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Dr. Se-Young Song of the Molecular Control Research Center and Researchers Mi-hyun Kim and Ha-rin Kim of the Department of Nano and Advanced Materials Convergence Engineering win Outstanding Oral and Poster Presentation Awards at an international academic conference.

Three researchers from Gyeongsang National University receive Outstanding Presentation Awards at 'GCIM 2026' ▸Dr. Song Se-yeong wins the Oral Presentation Award; researchers Kim Mi-hyeon and Kim Ha-rin win the Poster Presentation Award ▸Research achievements recognized in space-grade perovskite solar cells and high-efficiency organic solar cells Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe) College of Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor Kim Gi-hwan’s research group: Dr. Song Se-yeong of the Molecular Control Research Institute, and researchers Kim Mi-hyeon and Kim Ha-rin (master’s program) of the Department of Nano Advanced Materials Convergence Engineering, were each honored with awards at the recently held 2026 Global Conference of Innovation Materials (GCIM 2026, Global Conference of Innovation Materials 2026) in recognition of their outstanding research achievements. Dr. Song Se-yeong received the Outstanding Presentation Award in the Oral Presentation category, and researchers Kim Mi-hyeon and Kim Ha-rin received the Outstanding Presentation Award in the Poster Presentation category. Dr. Song presented research on “Enhancing interfacial stability of perovskite solar cells under extreme space environments.” In this study, Dr. Song proposed a strategy to simultaneously enhance the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells by applying a bilayer structure of a polymer hole transport layer (PTAA) and a self-assembled monolayer (MeO-2PACz). In particular, evaluations under extreme temperature conditions simulating the space environment (-40℃~90℃) and in vacuum confirmed that the polymer layer serves as a mechanical buffer layer at the interface, alleviating thermal stress and effectively suppressing performance degradation. This presents an interfacial design strategy for ensuring the long-term reliability of space-grade perovskite solar cells. Researcher Kim Mi-hyeon gave a presentation titled “Performance enhancement of ternary organic solar cells through BDTT-based guest donor incorporation.” In this study, she proposed a strategy to improve the photovoltaic performance of ternary organic solar cells by employing BDTT-based guest donors. In particular, by designing and introducing guest donors with different side-chain structures, she analyzed their effects on molecular packing, miscibility, and charge transport characteristics, and confirmed that an optimal side-chain structure can improve molecular packing and charge transport in the active layer, thereby increasing light absorption and charge generation efficiency. This demonstrates that side-chain engineering is an effective design strategy for realizing high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells. Researcher Kim Ha-rin gave a presentation titled “Efficiency enhancement of ternary organic solar cells based on cascade energy alignment and improved absorption through introduction of a guest donor.” In this study, she elucidated the performance enhancement mechanism of PM6-based organic solar cells by introducing a new polymer guest donor into ternary organic solar cells. The results confirmed that the guest donor enhances light absorption and promotes charge transport by forming cascade energy alignment between the donor and acceptor. In addition, it was confirmed that the guest donor forms interstitial connections within the active layer, effectively linking charge transport pathways, and, through various optoelectrical analyses, elucidated mechanisms for enhanced charge generation and collection and reduced charge recombination, thereby proposing design strategies for high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells. The awardees stated, “This award was made possible thanks to Professor Kim Gi-hwan’s guidance and the collaboration of our lab members. We are deeply grateful to the GNU LAMP Project Group, the BK21 GNU Intelligent Advanced Materials Pioneering Talent Development Group, and the Regional Nuclear Industry-based Energy Technology-sharing University (ETU) for supporting our research, and we will continue to devote ourselves to research to contribute to the advancement of next-generation electronic materials and devices.” ㅇ Photo caption: Dr. Song Se-yeong, Molecular Control Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, and researchers Kim Mi-hyeon and Kim Ha-rin, Department of Nano Advanced Materials Convergence Engineering (from left) ㅇ Contact for details: Professor Kim Gi-hwan, Gyeongsang National University, 055-772-1651This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.06.09 총무과

Endowed Chair Professor Sang-Yeol Lee’s research team uncovers the secrets of plant survival—published in Molecular Plant, the world’s most prestigious journal in plant science.

Prof. Sang-Yeol Lee’s team at Gyeongsang National University publishes a paper in 《Molecular Plant》 ▸A molecular switch triggered by heat stress: a protein-degrading enzyme transforms into a protein protector ▸Foundational technology secured to enhance plant heat tolerance, expected to contribute to developing heat-tolerant crops to cope with extreme weather ▸A purely homegrown domestic research achievement realized at Gyeongsang National University…demonstrating world-class research prowess ▸Research led by Dr. Ho-Byeong Chae and Dr. Su-Bin Bae at the Institute of Plant Biotechnology, Gyeongsang National University ◐ One protein, two faces—an exquisite, heat-activated survival strategy in plants The secret to how crops survive scorching summer heat stress without collapsing was hidden within a single protein. Endowed Chair Prof. Sang-Yeol Lee’s research team at Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Jin-Hoe Kwon) has, for the first time in the world, elucidated the sophisticated molecular mechanism by which a protein called EMR in plant cells switches its function in response to heat-stress signals from a protein-degrading enzyme to a protein protector. These results were published online on June 3 (KST) in 《Molecular Plant》 (IF: 24.1; ranked 2nd in plant science; top 0.5%), the world’s leading journal in plant science. ◐ “From degrader to guardian—one zinc ion changes its fate” The protagonist of this study is a protein called EMR. Under normal conditions, EMR resides in the endoplasmic reticulum of plant cells and, as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that tags damaged or unnecessary proteins with ubiquitin for degradation, quietly serves as a cellular janitor. However, the moment heat stress is applied, EMR begins a remarkable transformation. As a zinc ion (Zn²⁺) that had been held within the protein is released, EMR’s structure changes wholesale. It reassembles from a lone monomer into an oligomeric form, leaves the endoplasmic reticulum for the cytosol, and turns into a molecular chaperone that seizes and protects neighboring proteins that start to aggregate due to heat. It is the instant when a degrader that disposed of damaged proteins turns into a guardian that protects other proteins. Even more remarkable, all of these transitions occur without complex processes such as synthesizing new proteins or newly activating genes; they are accomplished solely by a conformational change triggered by the release of a single zinc ion. It is an exquisite redox molecular switch, honed by hundreds of millions of years of evolution, that enables immediate crisis response while minimizing energy and time. ◐ “Mechanism of the heat-stress redox molecular switch uncovered through multifaceted experiments” The team delineated this mechanism step by step. Artificially removing the zinc ion converts EMR into an oligomer and confers chaperone function even without heat stress, whereas supplying zinc restores the oligomer to a monomer and recovers E3 ligase activity. This is direct evidence that it is the presence or absence of the zinc ion—not heat itself—that is the true key determining EMR’s fate. Furthermore, using confocal microscopy, the team visually confirmed that under heat stress EMR relocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol, and they directly demonstrated via in vivo experiments that zinc ions are indeed released within plant cells. They also obtained genetic evidence that mutant plants lacking E3 ligase activity but retaining only chaperone function show heat tolerance equivalent to plants overexpressing wild-type EMR, thereby demonstrating from multiple angles that EMR’s chaperone function plays a central role in plant heat tolerance. Comparative proteomic analysis further revealed that EMR protects ribosomal proteins involved in protein synthesis from heat. ◐ “In the era of climate change, opening a new path to developing heat-tolerant crops” This study is noteworthy not only as a basic-science achievement but also for presenting tangible potential for agricultural applications. As extreme heat events become more frequent due to climate change and damage to heat-sensitive crops rises worldwide, the discovery of key proteins like EMR that enhance heat tolerance and the elucidation of their mechanisms can serve as direct foundational technology for developing heat-tolerant crops. Prof. Sang-Yeol Lee emphasized, “This study is the first to elucidate a sophisticated redox molecular switch mechanism by which plants dynamically convert the structure and function of a protein under the extreme condition of heat stress,” adding, “The discovery that a single protein can immediately perform two completely different functions depending on environmental signals is a highly innovative achievement in plant life science.” The team stated, “We plan to continue pursuing the development of heat-tolerant crops by leveraging key proteins that confer resistance to heat stress.” This research was supported by grants from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Plant Circadian Rhythm Research Center (SRC; Director Prof. Oe-Yeon Kim). The paper’s title is “Heat shock-induced zinc efflux repurposes Arabidopsis E3 ligase EMR as a molecular chaperone.” In particular, these results are a purely homegrown research achievement realized entirely at Gyeongsang National University, once again demonstrating that the university’s researchers possess world-class research capabilities. ◐ Research Team Introduction Professor Sang Yeol Lee, who supervised the paper, said, "Dr. Ho Byeong Chae and Dr. Subin Bae, who led the study, demonstrated passion and outstanding experimental capabilities by constantly challenging difficult research questions," adding, "It was thanks to the close collaboration and creative thinking of the two researchers that such world-class results were achieved." Professor Sang Yeol Lee's team focuses on environmental stress caused by climate change and the mechanisms of plant stress resistance, and, starting with a 2004 paper in 《Cell》, has published numerous papers in leading journals such as 《Science》, 《Molecular Plant》, 《Nature Plants》, 《Nature Communication》, and 《U.S. Royal Society Journal (PNAS)》. As a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, Professor Sang Yeol Lee served as Director of Gyeongsang National University's 'Systems Synthesis Agri-Life Biotechnology Project Group' (2011–2020) and as President of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2015), and he is currently actively conducting research as a Distinguished Professor at Gyeongsang National University. ㅇ Photo description: Dr. Ho Byeong Chae and Dr. Subin Bae of the Plant Biotechnology Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University, and Distinguished Professor Sang Yeol Lee ㅇ For inquiries: Professor Sang Yeol Lee, Gyeongsang National University 055-772-1351This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.06.05 총무과

Ji Sang-min, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, receives the Excellence Award at the Future Marine Science and Technology Awards.

Sangmin Ji, a Ph.D. candidate at Gyeongsang National University, wins the Excellence Award (Technology category) of the “Future Ocean Science and Technology Award” ▸Design and evaluation of a boil-off-gas reliquefaction system for ammonia carriers transporting the eco-friendly marine fuel ammonia ▸Demonstrated energy efficiency and economic viability through refrigeration-cycle optimization… contributing to carbon-neutral shipping technology Sangmin Ji, a Ph.D. candidate in Professor Jinkwang Lee’s lab in the Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, College of Engineering, Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Jinhoe Kwon), received the Excellence Award (Technology category) of the “Future Ocean Science and Technology Award” at the “2026 Joint Conference of the Korean Society of Ocean Engineers.” The “Future Ocean Science and Technology Award,” established by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Council of Korean Marine Science and Technology Societies to identify and commend outstanding graduate-student presenters in marine science and technology and to support the growth of early-career researchers, is conferred at the nation’s largest marine science and technology academic event, jointly organized by multiple societies including the Korean Society of Ocean Engineers. This research outcome was published in the international journal in refrigeration and thermal engineering, the International Journal of Refrigeration (SCIE), volume 170 (2025), under the title “Design and thermodynamic evaluation of onboard NH3 BOG re-liquefaction systems for ocean-going NH3 carriers.” Ph.D. candidate Sangmin Ji and Professor Jinkwang Lee served as lead authors, with co-authors Master’s student Sejun Park (Gyeongsang National University), Dr. Younggyun Seo (Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, KRISO), and Dr. Minsu Choi (KAIST). He earned the honor for research that designed and evaluated an onboard reliquefaction system that returns naturally vaporized boil-off gas (BOG) to liquid on an 88,000 m3-class Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC) transporting ammonia (NH3), an eco-friendly carbon-free marine fuel. A key feature of this study is the quantitative comparison of two approaches—the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle and the Linde–Hampson refrigeration cycle—from thermodynamic and economic perspectives. Using a hybrid optimization method combining SQP and BOX algorithms, Ji minimized the specific energy consumption (SEC) required to reliquefy a unit of BOG. Economic analysis based on system life-cycle cost (LCC) identified the Linde–Hampson system as superior in both energy efficiency and economic performance. These findings are expected to serve as foundational data for the development of ammonia carriers and the realization of carbon-neutral shipping. Advisor Professor Jinkwang Lee said, “This award is a valuable result recognizing our lab’s capabilities in BOG reliquefaction and refrigeration-cycle optimization, core technologies for ammonia carriers,” and added, “I expect Ph.D. candidate Sangmin Ji, who excellently carried out a difficult research process, to continue to grow into a key talent contributing to the advancement of eco-friendly ship technologies.” This award is regarded as recognition of research excellence in the design and optimization of refrigeration cycles for efficiently reliquefying boil-off gas (BOG) generated during the marine transport of ammonia carriers, and as a demonstration of research competitiveness in the dissemination of eco-friendly carbon-free marine fuels and in ammonia marine transport technologies. Photo caption: Sangmin Ji, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, College of Engineering, Gyeongsang National UniversityThis page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.06.04 총무과

Professors Seung-jae Hwang and Jin-guk Kim of the Department of Horticultural Science receive the Outstanding Paper Award from the Korean Society for Horticultural Science

Professors Hwang Seung-jae and Kim Jin-guk of Gyeongsang National University receive the Korean Society for Horticultural Science ‘Outstanding Paper Award’ ▸External recognition of the research capabilities accumulated in protected horticulture and postharvest management Hwang Seung-jae and Kim Jin-guk, professors in the Department of Horticultural Science at Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe), each won an Outstanding Paper Award at the recently held Spring Academic Conference of the Korean Society for Horticultural Science. The Korean Society for Horticultural Science is the leading academic society in Korea in the field of horticultural science, identifying outstanding research achievements across diverse areas including horticultural crop production, physiology, protected horticulture, fruit crops, and postharvest management. The Outstanding Paper Award is conferred based on a comprehensive evaluation of scholarly rigor and contribution to the development of the horticultural industry. Professor Hwang Seung-jae has focused on hydroponics, production of high-quality seedlings, greenhouse environmental control, and technologies to enhance crop productivity, with an emphasis on protected horticulture in the Department of Horticultural Science at Gyeongsang National University. At this conference, he received the Outstanding Paper Award for the paper titled ‘Effect of Temperature and Seedling Cultivation Period on the Quality of Plug Seedlings of Four Medicinal Plant’. His research contributes to the production of high-quality seedlings and the establishment of stable protected horticulture technologies, helping improve farm productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of the horticultural industry. Professor Kim Jin-guk has conducted active research in quality improvement of fruit and horticultural crops, storage and distribution, and postharvest technology development. At this conference, his paper ‘Effects of Microperforated LDPE Film Packaging on the Quality of ‘Wonmi’ Sweet Persimmon’ was selected for the Outstanding Paper Award, recognizing the excellence of his research. His research develops technologies that enhance the storability and marketability of fruit, reducing postharvest distribution losses and contributing to increased added value in the domestic fruit industry. This award is regarded as external recognition of the research capabilities that the Department of Horticultural Science at Gyeongsang National University has accumulated in the fields of protected horticulture and postharvest management. ㅇ Photo caption: Professors Hwang Seung-jae and Kim Jin-guk, Department of Horticultural Science, Gyeongsang National University (from left) ㅇ For inquiries: Hwang Seung-jae, Department of Horticultural Science, Gyeongsang National University, 055-772-1916This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.06.01 총무과

Professor Jeong-sik Kim’s research team in the Department of Electrical Engineering pushes ahead with full-scale research on power semiconductors for extreme environments.

Gyeongsang National University launches full-scale research on next-generation power semiconductors ▸Professor Kim Jeong-sik’s research team participates in the strategic research program to develop high-power power semiconductors ▸Research on semiconductor technologies that remain stable in high-temperature, high-voltage, and radiation environments ▸Expected to secure high-reliability semiconductor technologies for the space, aviation, defense, and energy sectors The research team led by Professor Kim Jeong-sik in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe) is participating in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s strategic research program, 「Development of High-Power Power Semiconductors Applying Next-Generation Materials」, and will push forward full-scale research on high-reliability power semiconductors. Power semiconductors are key components of advanced industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, data centers, and space, aviation, and defense systems, and this research is expected to contribute to strengthening Korea’s competitiveness in next-generation semiconductors and stabilizing advanced-industry supply chains. Building on their accumulated results in semiconductor radiation reliability and radiation-hardened devices, Professor Kim Jeong-sik’s team will work to secure core technologies for power semiconductors for extreme environments. This research project aims to secure the performance and reliability of high-power, high-efficiency power semiconductors based on next-generation semiconductor materials. In particular, to overcome the limitations of conventional silicon-based power semiconductors, it will examine the applicability of next-generation wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and diamond, focusing on developing power device technologies that can operate stably under high-voltage, high-temperature, and high-radiation environments. Professor Kim Jeong-sik’s team has carried out a variety of studies in the areas of radiation reliability of semiconductor devices and memory semiconductors, development of radiation-hardened devices and materials, and degradation analysis of next-generation DRAM and logic devices. In particular, they have published more than 30 papers in SCIE-indexed international journals, including 2 in IEEE Electron Device Letters, 8 in IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, and 9 in IEEE Access, earning recognition for their capabilities and expertise in the field. At present, the team is conducting Ministry of Science and ICT-funded projects such as 「Advancement of Radiation Effect Evaluation Technology for Radiation-Hardened Semiconductors and Development of Radiation-Tolerant Devices/Materials」, 「Development of Next-Generation 3D Charge Trapping DRAM Devices through Schottky Contact and DRAM-Oriented ONO Optimization」, and 「Future Semiconductor Materials for Space/Aviation/Defense/Energy: Diamond Diode Radiation Reliability Study」. Through these efforts, they are building a research foundation in next-generation memory semiconductor development, evaluation technologies for radiation-hardened semiconductors, and reliability analysis of next-generation devices. The team has also carried out various government-funded studies, including radiation-induced degradation of logic semiconductor SRAM at 5 nm and below, radiation effects in nanosheet transistors, and a platform for analyzing radiation-induced degradation of memory semiconductors for unmanned aerial systems and autonomous vehicles. This research experience is expanding into radiation-tolerance evaluation of semiconductor components and high-reliability device design technologies required in space, aviation, and defense environments. Within this strategic research program, Professor Kim Jeong-sik’s team will, alongside analyzing the electrical characteristics of high-power power semiconductors, identify the mechanisms of radiation-induced degradation and reliability deterioration that can occur in extreme environments. Through this, they plan to assess the performance stability of power semiconductors based on next-generation materials and secure core foundational technologies applicable to various future applications such as space data centers, satellites, avionics, defense systems, and energy conversion systems. Professor Kim Jeong-sik stated, "High-power power semiconductors are key components for the future space, defense, and energy industries, and beyond simple performance improvements, ensuring long-term reliability in extreme environments is of utmost importance. Building on our accumulated experience in semiconductor radiation reliability and radiation-hardened device research, we will continue research that enhances the practical applicability of power semiconductors based on next-generation materials." Taking this project as an opportunity, Professor Kim Jeong-sik’s team in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Gyeongsang National University is expected to further strengthen its research competitiveness in semiconductor radiation reliability, next-generation power semiconductors, and degradation analysis of memory and logic devices, and to contribute to securing core high-reliability semiconductor technologies required in the space, aviation, defense, and energy industries. ㅇ Photo caption: Professor Kim Jeong-sik, Department of Electrical Engineering, Gyeongsang National University (GNU Education and Research Group for Fostering Pioneering Talent in Intelligent Advanced Materials) ㅇ For inquiries: Professor Kim Jeong-sik, Department of Electrical Engineering, Gyeongsang National University 055-772-1718This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.06.01 총무과

Professor Jang Gwangcheol of the Department of Geological Sciences reveals, through collaborative research, the Arctic Ocean secret that triggered an ice age 1 million years ago.

Professor Kwangcheol Jang of Gyeongsang National University, first to identify the cause of the 100,000-year glacial-cycle transition ▸Elucidation of the trigger for the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) ▸Opening of a Barents Sea seaway about 900,000 years ago…accelerated water exchange between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean ▸"Weakening of global ocean circulation due to Arctic outflow played a key role in the shift in glacial cycles" Professor Kwangcheol Jang of the Department of Geological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Jinhoe Kwon), has identified changes in Arctic Ocean circulation as the key trigger of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), which occurred about 1.25–0.7 million years ago. The study was conducted with Kyungsik Woo, a full member of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea and former professor at Kangwon National University, Seung-Il Nam (Ph.D.), former Principal Researcher at the Korea Polar Research Institute, and an international team from Germany, Sweden, and Japan. In 2008, the team performed high-precision analyses of the neodymium (Nd) isotopic composition of a sediment core drilled by the icebreaker Polarstern of Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute at the Mendeleev Ridge in the western Arctic Ocean, reconstructing changes in Arctic Ocean circulation over the past 2 million years. As a result, they found that during the MPT, glacial erosion lowered the topography that formed the present-day Barents Sea, opening a new seafloor gateway and greatly strengthening the inflow of warm North Atlantic waters into the Arctic Ocean. Consequently, cold, low-salinity Arctic waters flowed out to the North Atlantic more actively. The team interpreted this as having played a crucial role in weakening the "Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation," a key current system regulating the global climate, during glacial periods. Notably, the study links the cause of Earth's shift from a relatively weak 40,000-year glacial regime to a strong 100,000-year glacial regime across the MPT to changes in Arctic Ocean circulation. Until now, scientists have pursued various studies to determine the cause of this shift, which is difficult to fully explain by changes in Earth's orbital parameters alone (Milankovitch cycles). This study is significant in that it presents, for the first time, direct geological evidence that changes in Arctic Ocean circulation were the key trigger of this climate-regime shift. The neodymium (Nd) isotope analysis used in this study is a high-precision technique that traces the origin of seawater by exploiting the distinct chemical characteristics of different ocean basins. By reconstructing chemical signals of ancient seawater accumulated over long periods in the sediment core, the team successfully tracked in detail past changes in the flow of currents between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic. Professor Kwangcheol Jang said, "This study presents, for the first time, important geological evidence that changes in Arctic Ocean circulation were the key trigger of the shift in glacial cycles," adding, "We expect it will also provide important clues for understanding how the rapidly progressing decline of Arctic sea ice and changes in ocean circulation will affect the future climate system." This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korea Polar Research Institute, and the results were published in Communications Earth & Environment, an Earth-science journal in the Nature Portfolio. ㅇ Photo caption:Professor Kwangcheol Jang, Department of Geological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University ㅇ For inquiries: Professor Kwangcheol Jang, Department of Geological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University 055-772-1473This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.05.28 총무과

Professor Shim Wonbo of the Department of Food Engineering receives a Prime Minister’s Commendation for contributions to food safety, including the development of high-sensitivity immunosensors.

Professor Sim Wonbo of Gyeongsang National University receives the Prime Minister’s Commendation on the 25th Food Safety Day ▸ Contributed to securing original technology for a “high-sensitivity immunosensor” that identifies food hazards on-site ▸ Government advisory and local government consulting… drove improvements in national food safety policy and hygiene levels Professor Sim Wonbo of the Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe), received the Prime Minister’s Commendation at the 25th Food Safety Day ceremony on May 14, organized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, in recognition of his contributions to establishing national food safety policy and improving hygiene standards. ▣ Securing foundational food safety technologies and leading the advancement of analytical techniques Professor Sim Wonbo has devoted himself to research on biosensors for on-site analysis of food hazards. In particular, he successfully developed a “high-sensitivity immunosensor” that can immediately identify foodborne bacteria, pesticide residues, and food allergens in industrial settings. This achievement dramatically shortened the previously complex and time-consuming laboratory analysis process. In doing so, it established a scientific basis for preventing food incidents in advance and made a significant contribution to elevating the status of domestic food analysis technology. ▣ Building a food safety net through government policy advice and on-site consulting Professor Sim has actively served as a member of the Food Safety Policy Committee of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the government-wide food safety control tower, as well as a deliberation/advisory member for major ministries, including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s Food Hygiene Deliberation Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Agricultural Products Quality Management Deliberation Committee. Through this, he played a pivotal role in formulating the National Food Safety Master Plan and improving related laws and systems. ▣ Supporting field-oriented hygiene administration and contributing to the local community Not stopping at central government activities, he has also taken the lead in win-win cooperation with the local community. In collaboration with local governments such as Gyeongsangnam-do, he has actively carried out “foodborne illness prevention diagnostic consulting,” diagnosing hazards at group meal service facilities and food handling sites and providing practical management solutions. This is evaluated as having directly contributed to preventing food incidents in the community and improving residents’ health. ▣ Fostering future talent and continued investment in food safety research Regarding this award, Professor Sim said, “I see it as encouragement for the continued research I have conducted in food hygiene and safety and for faithfully responding to advisory requests from the government and local governments,” adding, “It is a great honor just to conduct research and teach future students at my alma mater, Gyeongsang National University, and I am deeply grateful to all university members for allowing me to receive such a meaningful award as the Prime Minister’s Commendation. I will continue to devote myself to research on foundational technologies that contribute to national food safety and to nurturing future talent.” ㅇ Photo caption: Professor Sim Wonbo, Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University ㅇ Inquiries: Professor Sim Wonbo, Department of Food Science and Technology, Gyeongsang National University, 055-772-1902This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.05.21 총무과

Professor Seong Jae-kyung’s research team in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering secures stabilization technology for ‘high-energy all-solid-state batteries,’ a key technology for electric vehicles and robots.

Professor Seong Jae-gyeong’s team at Gyeongsang National University conducts research to enhance the stability of all-solid-state batteries for “Physical AI” ▸Focused analysis of interfacial reactions and cracking issues in high-Ni cathodes ▸Proposed a coating strategy to stabilize lithium-ion transport in all-solid-state batteries ▸Suggested development directions for high–energy-density, high-safety all-solid-state batteries As Physical AI–based industries—such as AI robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, and electric vehicles—grow rapidly, demand is increasing for next-generation batteries that simultaneously offer high energy density and excellent safety. In particular, all-solid-state batteries are attracting attention as next-generation energy storage technology that can enhance safety by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes. Against this backdrop, the research team led by Professor Seong Jae-gyeong in the School of Materials Science and Engineering (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering major), College of Engineering, at Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe) comprehensively analyzed interfacial degradation issues that arise between high-Ni cathodes—the core material of all-solid-state batteries—and sulfide-based solid electrolytes, and presented an interfacial engineering design strategy to resolve them. Nickel-based cathodes are used as key cathode materials for electric vehicles and next-generation high-energy batteries due to their high operating voltage and excellent capacity characteristics. In particular, increasing the nickel content enables higher energy density, making them promising cathode materials even for all-solid-state batteries. However, as nickel content increases, problems such as surface structure collapse, oxygen release, transition-metal dissolution, microcracking, and the formation of residual lithium compounds become more severe during charge and discharge. Especially in all-solid-state batteries, unlike with liquid electrolytes, the cathode and solid electrolyte form a solid–solid interface, so even slight interfacial reactions or contact loss can directly lead to battery performance degradation. Cathode materials with high nickel content are advantageous for boosting battery energy density, but repeated charging and discharging can cause the surface structure to collapse, oxygen to escape, and fine internal cracks to form, leading to performance decline. In particular, in all-solid-state batteries, unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, the cathode and solid electrolyte are in direct contact in the solid state; thus, even a small deterioration in contact between the two materials makes lithium-ion transport difficult and leads to performance degradation. In this paper, Professor Seong’s team comprehensively analyzed the major issues that occur between Ni-based cathodes and sulfide solid electrolytes. Representative issues include impeded lithium-ion transport at the cathode/solid-electrolyte interface, decomposition of the solid electrolyte at high voltages forming resistive layers, and cracking of cathode particles during charge/discharge that severs contact. The team proposed cathode-surface coating technology as a key strategy to solve these problems. The coating layer serves as a protective barrier that reduces direct reactions between the cathode and solid electrolyte and helps lithium ions move stably. The paper compares the pros and cons of various coating materials—including oxides, phosphates, and solid-electrolyte-based materials—and summarizes the requirements for an effective coating layer. It emphasizes that the coating must not only be chemically stable, but also allow lithium ions to pass readily while blocking unnecessary electron transport, and withstand cracking and delamination during cycling. The team also explained that simply coating the cathode surface is not enough to extend the life of all-solid-state batteries; factors such as cathode particle size and structure, doping, and the distribution of solid electrolyte within the electrode must also be considered to achieve both high performance and stability in practical cells. Professor Seong stated, “The performance limits of all-solid-state batteries arise not merely from the cathode material itself, but from complex chemical and mechanical degradation at the interface where the cathode and solid electrolyte meet,” adding, “This study is significant in that it presents interfacial engineering design criteria for the stable application of high-energy Ni-based cathodes in all-solid-state batteries.” He continued, “To realize high-safety, high–energy-density batteries required in Physical AI, electric vehicles, robots, and aerospace/mobility fields, an integrated approach is needed that encompasses not only material performance but also interfacial stability, electrode structure, and manufacturing processes.” This research featured Dr. B. Jeevanantham as the 1st author and was published on May 9 in the internationally renowned journal 《Journal of Energy Chemistry》 (IF: 14.9, top 3.4% in JCR) (paper title: Interface Engineering Strategies to Enable Stable Ni-Rich Cathodes in All-Solid-State Batteries: A Review). Photo description: (1) Professor Seong Jae-gyeong, Gyeongsang National University (2) Structure of an all-solid-state battery. Conceptual diagram of degradation issues of high-Ni cathode materials and the surface-coating strategy to address them. For inquiries: Professor Seong Jae-gyeong, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 055-772-1663 This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.05.21 총무과

Sang-young Park, a master’s student in the Department of Marine Life Sciences, won the Best Presentation Award from the Fisheries Science Society for research on the reproductive characteristics of barnacles on the southern coast.

Park Sang-Young, a master's student at Gyeongsang National University, wins the Korean Society of Fisheries Science Best Presentation Award ▸ Best Presentation Award in the Oral Presentation category for Aquaculture and Bioengineering ▸ Recognized for excellence in research on the reproductive physiology of barnacles fouling oyster aquaculture farms Park Sang-Young, a master's student in the Department of Marine Life Science, College of Marine Science, Gyeongsang National University (GNU; President Kwon Jin-hoe), supervised by Prof. Hong Hyun-gi, won the Best Presentation Award in the Oral Presentation category for Aquaculture and Bioengineering at the 2026 Korean Society of Fisheries Science Annual Conference held May 13–15 at the Nongshim Hotel in Busan. The Korean Society of Fisheries Science Annual Conference is an academic event where researchers in Korea's fisheries and marine sciences share their latest findings each year, and it selects outstanding presenters through a comprehensive evaluation of research originality, academic contribution, presentation quality, and other factors. Mr. Park presented research titled 'Reproductive biology of native (Balanus trigonus) and invasive (Amphibalanus eburneus) barnacles fouling oyster aquaculture on the sounthern coast of Korea'. This study was conducted jointly with the Southeast Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the National Institute of Fisheries Science and compared and analyzed the reproductive characteristics and spawning periods of native and invasive barnacles that attach to oyster aquaculture farms along Korea's southern coast. In particular, it was evaluated as having high potential for predicting the timing of fouling-organism occurrence at aquaculture farms and devising effective management measures. Based on histological analysis, the study identified the gonadal developmental stages and seasonal reproductive cycles of barnacles and analyzed their association with changes in water temperature, drawing attention for its potential to contribute to understanding patterns of fouling-organism occurrence under climate and environmental change. Mr. Park is currently conducting research on the reproductive physiology and early life history of marine invertebrates at the Marine Invertebrate Research Lab (GNU Shellfish Lab.) in the Department of Marine Life Science and continues basic research to build a sustainable aquaculture environment and to utilize marine biological resources. ㅇ Photo caption: Park Sang-Young, a master's student in the Department of Marine Life Science, Gyeongsang National University ㅇ For inquiries: Prof. Hong Hyun-gi, Department of Marine Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, 055-772-9151This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.05.19 총무과

Contributing to the advancement of membrane technology… Professor Park Chi-hoon of the Department of Energy Engineering wins the Membrane Society of Korea Outstanding Paper Award

Professor 박치훈 of the Department of Energy Engineering at 경상국립대학교 receives the 한국막학회 Outstanding Paper Award ▸Recognized for research achievements in manufacturing an oxygen barrier membrane using silk fibroin ▸Undergraduate researcher 김시현 led the study as the 1st author Professor 박치훈 of the Department of Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, at 경상국립대학교 (GNU·President 권진회) received the '2026 한국막학회 Outstanding Paper Award'. The 한국막학회 is an academic society established for experts in the domestic membrane technology field to gather and exchange information and research outcomes on membranes and their applications. Since its inaugural general meeting in 1990, approximately 2,500 members have been active as of 2026, and it has made major contributions to the development of membrane-related technologies in Korea to date. The 한국막학회 Paper Award is given to researchers with high contributions over the past year to 《멤브레인》, the journal published by the society, and recipients are recognized for research excellence in the field of membrane technology. Professor 박치훈 actively published experimental and computational simulation research results on polymer membranes used in fuel cells, gas separation, and other applications, earning the honor of this Outstanding Paper Award. In particular, the paper related to the fabrication of an oxygen barrier membrane using silk fibroin was led by undergraduate researcher 김시현 as the 1st author, adding to its significance. Professor 박치훈 said, “I will work hard to contribute to the advancement of membrane technology in Korea through diverse R&D on membranes, which are currently attracting much attention in the energy and environment fields.” ㅇ Photo description: Professor 박치훈 of the Department of Energy Engineering at 경상국립대학교 and student 김시현 of the Department of Energy Engineering ㅇ For inquiries: 이보림, 미래융복합기술연구소, Department of Energy Engineering, 경상국립대학교 -8999-5808This page is provided via AI machine translation. Some inaccuracies may occur. For official purposes, please refer to the original document.

2026.05.19 총무과