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Kyoung Bok Min

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Kyoung Bok Min's research lab focuses on environmental health and epidemiology, with a primary emphasis on the impact of trace metals and environmental toxins on human health. The lab investigates the associations between exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and PFOA and chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular conditions, and infertility. Additionally, the lab explores behavioral health outcomes, particularly smartphone addiction among adolescents, and the role of psychosocial factors such as self-control and social relationships. The research is largely based on large-scale national health surveys, employing rigorous statistical and analytical methods to identify environmental risk factors and protective factors in diverse populations.

heavy metalsenvironmental toxinscardiovascular diseaseAlzheimer’s diseasebehavioral health

Research Overview

Papers
195
Total Citations
4,487
Papers (5y)
55
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
55total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
583total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|204 citations·2018
Relationship among family environment, self-control, friendship quality, and adolescents’ smartphone addiction in South Korea: Findings from nationwide data
Hye-Jin Kim, Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min, Tae‐Jin Lee, Seunghyun Yoo
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Our findings suggest that family dysfunction was significantly associated with smartphone addiction. We also observed that self-control and friendship quality act as protective factors against adolescents' smartphone addiction.

Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
2
Article|136 citations·2016
Blood cadmium levels and Alzheimer’s disease mortality risk in older US adults
Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Environmental HealthOA

We observed a significant association between blood cadmium levels and AD mortality among older adults in the US. Our findings suggest that environmental exposure to cadmium may be a risk factor for AD.

Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
3
Article|129 citations·2014
Precarious employment and the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts
Kyoung‐Bok Min, Shin‐Goo Park, Sang Hee Hwang, Jin‐Young Min
SJR Q1Preventive MedicineOA
Clinical PsychologyPsychology
4
Article|117 citations·2017
Parks and green areas and the risk for depression and suicidal indicators
Kyoung‐Bok Min, Hyun‐Jin Kim, Hye-Jin Kim, Jin‐Young Min
SJR Q1International Journal of Public Health
Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
5
Article|109 citations·2017
Outdoor light at night and the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors: A cross-sectional study in a nationally representative sample of Korean adults
Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Journal of Affective Disorders
Global and Planetary ChangeEnvironmental Science
6
Article|104 citations·2016
Exposure to ambient PM10 and NO2 and the incidence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood
Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Environment InternationalOA
Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
7
Article|88 citations·2014
Android and gynoid fat percentages and serum lipid levels in United States adults
Kyoung‐Bok Min, Jin‐Young Min
SJR Q2Clinical Endocrinology

CONTEXT: Accumulating evidence suggests that fat distribution is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease than body mass index (BMI). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of android and gynoid fat percentages with lipid profiles to determine whether android and/or gynoid fat percentages are associated with serum lipid levels. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study. PATIENTS: Five thousand six hundred and ninety-six adults (20 years and older) who part

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
8
Article|80 citations·2017
Association between psychological and self-assessed health status and smartphone overuse among Korean college students
Hyun‐Jin Kim, Jin‐Young Min, Hye‐Jin Kim, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Journal of Mental Health

Negative conditions in self-perceived emotional or overall health condition are associated with the increased likelihood of smartphone overuse in Korean college students.

Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
9
Article|78 citations·2012
Perfluorooctanoic acid exposure is associated with elevated homocysteine and hypertension in US adults
Jin‐Young Min, Kyung Jong Lee, Jae-Beom Park, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Occupational and Environmental MedicineOA

These findings suggest that background exposure to PFOA may continue a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Environmental ChemistryEnvironmental Science
10
Article|74 citations·2020
Female Infertility Associated with Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels
Sohyae Lee, Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q2International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthOA

Lead and cadmium are known to be potential female reproductive toxins. However, studies on the relationship between these metals and infertility are limited. This study examines the association between self-reported infertility and blood lead and cadmium levels in US women by comparing metal levels in infertile and pregnant women. Data on blood lead, blood cadmium, and infertility from women aged 20–39 years who participated in the 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examinatio

Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
11
Article|71 citations·2008
The Impact of the Components of Metabolic Syndrome on Heart Rate Variability: Using the NCEP‐ATP III and IDF Definitions
Kyoung‐Bok Min, Jin‐Young Min, Domyung Paek, Sung‐Il Cho
SJR Q2Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and heart rate variability (HRV) in Korean adults. METHODS: Data were collected from family health examinations performed from December 2003 through January 2004, and 1,041 subjects consisting of males and females aged 20-87 years were included in this study. Measurement of the 5-minute HRV and several examinations for MetS were completed. The HRV was analyzed in both the time domain with the standard deviation of

Cardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineMedicine
12
Article|65 citations·2018
Long-term exposure to air pollution and the risk of suicide death: A population-based cohort study
Jin‐Young Min, Hye-Jin Kim, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1The Science of The Total Environment
Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
13
Article|53 citations·2019
Association of Ambient Air Pollution with Increased Liver Enzymes in Korean Adults
Hyun‐Jin Kim, Jin‐Young Min, Yong-Seok Seo, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q2International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthOA

An association between exposure to air pollution and liver enzymes in certain areas or older people has been reported in the literature; however, it cannot be generalized to the general population. We investigated the association between air pollution, liver enzyme levels, and alcohol consumption using nationwide data of South Korean adults. Air pollutants included particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO

Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
14
Article|52 citations·2016
Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults
Kyoung‐Bok Min, Jin‐Young Min
SJR Q1European Journal of Nutrition
PhysiologyMedicine
15
Article|49 citations·2018
Outdoor Artificial Nighttime Light and Use of Hypnotic Medications in Older Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Jin‐Young Min, Kyoung‐Bok Min
SJR Q1Journal of Clinical Sleep MedicineOA
Endocrine and Autonomic SystemsNeuroscience

Research Areas

Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisGeneral Health ProfessionsPhysiologyCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineSpeech and HearingSociology and Political Science

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