Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Ki-Hwan Lim's research lab specializes in clinical ophthalmology and public health ophthalmology, with a strong focus on the epidemiology and clinical management of major eye diseases in the Korean population. The lab conducts large-scale national surveys, such as the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), to assess the prevalence and risk factors of conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, refractive errors, and strabismus. The lab also investigates clinical aspects of amblyopia treatment, cranial nerve palsy (particularly sixth nerve palsy), and ocular manifestations of systemic toxicities like methyl alcohol poisoning. Their work bridges population-based epidemiology with detailed clinical ophthalmic analysis, contributing significantly to public health policy and clinical practice in South Korea.
Professor Han-Na Jung's research lab focuses on medical and health education policy, with a particular emphasis on curriculum development, accreditation in medical education, and the sociocultural dynamics of private education markets in South Korea. The lab investigates how institutional processes such as accreditation can serve as catalysts for educational improvement, while also analyzing the segmentation and characteristics of private after-school education (cram schools) across different school levels. Through quantitative and qualitative methods including latent class analysis and topic modeling, the lab explores societal expectations of doctors and medical professionals, aiming to inform policy and curriculum design in alignment with social values.
Professor Hyun-Jung Yang's research lab specializes in psychological and educational interventions aimed at enhancing student well-being and academic success. The lab focuses on understanding and mitigating negative peer experiences such as school bullying, developing targeted support systems for at-risk students—including those on academic warning—through evidence-based programs and innovative technologies like counseling chatbots. Additionally, the lab is actively engaged in curriculum development for teacher training, particularly in career and academic counseling, to strengthen future educators' professional competencies. The integration of psychological assessment, educational technology, and institutional support systems defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Hyesook Son’s research spans literary studies and cultural theory, with a focus on canon formation, lyric poetry, and the reception of modernist and postmodernist writers such as William Blake, Emily Dickinson, and Hart Crane. Her work explores the interplay between temporality, subjectivity, and ideology in lyric and epic forms, emphasizing how poetic texts mediate personal, historical, and cultural memory. She also investigates the transformative potential of literary form, particularly in diasporic and postcolonial contexts, as seen in her analysis of Hak Kyung Cha’s Dictee and the concept of emptiness as a site of resistance and reconstitution. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges literary criticism, narratology, and critical theory to examine how literature functions as a mode of cultural and psychic healing.
Professor Sang Ah Yi's research lab specializes in the discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products, particularly steroidal compounds from marine-derived fungi, alongside advanced materials science focused on functional oxide thin films. The lab investigates the structure-activity relationships of novel natural products with potential therapeutic applications, especially in immunomodulation and inflammation. In parallel, the group explores the epitaxial growth, defect engineering, and functional properties of complex oxide semiconductors and ferroelectrics for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. The integration of spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical techniques underpins their multidisciplinary approach to materials and bioactive compound discovery.
Professor Yong H. Kim's research lab specializes in the intellectual and philosophical history of Joseon Dynasty Confucianism, with a particular focus on the development of Neo-Confucian thought, especially the evolution of doctrinal lineages (doctine) within the Silmipa and Toegye schools. The lab investigates key figures such as Kim Jong-jik, Kim Yeong-chae, Yi I, and Yi Hwang, analyzing their contributions to ethical self-cultivation, political practice, and metaphysical debates—particularly on li (principle) and ki (material force). The lab also explores the transformation of Confucian thought in response to Western sciences in the late Joseon period, especially through the lens of the Sirhak (Practical Learning) movement.
Professor Jiyoung Geum's research lab focuses on advancing the management and outcomes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with a strong emphasis on nutritional support, early detection in high-risk populations, and optimizing chemotherapy strategies. The lab investigates the role of mobile health interventions like the Noom app in improving patient nutrition during chemotherapy, explores the predictive factors for novel chemotherapy regimens such as liposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV, and examines the clinical implications of new-onset diabetes as a potential early marker for PDAC. Additionally, the lab contributes to clinical guidelines aimed at minimizing radiation exposure in fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures.
Professor Jonghun Kim's research lab specializes in clinical and translational studies focusing on autoimmune blistering diseases, vascular malformations, and advanced cardiovascular interventions. The lab investigates disease mechanisms and clinical outcomes in conditions such as bullous pemphigoid and pectus carinatum, utilizing innovative imaging and diagnostic techniques like 3D body surface scanning. A significant focus is also placed on endovascular and surgical solutions for complex aortic pathologies, including the evaluation of novel hybrid prostheses in thoracic aortic surgery.
Professor Kyungho Lee's research lab specializes in human-centered and group-centered artificial intelligence, focusing on enhancing collaborative decision-making, group performance, and expressive communication through interactive AI systems. The lab develops innovative AI-mediated platforms that promote psychological safety, inclusivity, and real-time feedback in group settings—such as in group dance, cheerleading, and team-based decision-making—by integrating computer vision, natural language processing, and real-time visualization. The lab also explores hardware acceleration for computationally intensive AI workloads, such as ray tracing, demonstrating a dual focus on both high-level human-AI interaction and low-level system efficiency. Their work bridges individual cognition, group dynamics, and societal impact through a three-tiered framework of human-, group-, and society-centered AI.
Professor Sangsoo Lee's research lab focuses on interdisciplinary studies spanning social science and materials science. In the social domain, the lab investigates sociocultural dynamics such as cultural participation, social inequality, and the lifestyles of single-person households, emphasizing the role of socioeconomic status and social capital in shaping cultural behaviors. In the materials science domain, the lab specializes in developing advanced nanomaterials and hybrid composites for energy and electronic applications, particularly focusing on transparent conductive electrodes and conductive polymer composites through innovative functionalization techniques.
Professor Hyunsik Kim's research lab specializes in critical historical theory, postcolonial studies, and the philosophical foundations of knowledge, with a strong emphasis on Edward Said’s postcolonial thought and its implications for contemporary discourse. The lab explores the intersections of power, truth, and representation in historical and cultural narratives, particularly focusing on Orientalism, colonial discourse, and the ethics of historical interpretation. It also engages with epistemological challenges posed by postmodernism, seeking to balance critical skepticism with responsible, ethically grounded historical inquiry. Additionally, the lab conducts interdisciplinary research on the ideological dimensions of texts and the role of intellectuals in resisting oppressive systems.
Professor Keehyun Ahn's research lab specializes in strongly correlated electron systems, focusing on the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of transition metal oxides. The lab investigates phenomena such as metal-insulator transitions, Mott physics, and emergent quantum phases using advanced spectroscopic techniques like infrared spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and ultrafast pump-probe measurements. Key research directions include tuning electronic correlations through doping, strain, and artificial superlattices, with applications in spintronics and quantum materials engineering.
Professor Song Euree's research lab specializes in ancient and late antique philosophy, with a particular focus on Platonism, Neoplatonism, and the philosophical intersections between classical thought, Hellenistic ethics, and early Christian theology. The lab explores key themes such as the philosophy of the self, virtue ethics, providence, and the soul-body relationship in thinkers like Plotinus, Julianus, and Pico della Mirandola. It also investigates the literary and hermeneutical dimensions of philosophical expression, especially Plato’s dialogues and the concept of mimesis in philosophical literature.
Professor Soo-Kyung Ryu's research lab specializes in literacy education, text complexity analysis, and educational discourse, with a focus on enhancing reading instruction through empirical and analytical approaches. The lab investigates text complexity by developing quantitative models for measuring lexical and syntactic difficulty in educational texts, particularly for elementary and secondary school curricula. It also explores media discourse surrounding educational policies—such as national reading surveys—and critically examines how public communication shapes societal perceptions of literacy and education. Additionally, the lab examines pedagogical tools like analogies in science education and the communicative effectiveness of official documents, emphasizing clarity, accessibility, and reader engagement.
Professor Kang-Won Lee's research lab specializes in socio-cultural anthropology with a focus on the intersection of politics, space, and identity in modern China, particularly examining ethnic policy, disaster studies, and urban public spaces. The lab investigates how state-led spatial strategies—such as ethnic categorization and autonomous region formation—shape national integration and minority identities. It also explores scientific objectivity in disaster research and the development of biomedical materials for orthopedic applications, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach bridging social theory and health technology. The lab emphasizes ethnographic methods to analyze power, resistance, and meaning-making in urban and minority contexts.
Professor Gunwon Lee's research lab specializes in urban planning, community development, and sustainable urban regeneration, with a strong focus on enhancing urban quality of life through participatory governance, civic education, and spatial planning. The lab investigates urban identity, city branding, and pedestrian-friendly environments, while also analyzing urban structural changes and safety-oriented initiatives such as Business Improvement Districts (BID). Key research directions include community-driven urban renewal, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), and the development of evaluation frameworks for cultural and sustainable urban development.
Professor Sanghoun Song's research lab specializes in computational linguistics, natural language processing (NLP), and sociolinguistic analysis with a strong focus on Korean language technologies. The lab investigates syntactic structures, ideological discourse in North Korean media, context-dependent hate speech detection, and the application of large language models in education and clinical linguistics. It also develops and evaluates NLP tools using large-scale corpora and deep learning techniques, particularly for low-resource and sociopolitically sensitive languages like Korean.
Professor Keumseok Kang's research lab specializes in information systems, software engineering, and operations management, with a focus on knowledge dynamics, team performance, and decision-making in complex development and service environments. The lab investigates learning effects, shared experience, knowledge sharing, and media affordances in global software development and make-to-order systems, emphasizing how experience, technology, and organizational factors influence performance and efficiency. Key research directions include the transfer and forgetting of knowledge, the role of team composition and collaboration, and the strategic use of digital platforms in service and software development contexts.
Professor Sungjun Lim's research lab specializes in the synthesis, characterization, and application of low-dimensional nanomaterials, with a strong focus on carbon nanotubes and transition metal dichalcogenides. The lab investigates electronic and optical properties through advanced spectroscopic techniques, chemical functionalization, and theoretical modeling, aiming to tailor materials for next-generation nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Key research directions include field emission phenomena, hydrogenation-induced bandgap engineering in carbon nanotubes, and phase control in 2D materials like MoS2 via chemical and thermal treatments.
Professor Jeong-Hyo Yun's research lab specializes in organizational behavior, innovation management, and public administration, with a strong focus on creativity, entrepreneurship, and strategic leadership in both corporate and governmental contexts. The lab explores how individual motivations, organizational culture, and leadership practices drive innovation and performance, particularly in dynamic environments such as small and medium enterprises, public institutions, and regional governments. It also investigates internationalization strategies, security cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the role of networked governance in addressing transnational challenges like terrorism and data-driven policy-making.
