Four faculty members from UNIST have been elected as new members of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK), one of Korea’s most prestigious honors related to engineering and technology.
On January 11, NAEK announced that the election of 84 new general members and 49 regular members in recognition of their distinguished and sustained achievements in research and technological advancement. Election to NAEK membership is widely regarded as one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to engineers in Korea.
NAEK members are selected through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process conducted over ten months, recognizing individuals who have contributed to national development through innovation, research excellence, and talent cultivation.
The four UNIST faculty members elected as 2026 general members are Professor Myoungsu Shin (Department of Civil, Urban, Earth and Environmental Engineering) in the Architectural, Civil and Environmental Engineering Division, Professor Jin Young Kim (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering) in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Division, Professor Young-Choon Kim (Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management) in the Technology, Management and Policy Division, and Professor Jae-Young Sim (Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence) in the Computer Science and Engineering Division.
In addition to individual research excellence, institutional support also contributed to this achievement. UNIST Research Planning Team identified eligible faculty members and provided guidance throughout the nomination process, helping to ensure broad and informed participation.
Professor Myoungsu Shin is recognized for his work in sustainable construction technologies and earthquake engineering. He has advanced AI-based seismic design and performance evaluation methods, led the development of low-carbon, high-performance construction materials, and recently expanded his research into smart construction using 3D printing technologies to enhance the resilience of urban infrastructure.
Professor Jin Young Kim specializes in next-generation solar cells and optoelectronic devices. His research on perovskite solar cells has been widely noted for improving both efficiency and long-term stability, strengthening their prospects for commercialization. Through international collaborations, he has also contributed to renewable energy research and carbon-neutrality initiatives.
Professor Young-Choon Kim conducts research in organizational theory and technology innovation strategy. His empirical studies examine innovation strategies in both established firms and startups, as well as the relationship between organizational learning and innovation performance. His work has appeared in leading international journals such as Organization Science and Research Policy.
Professor Jae-Young Sim is a researcher in visual intelligence and serves as Dean of the UNIST Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. His research on image and large-scale 3D data reconstruction supports applications in autonomous driving, robotics, drones, and digital twin technologies. He is also actively involved in educating students with the skills needed to apply AI to real-world industrial challenges.
UNIST President Chong Rae Park said, “We will continue to strengthen institutional support so that world-class research can flourish at UNIST.” He added, “At the same time, we will ensure that outstanding research achievements are appropriately recognized by leading academic and professional organizations, both in Korea and abroad.”
