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Eun-Sung Kim

Kyung Hee University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Eun-Sung Kim's research lab focuses on the intersection of cellular biology, autophagy, and melanogenesis, exploring how subcellular organelle dynamics—particularly mitochondrial morphology and autophagic flux—affect pigmentation processes in melanocytes and melanoma cells. The lab investigates signaling pathways such as ROS-ERK and molecular regulators like Drp1, OPA1, ATG5, and ARP101 to elucidate their roles in melanin regulation. Additionally, the lab examines sociotechnical and policy dimensions of science and technology, including technological convergence, risk communication in public health crises (e.g., MERS), and climate policy in the context of developmental state models. This interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular mechanisms with societal implications in health and environmental policy.

melanogenesisautophagymitochondrial dynamicsrisk communicationclimate policy

Research Overview

Papers
291
Total Citations
2,556
Papers (5y)
27
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
27total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
110total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|126 citations·2018
Public perception of energy transition in Korea: Nuclear power, climate change, and party preference
Ji‐Bum Chung, Eun Sung Kim
SJR Q1Energy Policy
Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
2
Article|69 citations·2014
Mitochondrial dynamics regulate melanogenesis through proteasomal degradation of MITF via ROS‐ERK activation
Eun Sung Kim, So Jung Park, Myeong‐Jin Goh, Yongjoo Na, Doo Sin Jo, Yoon Kyung Jo, Ji Hyun Shin, Eun Sun Choi, Haekwang Lee, Juyeon Kim, Ju‐Yeon Kim, Hong Bae Jeon
SJR Q1Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research

Mitochondrial dynamics control mitochondrial functions as well as their morphology. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in melanogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we show that mitochondrial dynamics regulate melanogenesis by modulating the ROS-ERK signaling pathway. Genetic and chemical inhibition of Drp1, a mitochondrial fission protein, increased melanin production and mitochondrial elongation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. In contrast, down-regulation of OPA1, a mitochondria fusio

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|51 citations·2017
Sociotechnical Imaginaries and the Globalization of Converging Technology Policy: Technological Developmentalism in South Korea
Eun Sung Kim
SJR Q1Science as Culture

The United States (US), European Union (EU), and South Korea had different definitions and visions of technological convergence before interacting with each other from the late 2000s. The Korean government has used Western policies as a benchmark but produces a distinct concept of technological convergence due to a particular imaginary of technology as a vehicle for national economic growth. This sociotechnical imaginary of technological developmentalism influences Korea’s translation of technol

Management of Technology and InnovationBusiness, Management and Accounting
4
letter|45 citations·2014
Autophagy induced by resveratrol suppresses α‐MSH‐induced melanogenesis
Eun Sung Kim, Huikyoung Chang, Hyunjung Choi, Ji Hyun Shin, So Jung Park, Yoon Kyung Jo, Eun Sun Choi, Seok Yun Baek, Byung‐Gyu Kim, Jong Wook Chang, Jin Cheon Kim, Dong‐Hyung Cho
SJR Q1Experimental Dermatology

Autophagy degrades cellular components and organelles through a cooperative process involving autophagosomes and lysosomes. Although autophagy is known to mainly regulate the turnover of cellular components, the role of autophagy in melanogenesis has not been well addressed. Here, we show that inhibition of autophagy suppresses the antimelanogenesis activity of resveratrol (RSV), a well-known antimelanogenic agent. RSV strongly increased autophagy in melanocytes. However, the depletion of ATG5 s

EpidemiologyMedicine
5
Article|43 citations·2020
Deep learning and principal–agent problems of algorithmic governance: The new materialism perspective
Eun Sung Kim
SJR Q1Technology in Society
Safety ResearchSocial Sciences
6
Article|42 citations·2015
메르스관련 정부 위험소통의 한계에 대한 사회적 원인 분석
김은성

위험소통은 2015년 상반기 발생한 메르스 위기의 가장 큰 문제로 지적되어왔다. 감염자가 방문한 병원의 이름을 정부가 늦게 공개하는 바람에 메르스가 여러 병원으로 확산되었을 뿐만 아니라 대중들의 공포가 증폭되었다. 이 글은 이 메르스 위기 당시 정부에 의해 이루어진 위험소통이 실패하게 된 사회적 원인을 분석하고 그 개선방안을 제시한다. 이 글은 정부의 위험소통전략을 “결핍모델”로 해석하면서 “맥락적 모델”의 관점에서 결핍 모델의 한계와 문제점을 분석한다. 특히 위험소통에서의 과학적 불확실성, 이해관계, 정부의 신뢰, 대중의 정체성 형성 및 낙인효과에 대한 함의를 분석한다. 마지막으로 메르스와 같은 신종전염병 관련 위험소통을 개선하기 위한 방안을 제시한다.

7
Article|41 citations·2015
The politics of climate change policy design in Korea
Eun Sung Kim
SJR Q1Environmental Politics

The climate change policy design of the Lee Myung-bak administration was the outcome of interest group politics around the greenhouse gas and energy target management scheme, carbon taxes, and the emission-trading scheme. Using qualitative methods, this research examines powerful stakeholders and their interests at play in Korea’s climate change policymaking processes. It also links the political economy of climate change policy to the legacy of the ‘developmental state’ and examines environment

Political Science and International RelationsSocial Sciences
8
Article|39 citations·2019
The memory of place disruption, senses, and local opposition to Korean wind farms
Eun Sung Kim, Ji‐Bum Chung
SJR Q1Energy Policy
Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
9
Article|39 citations·2013
ARP101 inhibits α‐MSH‐stimulated melanogenesis by regulation of autophagy in melanocytes
Eun Sung Kim, Yoon Kyung Jo, So Jung Park, Huikyoung Chang, Ji Hyun Shin, Eun Sun Choi, Jun Bum Kim, Su Hyeon Seok, Jae‐Sung Kim, Jeong Su Oh, Myoung‐Hwan Kim, Eunjoo H. Lee
SJR Q1FEBS Letters

Autophagy is a cooperative process between autophagosomes and lysosomes that degrades cellular organelles. Although autophagy regulates the turnover of cellular components, its role in melanogenesis is not clearly established. Previously, we reported that ARP101 induces autophagy in various cancer cells. Here, we show that ARP101 inhibits melanogenesis by regulation of autophagy. ARP101 inhibited α-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis and suppressed the expression of tyrosinase and TRP1 in immortali

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|33 citations·2018
Korean traditional beliefs and renewable energy transitions: Pungsu, shamanism, and the local perception of wind turbines
Eun Sung Kim, Ji‐Bum Chung, Yong-Seok Seo
SJR Q1Energy Research & Social ScienceOA
Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
11
Article|32 citations·2013
Autophagy mediates anti-melanogenic activity of 3′-ODI in B16F1 melanoma cells
Eun Sung Kim, Ji Hyun Shin, Su Hyeon Seok, Jun Bum Kim, Huikyoung Chang, So Jung Park, Yoon Kyung Jo, Eun Sun Choi, Junseong Park, Myeong Hun Yeom, Chol Seung Lim, Dong‐Hyung Cho
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|31 citations·2015
Conditioned Media from Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits Melanogenesis by Promoting Proteasomal Degradation of MITF
Eun Sung Kim, Hong Bae Jeon, Hoon Lim, Ji Hyun Shin, So Jung Park, Yoon Kyung Jo, Wonil Oh, Yoon Sun Yang, Dong‐Hyung Cho, Juyeon Kim
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) secrete various beneficial molecules, which have anti-apoptotic activity and cell proliferation. However, the effect of hUCB-MSCs in melanogenesis is largely unclear. In this study, we show that conditioned media (CM) derived from hUCB-MSCs inhibit melanogenesis by regulating microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression via the ERK signalling pathway. Treatment of hUCB-MSC-CM strongly inhibited the alpha-me

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Article|28 citations·2022
Mask-wearing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: The role of individualism in a collectivistic country
Ji‐Bum Chung, Byeong-Je Kim, Eun Sung Kim
SJR Q1International Journal of Disaster Risk ReductionOA
Economics and EconometricsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance
14
Article|23 citations·2021
Korean mothers’ morality in the wake of COVID-19 contact-tracing surveillance
Eun Sung Kim, Ji‐Bum Chung
SJR Q1Social Science & MedicineOA
Geography, Planning and DevelopmentSocial Sciences
15
Article|22 citations·2009
Cell-penetrating DNA-binding protein as a safe and efficient naked DNA delivery carrier in vitro and in vivo
Eun Sung Kim, Seung‐Woo Yang, Dong-Ki Hong, Woo-Taek Kim, Ho-Guen Kim, Sang‐Kyou Lee
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research CommunicationsOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Information SystemsMolecular BiologyAerospace EngineeringSurgeryComputer Networks and CommunicationsSociology and Political Science

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