“Apply and Deliver” A Pain-Free Patch that Enables Deep Dermal Delivery of Extracellular Vesicles
Chemical Engineering
Prof. PARK, JAE HYUNG
Turning Food Waste into Future Resources
Graduate School of Water Resources
Prof. JANG, AM
Dr. Hongrae Im
2025 Seoul RISE General Universities Council Performance Forum Held - Led by Council Chair Professor Janghyun Kim… Sharing Regional Innovation Achievements in Seoul The Seoul RISE General Universities Council (Chair: Professor Janghyun Kim), together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Institute, held the 2025 Seoul RISE General Universities Council Performance Forum on Monday, December 1 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The forum commemorated the first year of the Seoul RISE initiative and brought together all 26 general universities in Seoul to share university-led regional innovation achievements and discuss future development strategies. The RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) initiative is a major Ministry of Education policy that transfers authority for implementing higher education financial support programs from the central government to local governments. This enables support for university innovation tailored to regional needs. Selected universities are carrying out initiatives that contribute to regional development by building diverse innovation models in collaboration with their local communities. The Seoul RISE General Universities Council consists of 26 Seoul-based general universities and aims to establish joint strategies that strengthen inter-university cooperation and build a regional innovation ecosystem across the city. The forum featured: ▲Exhibitions showcasing RISE achievements from each university ▲Presentations of outstanding outcomes from individual projects ▲A collaboration meeting with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Institute Participants also engaged in in-depth discussions on aligning these initiatives with Seoul’s municipal policies. Notably, the exhibition of outstanding achievements from the 26 universities illustrated the accomplishments of the first year of the Seoul RISE initiative, strengthening platforms for inter-university sharing and laying a foundation for expanding regional innovation. Professor Janghyun Kim, Chair of the Seoul RISE General Universities Council, stated, “This year’s achievements clearly demonstrate the Seoul RISE vision of universities taking the lead in driving innovation across local communities and industries. We will continue to contribute to strengthening Seoul’s future competitiveness through inter-university collaboration and fostering young talent.” Ju Yong-tae, Director-General of Economic Policy at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, remarked, “The achievements of our universities are a key driving force behind Seoul’s urban innovation. The city will continue working closely with universities to expand an innovation ecosystem where young people can grow and industries can advance.” Moving forward, the Seoul RISE General Universities Council plans to institutionalize regular exhibitions and presentations of achievements, further expand inter-university collaboration, and actively promote the dissemination of outstanding results. The council will also strengthen cooperation among industry, academia, research institutions, and government to expand the innovation ecosystem throughout Seoul.
2025-12-02
표면 구조 제어 신기술로 안정한 고효율 페로브스카이트 태양전지 개발 - 표면 결정 성장 경로 제어로 효율·안정성 동시 향상 - 세계 최고 수준 인증효율 26.87% 달성, 상용화 기술 한 단계 도약 화학공학과 유삼만 박사와 박남규 교수 연구팀이 페로브스카이트 태양전지의 효율과 안정성을 동시에 향상시키는 새로운 표면 제어 기술을 개발했다고 밝혔다. 이번 기술을 적용한 태양전지는 세계 최고 수준인 인증 효율 26.87%를 달성했으며, 연구 결과는 에너지 분야 최고 권위 학술지인 네이처에너지(Nature Energy)에 2025년 11월 21일자로 게재됐다. 연구팀은 기존 페로브스카이트 태양전지의 성능을 떨어뜨리던 표면 결함과 전하 손실 문제를 해결하기 위해, 후처리 용액에 아주 소량의 N-메틸피롤리돈(NMP)을 첨가하는 방식을 적용했다. 이 과정에서 태양전지 표면에 새로운 형태의 ‘중간상’이 형성되며, 일반적으로 나타나는 결정 전환 경로와는 다른 방향으로 결정이 성장하도록 유도되는 사실을 확인했다. 그 결과 태양전지 표면 품질이 크게 향상돼 전하 손실을 최소화할 수 있었다는 점에서 기존 기술과 차별성이 있다. 연구팀이 개발한 공정을 적용한 다양한 소자에서도 우수한 성능이 확인됐다. 단일 소자 최고 효율 27.19% (인증 26.87%) 미니모듈 인증 효율 23.00% 올-페로브스카이트 탠덤 셀 인증 효율 29.08% 이는 현재 보고된 p-i-n 구조 페로브스카이트 태양전지 가운데 최고 수준의 기록이다. 또한 65°C에서 2,500시간 연속 구동 후 초기 효율의 96%를 유지하는 등 장기 안정성도 입증돼 상용화 가능성을 크게 높였다. 박남규 교수는 “이번 연구는 단순히 표면 결함을 줄이는 수준을 넘어, 결정이 형성되는 과정 자체를 조절하는 새로운 접근법을 제시한 것”이라며 “향후 페로브스카이트 대면적 모듈 및 양산 공정에도 적용될 수 있어 중요한 기술적 전환점이 될 것”이라고 말했다. 이번 성과는 페로브스카이트 태양전지의 상용화에 가장 큰 걸림돌로 꼽히던 계면 손실·내구성 문제를 동시에 해결했다는 점에서 의미가 크며, 차세대 태양전지 분야의 핵심 기술 경쟁력을 확보한 연구로 평가된다.
2025-11-26
IBS and University of Cambridge Launch Joint Research Lab for Quantum Technology ▲Commemorative photo taken on July 25 in front of the Cambridge Graphene Centre during the IBS Global Partner Lab plaque unveiling ceremony. The IBS Center for van der Waals Quantum Solids has established a Global Partner Laboratory at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, UK, and held an official plaque unveiling ceremony on July 25 (local time). The two institutions will use this Partner Lab as a strategic hub to begin full-scale joint research aimed at realizing next-generation quantum technologies in the fields of quantum materials and devices. ▲Plaque unveiling at the IBS Global Partner Lab in the Cavendish Laboratory. (From left) Science Attaché Byung-Hyun Park, Professor Hyun-Suk Shin, Director Mete Atature, and Researcher Dongwoo Kang. The Global Partner Lab is a new international joint research platform introduced by IBS in 2024. It establishes collaborative labs within world-renowned basic science institutions, building long-term and stable research partnerships. It supports continuous joint research based on complementary strengths between IBS and its partners. This Cambridge Partner Lab is led by the IBS Center for van der Waals Quantum Solids, directed by Professor Hyun-Suk Shin (SKKU Department of Energy Science). The lab will focus on the development of advanced technologies such as spin qubit control using 2D quantum heterostructures and magnetic quantum crystal structures, aiming to pioneer high-precision quantum control and integration techniques that are currently difficult to realize. Combining IBS’s expertise in 2D materials and heterostructure growth with Cambridge’s precision qubit measurement/control and quantum sensing technologies, the two institutions will collaborate on breakthrough quantum information technologies. The research will be conducted jointly by IBS, the Cavendish Laboratory, the Cambridge Graphene Centre, and the Henry Royce Institute. ▲Researchers discussing the direction of the joint research at the Cambridge Graphene Centre on July 25. This newly established Partner Lab will serve as a permanent outpost for ongoing collaboration between Korean and UK researchers. Through practical and sustained cooperation, it is expected to accelerate the localization and advancement of world-class quantum measurement and control technologies, helping secure leadership in the fields of quantum computing and sensors. The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by key figures including Mete Atature, Director of the Cavendish Laboratory; Andrea Ferrari, Director of the Graphene Centre; Manish Chhowalla, Director of the Henry Royce Institute; as well as Hyun-Suk Shin, Director of the IBS research center; Dongwoo Kang, Principal Policy Researcher at IBS; and Byung-Hyun Park, Science Attaché at the Korean Embassy in the UK. Mete Atature, Director of the Cavendish Laboratory, commented: "This joint research with IBS presents a great opportunity to amplify the strengths of both institutions in the quantum field. We look forward to the collaboration and its future outcomes." Do-Young Noh, President of IBS, stated: "The Global Partner Lab is a new IBS model designed to go beyond short-term exchanges and establish long-term international research collaborations. Through synergy with Cambridge’s world-class research capabilities, we aim to advance basic science and nurture future research leaders."
2025-08-04
Dr. Youngdae Shim Receives Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Materials and Fracture Division of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers ▲(From left) Dr. Youngdae Shim and Professor Eunho Lee Dr. Youngdae Shim (advisor: Professor Eunho Lee) was awarded the Outstanding Dissertation Award by the Materials and Fracture Division of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (KSME) in recognition of the excellence of his doctoral dissertation, published in 2024. The award-winning dissertation, titled “A Study on Real-Time Prediction of Mechanical Properties Based on Electromagnetic-Mechanical Coupled Response Characteristics for Hairpin Motor Fabrication,” explores methods for predicting the yield strength of metallic materials using electromagnetic sensors. The research combines continuum mechanics modeling that accounts for electromagnetic-mechanical coupling and micro-scale crystal plasticity simulations. ▲ Award certificate Through this study, an algorithm was developed to predict mechanical yield strength from the impedance values of electromagnetic sensors, using micro-scale material properties. The research was supported by Hyundai MOBIS, and the developed system has been successfully transferred and applied to actual electric motor production lines. Building on this achievement, Dr. Shim is currently continuing his research as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.
2025-07-03
College of Economics Signs Academic Exchange Agreement with World-Renowned Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) The College of Economics at Sungkyunkwan University (Dean: Kim Sung-hyun) has signed an academic exchange agreement with the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), a globally renowned institution for economics education and research. This agreement is expected to further strengthen academic collaboration between the two institutions and open a new chapter in global economics education and research. TSE, located in Toulouse in southern France, is one of the world’s leading centers for economics. It ranks 8th globally in the IDEAS/RePEc rankings and 16th in Economics in the 2024 Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. The school boasts an exceptional faculty that includes numerous distinguished scholars, notably Professor Jean Tirole, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. TSE faculty members consistently publish in top-tier journals such as Econometrica, American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, and Quarterly Journal of Economics. TSE's programs are research-oriented and primarily focused on graduate-level education. With approximately 2,400 students from over 90 nationalities, the institution is highly international. In addition, TSE engages in policy advising and collaborative research with bodies such as the French Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the European Commission. The newly signed academic exchange agreement includes the following areas of collaboration: ▲Student exchange programs between the two institutions▲Academic exchanges involving faculty, graduate students, and researchers▲Joint research projects and seminar hosting. Both institutions are currently developing detailed implementation plans to initiate actual student and researcher exchanges starting in 2026. Moving forward, they aim to build a sustainable and effective framework for continued cooperation.
2025-06-10
Professor Nam-Gyu Park Awarded Germany’s Prestigious Humboldt Research Award -Selected by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, joining the ranks of the world’s top scholars -Recognized for outstanding achievements including the world’s first development of solid-state perovskite solar cells ▲Professor Nam-Gyu Park, School of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Engineering Professor Nam-Gyu Park from the School of Chemical and Polymer Engineering has been selected as a recipient of the Humboldt Research Award, presented by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. The award, which includes a prize of €80,000, is granted to internationally renowned researchers in the humanities, natural sciences, and engineering for their exceptional contributions. The prestige of the award is further underscored by the fact that 61 of its past recipients have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Professor Park is a pioneer in the development of third-generation solar cells using perovskite materials. He has consistently conducted research to improve the stability and efficiency of these materials. His work has significantly advanced the commercialization potential of perovskite solar cells and is considered a game-changer in the renewable energy market. In 2023, Professor Park was also honored with the Eni Award in the Energy Frontiers category during the awards ceremony held in Rome, Italy, recognizing his global contributions to next-generation solar technology. Furthermore, he has been appointed as the first Distinguished Lifetime Chair Professor at our university—an honor that allows him to continue his research and mentor future scholars without the constraints of retirement. Professor Park remarked, “I hope that more opportunities will be available for senior researchers to continue and expand their work without age-related limitations.” President Jibeom Yoo stated, “This Humboldt Research Award not only highlights Professor Park’s individual achievements but also elevates our university’s academic standing on the global stage. His continued research is expected to make significant contributions to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies and to strengthening global research leadership.” The official Humboldt Research Award ceremony will take place in March 2026 in Bamberg, Germany. Professor Park plans to further expand his international research collaborations and academic exchanges with German scholars as part of this recognition.
2025-05-12
Professor Hanjung Lee’s Research Team Identifies the Principles Behind English Sentence Structure Choices Through Big Data Analysis - First to identify contextual factors influencing realization of causal event structures ▲(From left) First author: Ph.D. candidate Ji-Yeon Kim, Corresponding author: Professor Hanjung Lee, Co-author: Ph.D. candidate Ye-Eun Cho A research team led by Professor Hanjung Lee from the Department of English Language and Literature at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) has published a paper in the internationally renowned journal Corpus Linguistics and Linguistic Theory, revealing the key factors that influence the choice of causal event structures in English sentences. The study was conducted by the Language, Cognition, and Artificial Intelligence research group, consisting of Professor Hanjung Lee (Department of English Language and Literature), Ph.D. candidate Ji-Yeon Kim (Department of German Language and Literature), and Ph.D. candidate Ye-Eun Cho (Department of English Language and Literature). The team extracted approximately 15,000 sentences describing events caused by direct causes from the British National Corpus (BNC)—a corpus of about 100 million words commonly used in English language research—using natural language processing (NLP) tools. They then conducted both qualitative analyses and machine-learning-based multifactorial analyses. The results showed that the clarity and intentionality of the cause are the most significant factors influencing how causal event structures are realized. For instance, structures where the agent is explicitly mentioned, such as "The protesters broke the window," are influenced by different factors than structures where the cause is implicit, such as "The window broke" or "The window was broken." In addition, the study identified various contextual conditions affecting the choice between active and passive constructions, empirically demonstrating how linguistic informativeness, contextual appropriateness, and communicative efficiency interact to govern language use. This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea. As a follow-up, the team is currently investigating how non-verbal perceptual factors influence language expression across English and Korean speakers, as well as artificial intelligence language models. Professor Lee stated, “We plan to continue pioneering research that explores the intersection of language, cognition, emotion, perception, and culture, utilizing large language models such as GPT and BERT.” ※ Title: Semantic and contextual constraints on the causative alternation in English: A multifactorial analysis ※ Journal: Corpus Linguistics and Linguistic Theory (De Gruyter Brill) ※ Author: Ji-Yeon Kim (First Author), Hanjung Lee (Corresponding Author), Ye-Eun Cho (Co-Author) ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1515/cllt-2024-0047
2025-04-28
SKKU Signs MOU with City University of Hong Kong to Strengthen International Collaboration and Joint Research – Establishing a foundation for diverse partnerships including faculty and student exchange, joint research, and academic information sharing – Enhancing cooperation in advanced fields such as energy, environment, and healthcare through the 1st SKKU-CityU Joint Workshop ▲ SKKU President Ji-Beom Yoo (left) and CityU Vice President Chun Sing LEE (right) On April 7, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with City University of Hong Kong (CityU) to promote academic and research collaboration. This agreement aims to enhance international exchanges and expand joint research initiatives between the two institutions. Key areas of cooperation include faculty, staff, and student exchange programs, joint research projects, sharing of academic information and publications, and other mutually beneficial activities. Representing CityU at the MOU signing ceremony were Professor Chun Sing LEE (Vice President), Professor Anderson SHUM (Vice-President for Research), Ms. Shirley Chong (Director of Institutional Research and External Engagement), and Professors Patrick BUTAYE, Hua ZHANG, and Edwin Chi-Yan TSO. ▲ Professor Edwin TSO of City University of Hong Kong presents his research on carbon neutrality and environmental technology at the 1st SKKU-CityU Joint Workshop, held at the Live Virtual Studio. On the following day, April 8, the 1st CityU-SKKU Workshop on Innovative Research Advances was held at SKKU's Natural Sciences Campus, bringing together researchers from both institutions to explore collaboration opportunities in cutting-edge fields. The workshop featured three sessions: ▲Advanced Medicine, ▲Future Materials/Nanochemistry, ▲Carbon Neutrality/Environmental Technologies. In the Advanced Medicine session, Professor Kyungkyu Kim (SKKU School of Medicine / Director of BICs) and Professor Patrick BUTAYE (CityU Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences) discussed potential collaborations in structural biology and genomic sequencing. In the Future Materials/Nanochemistry session, Professor Hyun Seok Shin (SKKU Department of Energy Science / Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics, IBS) and Professor Hua ZHANG (CityU Department of Chemistry / Director of the Center for Clean Energy) shared the latest advancements in nanomaterials research. In the Carbon Neutrality/Environmental Technologies session, Professor Seunghyun Baek (SKKU School of Mechanical Engineering / Director of the Center for Nanotubes and Nanocomposites) and Professor Edwin Chi-Yan TSO (CityU Associate Vice-President for Institutional Advancement / School of Energy and Environment) presented on sustainable energy technologies and environmental applications. The event was also attended by key university leaders, including Vice President Young Wook Kwon (SKKU Natural Sciences Campus), Planning and Coordination Officer Pil Jin Yoo, Dean Doo Sun Park (College of Science), and Department Chair Jinwoong Kim (Chemical Engineering), who discussed long-term strategies for meaningful and sustainable collaboration between the two universities. This MOU builds on a previous agreement signed on March 18 between SKKU’s Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (SAIHST) and CityU’s IDM Research Center, focusing on digital health. With the new university-level partnership, the scope of collaboration is expected to expand further into energy, environment, and materials research. SKKU remains committed to strengthening its global partnerships and aims to become a leading hub for world-class research and international education.
2025-04-10
Undergraduate student majoring in English Language and Literature and Library and Information Science, published an SSCI paper (supervised by Professor Na-yeon Kim) ▲ (from left) Ziying Li, a doctoral student, Professor Na-yeon Kim, Chaejin Lee (English Language and Literature), Seong-hyun Byun (Library and Information Science) The research paper led by Professor Na-yeon Kim of the Department of English Language and Literature, titled "Zero-derivation in Korean: the effect of covert structure in real-time processing," has been published in the December issue of the SSCI journal 'Frontiers in Psychology: Psychology Of Language.' The paper explores the linguistic and cognitive aspects of words with ambiguous grammatical categories, revealing their subtle syntactic structures through both linguistic and cognitive psychological methodologies. Notably, this paper holds significant meaning as it is a collaborative effort, not only involving Ziying Li, a doctoral student, but also featuring contributions from undergraduate students, Chae-jin Lee, a third-year English Language and Literature major, and Seong-hyun Byun, a fourth-year student majoring in Library and Information Science. The research focuses on the phenomenon of 'zero-derivation' in Korean. For instance, in Korean, the word '밝다' ('bright') can be used both as an adjective and a verb. While previous studies have explored the phenomenon of adjectives and verbs sharing grammatical categories, there has been no experimental study determining whether such categories are distinct or if the verb '밝다' derives from the adjective '밝다.' This study analyzes the process by which the verb '밝다' is derived from the adjective '밝다' through cognitive psychological methodologies. It reveals that we can easily understand sentences by being sensitive to the unseen syntactic structures and the derivation process of grammatical categories. The study suggests that sentences with omitted words, i.e., those not visible or audible, also possess delicate and intricate syntactic structures. Humans can recognize these structures, enabling them to quickly comprehend sentences involving omissions. The research team is currently collaborating with professors from foreign language departments at the University of Toronto, Northwestern University, and the National University of Singapore to systematize various syntactic experiments that elucidate the interaction mechanism between these subtle syntactic structures and cognitive processes. Additionally, ongoing research at our university's Artificial Intelligence Convergence Institute, led by Professor Kwang-soo Kim, explores whether artificial intelligence can acquire these unique language characteristics exhibited by humans. Professor Na-yeon Kim expressed, "It's commendable that two undergraduate research students and a doctoral student have passionately contributed to this research for over a year, dedicating weekends. In the future, I plan to further expand opportunities for collaborative research with students in the field of interdisciplinary research between English language and cognitive psychology through the Language and Cognition Lab." ※ Author: Kim, N., Li, Z., Byeon, S., & Lee, C. ※ Title: Zero-derivation in Korean: The Effect of Covert Structure in Real-time Processing. ※ Journal: Frontiers in Psychology,14, 1230927
2023-12-15
Professor Jae Wook Jeon's team Wins First Place in AI City Challenge at CVPR -Envisioning Future Intelligent Traffic Surveillance System Utilization In June 2023, Professor Jae Wook Jeon’s team from the Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering achieved 1st place in the 7th AI City Challenge, titled "Detecting Violation of Helmet Rule for Motorcyclists," hosted by CVPR (Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition), the world's leading conference in the field of artificial intelligence and computer vision, which took place in Vancouver, Canada. In this inaugural competition held in 2023, a total of 39 teams from around the world participated, competing from January to June over a span of five months to develop technology to find out whether motorcycle riders were wearing their helmets. Professor Jeon Jae Wook's team devised an artificial intelligence system with a two-stage structure. First, they identified the positions of various motorcycles and their riders. Then, they detected whether the riders were wearing helmets. This innovative approach earned them the highest detection performance score. This victory has allowed Professor Jae Wook Jeon's team to showcase their technological prowess on the global stage. The developed technology is expected to find widespread application in future intelligent traffic surveillance systems. The technology, led by graduate students from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering participating in the BK21 program, is the result of the research project "Real-time Intelligent Traffic Surveillance System on Edge Devices." This project was conducted under the auspices of SW StarLab (Software StarLab), an initiative by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency to secure global software technology and cultivate master's and doctoral-level talents in the field of software.
2023-08-07
