting-edge industrial research initially proved daunting. Coursework from his department served as his essential anchor. "Foundational AI principles learned in Professor Jaeyun Jung's classes—especially probabilistic modeling—proved invaluable on the factory floor," Noh said. "Because I had built a solid theoretical grounding, I was able to rapidly digest academic literature and get up to speed with the latest research trends." Noh identified the nature of the data as the fundamental divide between university coursework and industry practice. "Unlike classes that deal with clean, curated datasets, actual manufacturing floor data diverges substantially from pristine digital conditions," he noted. "I learned firsthand that bridging that gap requires exploring diverse preprocessing techniques." Moving forward, he plans to build his career in the quality management field. The practicum also proved pivotal in clarifying the skills he needs to cultivate next. While academic quality control focuses primarily on statistical methodologies, Noh discovered that factory-floor operations require far deeper domain knowledge. Offering advice to junior peers weighing field internships, he added, "On the ground, you learn professional practice by wrestling with variables and constraints never encountered in a lecture hall. In that very process, you realize that undergraduate theory becomes your indispensable compass. Tackling an industry project—even briefly—will undoubtedly prove an invaluable asset."

    2026.10.14
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