[Short News] Recent Awards and Book Publication Announcement

Editor’s Note: UNIST has attracted much attention recently, as its name was mentioned on Korean media through the inspiring stories of its students and faculty. Through this, UNIST had an excellent opportunity to expose itself to the public and those who have little or no interest in science and technology. Here is a brief summary of those inspiring stories.》

■ Professor JunHee Lee Selected to Samsung’s Future Tech Fostering Project

JunHee Lee, Professor in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has been selected for the second-half 2019 Samsung Research Funding Program for Future Technologies. As part of this project, Professor Lee will carry out research project in the field of material technology, thus will develop next-generation technology that can be applied to neural network computer, thus bring about new semiconductor materials.

Earlier this year, Samsung has announced the selection of forty-four research projects for its first-half future technology fostering projects, which included 16 projects in the basic science, 11 projects in the materials technology, and 17 projects in the field of creative ICT.

UNIST researchers have been consistently chosen by Samsung Electronics to develop innovative futuristic technologies in the past. In May, Professors Min-Suk Kwon (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering), BongSoo Kim (School of Natural Science), Professor Jayil Lee (School of Life Sciences), Professor Oh Hoon Kwon (School of Natural Science), and Professor Young-ri Choi (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) have been selected for the first-half 2019 Samsung Research Funding Program for Future Technologies. In July, Professors Min-Suk Kwon (School of Natural Science) has distinguished himself with inclusion in the list of Samsung’s 2019 first half future technology fostering projects. In 2019 alone, 7 professors from UNIST have been selected to carry out creative research works with the support of Samsung.

Started in August 2013, this program has been promoted by the Samsung group in support of the cultivation of the core basic science technologies and for the three major areas of ▲ basic science, ▲ materials technologies, and ▲ creative ICT under an investment of 1.5 trillion won for 10 years. Based on those three major areas, the company selects the awarding of promising research projects three times a year. Through this program, a total of 560 projects have already been selected and about 7 trillion won have been invested so far.

■ Two UNIST Students Honored with 2019 Idea Competition for Insurance Industry

Two UNIST students have been honored with the Grand Prize at the 2019 Idea Competition for Insurance Industry.

Jang Ho Choo and EunJi Kim in the Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management at UNIST have been given the award for proposing the idea of “Customized Insurance for the Prediction of DNA-related Diseases through Technology Innovation.”

The two students studied technology management, and they have been interested in the 4th Industrial Revolution, Fintech, and Insuretech. Through this competition, they were able to study deeply about the related fields, thus come up with great ideas.

The competition has been co-sponsored by the Korea Insurance Newspaper, the Japan Insurance Daily Newspaper, and the China Insurance Company. Over 100 proposals were received, but only 10 outstanding teams (8 teams from Korea, and 2 teams each from China and Japan) have been selected for finalists. The final evaluation was held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on September 6, 2019. The award ceremony also took place on the same day. The grand prize winner has been presented with the Director Award by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), along with a monetary prize of 2 million won.

■ Professor Wook-Dong Kim’s New Book on Korean Literature

Wook-Dong Kim, Professor in the Division of General Studies at UNIST has published a new book, entitled “Global Perspectives on Korean Literature.”

Composed of five chapters, this book explores Korean literature from a broadly global perspective from the mid-9th century to the present, with special emphasis on how it has been influenced by, as well as it has influenced, literatures of other nations.

Beginning with the Korean version of the King Midas and his ass’s ears tale in the Silla dynasty, it moves on to discuss Ewa, what might be called the first missionary novel about Korea written by a Western missionary W. Arthur Noble. The book also considers the extent to which in writing fiction and essays Jack London gained grist for his writing from his experience in Korea as a Russo-Japanese War correspondent. In addition, the book explores how modern Korean poetry, fiction, and drama, despite differences in time and space, have actively engaged with Western counterparts.

Please click HERE to learn more.