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Yeon Wook Kim

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Yeon Wook Kim's research lab specializes in pulmonary and critical care medicine, with a strong focus on lung cancer screening, particularly in never-smokers and individuals with subsolid nodules on low-dose CT. The lab investigates the clinical characteristics, diagnostic pathways, and outcomes of screen-detected lung nodules, while also exploring the role of imaging biomarkers and comorbid conditions such as emphysema and hyperinflation in COPD. Additional research extends to rare metabolic disorders, such as metachromatic leukodystrophy, with a focus on extraneural manifestations like gallbladder involvement. The lab also examines the impact of environmental exposures, including secondhand smoke, on health-related quality of life.

lung cancer screeningsubsolid nodulesnever-smokersCOPD phenotypessecondhand smoke

Research Overview

Papers
128
Total Citations
1,336
Papers (5y)
55
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
55total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
253total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|80 citations·2016
Vertebral bone attenuation on low-dose chest CT: quantitative volumetric analysis for bone fragility assessment
Yeon Wook Kim, Jung Hee Kim, Soon Ho Yoon, Ju‐Myung Lee, C.-H. Lee, Chan Soo Shin, Young Sik Park
SJR Q1Osteoporosis International
Orthopedics and Sports MedicineMedicine
2
Article|54 citations·2021
Lung cancer probability and clinical outcomes of baseline and new subsolid nodules detected on low-dose CT screening
Yeon Wook Kim, Byoung Soo Kwon, Sung Yoon Lim, Yeon Joo Lee, Jong Sun Park, Young‐Jae Cho, Ho Il Yoon, Kyung Won Lee, Jae Ho Lee, Jin-Haeng Chung, Eunjeong Ji, Choon‐Taek Lee
SJR Q1ThoraxOA

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding the management of subsolid nodules detected on lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT). We aimed to determine the characteristics of screen-detected subsolid nodules, and to evaluate the probability of lung cancer and the clinical course of subsolid nodules detected at baseline and during follow-up screening. METHODS: We evaluated 50 132 asymptomatic adults (22 631 never-smokers and 27 501 ever-smokers) who underwent LDCT screening for lung

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
3
Article|40 citations·2020
Low-dose chest computed tomographic screening and invasive diagnosis of pulmonary nodules for lung cancer in never-smokers
Yeon Wook Kim, Hye-Rin Kang, Byoung Soo Kwon, Sung Yoon Lim, Yeon Joo Lee, Jong Sun Park, Young‐Jae Cho, Ho Il Yoon, Kyung Won Lee, Jae Ho Lee, Choon‐Taek Lee
SJR Q1European Respiratory Journal

BACKGROUND: Although lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is now widely used in clinical practice, the characteristics and outcomes of diagnostic procedures related to screen-detected nodules in never-smokers remain unclear. We aimed to determine the incidence of nodules considered for invasive biopsy and evaluate the final diagnoses and procedure-related complications in never-smokers in comparison to ever-smokers who underwent LDCT screening. METHODS: We evaluated 37

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
4
Article|34 citations·2019
Resting hyperinflation and emphysema on the clinical course of COPD
Yeon Wook Kim, Chang‐Hoon Lee, Hun-Gyu Hwang, Yu‐Il Kim, Deog Kyeom Kim, Yeon‐Mok Oh, Sang Haak Lee, Ki Uk Kim, Sang‐Do Lee
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

The aim of this study is to clarify whether the combined evaluation of resting hyperinflation and emphysema confers any additional advantages in terms of predicting clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We included COPD patients from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort. Patients with a residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) over the upper limit of normal were defined as having resting hyperinflation, and those with an emphysema index >10%

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
5
Article|28 citations·2019
Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial washing in sputum-scarce or smear-negative cases with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized study
Yeon Wook Kim, Byoung Soo Kwon, Sung Yoon Lim, Y.J. Lee, Y-J. Cho, H.I. Yoon, J.H. Lee, C.-T. Lee, J.S. Park
SJR Q1Clinical Microbiology and InfectionOA
Infectious DiseasesMedicine
6
Article|21 citations·1996
Involvement of the gallbladder in childhood metachromatic leukodystrophy: ultrasonographic findings.
Yeon Wook Kim, I O Kim, W S Kim, Yong Seon Choi, Kyung Mo Yeon, Young Sun Hwang
SJR Q2Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine

The purpose of this study was to analyze the peculiar involvement of the gallbladder in childhood metachromatic leukodystrophy. Seven consecutive children (four boys, three girls; age range, 9 to 58 months old; mean age, 24.3 months) with biochemically confirmed metachromatic leukodystrophy were studied with abdominal ultrasonography. Four of them showed abnormal findings, such as diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall (more than 3 mm thick), sludge-like echogenic material, or papillary poly

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|19 citations·2015
Effect of Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke on the Quality of Life: A Nationwide Population-Based Study from South Korea
Yeon Wook Kim, Chang-Hoon Lee, Young Sik Park, Yu‐Il Kim, Chul‐Min Ahn, Ju-Ock Kim, Joo Hun Park, Sang Haak Lee, Jae Yeol Kim, Eun Mi Chun, Tae Hoon Jung, Kwang Ha Yoo
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

In conclusion, exposure to SHS was associated with reduced HRQOL measured by the EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS score, revealing a dose-response relationship.

PhysiologyMedicine
8
Article|16 citations·2022
Impact of Preoperative Diagnostic Biopsy Procedure on Spread Through Airspaces and Related Outcomes in Resected Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Ga Young Lee, Jin‐Haeng Chung, Sukki Cho, Yeon Bi Han, Young Mi Park, Hyung‐Jun Kim, Myung Jin Song, Byoung Soo Kwon, Sung Yoon Lim, Yeon Joo Lee, Jong Sun Park, Young‐Jae Cho
SJR Q1CHEST Journal
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
9
Article|15 citations·2025
Gender Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening Outcomes Among Individuals Who Have Never Smoked
Yeon Wook Kim, Dong-Hyun Joo, So Yeon Kim, Young Sik Park, Sowon Jang, Jong Hyuk Lee, Gerard A. Silvestri, Marjolein A. Heuvelmans, Jihang Kim, Hyeontaek Hwang, Choon-Taek Lee
SJR Q1JAMA Network OpenOA

Importance: Lung cancer in individuals who have never smoked (INS) is a growing global concern, with a rapidly increasing incidence and proportion among all lung cancer cases. Particularly in East Asia, opportunistic lung cancer screening (LCS) programs targeting INS have gained popularity. However, the sex-specific outcomes and drawbacks of screening INS remain unexplored, with data predominantly focused on women. Objective: To compare LCS outcomes between Asian women and men with no smoking hi

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
10
Article|13 citations·2022
Utility and safety of sole electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy under moderate sedation for lung cancer diagnosis
Yeon Wook Kim, Hyung‐Jun Kim, Myung Jin Song, Byoung Soo Kwon, Sung Yoon Lim, Yeon Joo Lee, Jong Sun Park, Young‐Jae Cho, Ho Il Yoon, Jae Ho Lee, Choon‐Taek Lee
SJR Q1Translational Lung Cancer ResearchOA

Sole ENB under moderate sedation for diagnosing pulmonary lesions displayed a good diagnostic yield and safety profile, thus confirming its utility in a least-invasive setting. Moreover, sole ENB could be possibly be superior to transthoracic needle aspiration for diagnosing lesions with class 2 bronchus sign accounting for similar yields and lower complication rates.

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
11
Article|12 citations·2014
Metastatic testicular tumor presenting as a scrotal hydrocele: An initial manifestation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Yeon Wook Kim, Jin Won Kim, JEE-HYUN KIM, Jungsil Lee, Euijae Lee, Moon Young Kim, Hyun Kyung Yang, Hyun Chang
SJR Q3Oncology LettersOA

Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving the testis is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. The current study describes the case of a 69-year-old male who presented with a painful swelling of the left scrotum. Scrotal ultrasonography revealed hydroceles in the scrotal sacs, with the left one being larger in size. The patient underwent left hydrocelectomy and was eventually diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography, which was performed to detect the primary

SurgeryMedicine
12
letter|12 citations·2019
Optimal management of pulmonary ground-glass opacity nodules
Yeon Wook Kim, Choon-Taek Lee
SJR Q1Translational Lung Cancer ResearchOA

On the basis of the promising results of lung cancer screening in recent large trials, low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) has been widely introduced in clinical practice for the early detection of lung cancer (1,2). The increased use of CT for screening has also led to an increased detection of lung nodules, with a significant proportion of ground-glass opacity nodules (GGNs).

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
13
Article|9 citations·2016
The regional association between bronchiectasis and lung cancer in chest CT
Yeon Wook Kim, Chang‐Hoon Lee, Kwang-Nam Jin, Jung‐Kyu Lee, Eun Young Heo, Sung Soo Park, Hee Soon Chung, Deog Kyeom Kim
SJR Q2BMC Pulmonary MedicineOA

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have examined the association between lung cancer and bronchiectasis (BE). This study evaluated the regional association between BE and lung cancer by analyzing the lobar location of lung cancer in patients with underlying BE. METHODS: This clustered multi-level study enrolled patients who had underlying BE and were newly diagnosed with lung cancer between January 1, 2010 and May 30, 2013 in two referral hospitals in South Korea. By analyzing the presence of lung canc

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
14
Article|8 citations·2015
The association between combined non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease
Yeon Wook Kim, Kwang-Nam Jin, Eun Young Heo, Sung Soo Park, Hee Soon Chung, Deog Kyeom Kim
SJR Q1International Journal of COPDOA

Interestingly, the concomitant presence of bronchiectasis in COPD patients was associated with a lower risk of lung cancer.

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
15
Article|7 citations·2016
Conversion of aspergilloma to chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis following treatment with sunitinib: A case report
Yeon Wook Kim, Hyun Woo Lee, Jaeyoung Cho, Hansol Choi, Jungsil Lee, Sung Soo Park, Eun Young Heo, Kwang Nam Jin, Deog Kyeom Kim
SJR Q3Oncology LettersOA

Semi-invasive or invasive aspergillosis occurring following chemotherapy with sunitinib is a rare condition with unknown incidence and prognosis. Here, we report a case involving a 59-year-old male who had a history of underlying stable aspergilloma and was newly diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Following surgical resection for renal cell carcinoma and adjuvant chemotherapy with sunitinib for 8 months, the patient presented with hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography revealed an in

Infectious DiseasesMedicine

Research Areas

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineInfectious DiseasesMaterials ChemistryOncologyAtomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsEpidemiology

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