Campus/People
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KAIST Mourns the Passing of A. Neil Pappalardo, Former Chairman of MEDITECH
KAIST extends its deepest condolences on the passing of A. Neil Pappalardo, former Chairman of MEDITECH and a longtime friend and advisor to the University.
Mr. Pappalardo was a steadfast supporter of KAIST’s vision to become a world-leading university. He showed particular care for the health and well-being of the KAIST community, a commitment that continues today through the Neil Pappalardo Medical Clinic Center, named in his honor, on campus.
As a member of the KAIST President’s Advisory Council, he shared his wisdom, insight, and unwavering belief in the potential of KAIST.
KAIST will remember Mr. Pappalardo for his extraordinary generosity, foresight, and dedication to nurturing future generations. His legacy lives on within the KAIST community.
We offer our sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones, and we honor his life with lasting respect and gratitude.
2026.02.01 View 1818 -
World-Renowned Masters Rodin and Chagall Meet at KAIST Museum
KAIST announced that its museum has received a donation of works by world-renowned masters Auguste Rodin and Marc Chagall from an anonymous donor, and has opened a permanent exhibition starting on the 29th. This donation is expected to not only cultivate the cultural and artistic sensibilities of the KAIST community but also contribute to the qualitative expansion of the museum's permanent collection.
The donation was made possible through the wishes of a donor who chose to remain anonymous. The donor expressed, "I hope that the members of KAIST will expand their sensibilities and imagination through art, beyond their scientific and technological research. I want the KAIST Museum to become a cultural landmark on campus and a space that provides inspiration to students."
The donated pieces consist of one bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, often called the "Saint of Sculpture," and one lithograph by Marc Chagall, a master of 20th-century modern art.
Rodin’s <Study for Adam Near a Column> is a preparatory piece created while conceiving "Adam," a figure featured in his immortal masterpiece, The Gates of Hell. Based on a plaster mold created around 1912 during Rodin's lifetime, this is the fourth (4/12) of twelve official casts produced posthumously by the Musée Rodin in France. It captures the essence of Rodin’s sculptural art, delicately expressing inner human agony through muscular detail and a twisted posture.
<Rodin’s Study for Adam Near a Column (45-degree side view, post-installation)]
Chagall’s <Circus with a Yellow Clown> is a lithograph produced in 1967 at the Mourlot lithography studio in France. Throughout his life, Chagall used the theme of the "circus" to express the joys and sorrows of humanity and a surreal world of dreams. This work combines the dynamism of circus performers with a fantastical atmosphere through vibrant colors and a free-form composition, capturing a unique worldview akin to a piece of poetry. It is the 104th piece of a total of 150 (104/150) and is regarded as a masterpiece that maximizes Chagall's signature lyrical imagination.
<Chagall’s Circus with a Yellow Clown (unframed)>
KAIST President Kwang-Hyung Lee stated, "It is very meaningful to acquire masterpieces of such high value in global art history. Through these works, which contain diverse perspectives on humanity and the world, I look forward to the KAIST Museum establishing itself as a cultural space where intelligence and emotion coexist."
The donated works by Rodin and Chagall will be on permanent display at the KAIST Museum starting today. While currently open to students and the general public, the museum plans to expand its public accessibility through special exhibitions and educational programs starting in April.
2026.01.30 View 2540 -
KAIST Proposes a Multinational AI Cooperation Strategy Beyond U.S.–China Dominance
2026.01.19 View 5768 -
Selection of the 'Proud Alumni Award' Recipients
<(From left) Donggeun Yoo, CAIO of Lunit / Eun-kang Song, CEO of Capstone Partners / Sang Ouk Kim, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST/ Sung-soo Kim, Special Professor at Yonsei University/ Byung Jin Cho, Professor of Electrical Engineering at KAIST/ Joongi Kim, CTO of Lablup>
KAIST announced on January 16th that the Alumni Association has selected the recipients of the 'KAIST Proud Alumni Award.'
Starting this year, the 'KAIST Proud Alumni Award' has been expanded and reorganized into six categories—Innovative Entrepreneurship, Industrial Contribution, Academic Research, Public Innovation, Social Service, and Young Alumni—to broadly highlight the achievements of alumni active in various fields. The award ceremony will be held at the '2026 KAIST New Year's Gala' at 5 p.m. on the 16th at the EL Tower in Seoul.
Donggeun Yoo, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) of Lunit Inc. (B.S. 2011, M.S. 2013, Ph.D. 2019, School of Electrical Engineering), was selected as the recipient of the Innovative Entrepreneurship category. CAIO Yoo co-founded Lunit, a first-generation deep learning AI startup in Korea, in 2013, leading AI technology in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Recently, he contributed to strengthening national competitiveness in the medical AI industry by leading the 'AI-specialized Foundation Model Project.'
In the Industrial Contribution category, Eun-kang Song, CEO of Capstone Partners (M.S. 1988, School of Computing), was named. CEO Song is the person who established the early-stage investment-centered strategy in the domestic venture capital industry. Over the past 28 years, he has led the development of the venture ecosystem by growing companies into unicorns through more than 200 investments.
The recipient of the Academic Research category, Sang Ouk Kim, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST (B.S. 1994, M.S. 1996, Ph.D. 2000, Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), opened a new horizon in new material research by identifying the liquid crystallinity of graphene oxide for the first time in the world. This research is evaluated as a core original technology that enabled the mass production of high-purity graphene, serving as an example of the industrial expansion of basic research.
The Public Innovation category was awarded to Sung-soo Kim, Special Professor at the College of Engineering, Yonsei University (former Chairman of the Science and Technology Professionals Community) (Ph.D. 1988, Dept. of Chemistry). During his tenure as the Vice Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kim established a pan-governmental technology self-reliance system for materials, parts, and equipment in response to Japanese export restrictions and led the innovation of national R&D governance.
Byung Jin Cho, Professor of the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST (M.S. 1987, Ph.D. 1991, School of Electrical Engineering), was selected for the Social Service category. Since founding a campus club in 2010, Professor Cho has practiced continuous mentoring and sharing for 15 years, supporting the academic studies and settlement of international students.
Joongi Kim, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Lablup Inc. (B.S. 2010, M.S. 2012, Ph.D. 2016, School of Computing), who received the Young Alumni award given to talents aged 40 or younger, developed an open-source-based AI infrastructure management platform and proved technological competitiveness in the global market by registering core GPU fractional virtualization technology as patents in Korea, the U.S., and Japan.
Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, said, "This year's awardees are role models for KAISTians who have contributed to the development of society and the nation with outstanding achievements. These challenges and achievements of our seniors will inspire juniors and contribute to spreading the innovative values of KAIST."
Yun-tae Lee, the 27th President of the KAIST Alumni Association, stated, "The six awardees are the protagonists who have practiced the values of KAISTians across academia, industry, public, and society. The Alumni Association will continue to serve as a link for the achievements of alumni to spread into society."
Meanwhile, the newly elected 28th President of the Alumni Association, Hoo-sik Kim, is scheduled to begin his term in February 2026.
2026.01.16 View 3279 -
Playground for Future Quantum Technology: KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School Successfully Concluded
< Group photo of the KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School >
“Through the KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School, I was able to view research from a broader perspective. The experience of collaborating with students from various universities and majors to complete a project was very refreshing,” said Jun-hyeong Cho, a student at the KAIST School of Electrical Engineering.
KAIST announced on the 16th that the Graduate School of Quantum Science and Technology successfully concluded the ‘KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School,’ held jointly with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from January 5th to 16th at the KAIST main campus in Daejeon.
For this year’s Winter School, 50 junior and senior undergraduate students from Korea and abroad were selected to receive intensive training to grow into next-generation quantum talent. Eight world-renowned scholars from KAIST and MIT participated in the program, providing a multi-dimensional curriculum that spanned theory and practice—ranging from theoretical lectures and introductions to cutting-edge quantum experiments to visits to government-funded research institutes and student poster presentations.
Celebrating its third anniversary since its inception in 2024, the Winter School is now evaluated as a premier quantum information education program in Korea. Alongside KAIST faculty, world-class scholars from MIT participated directly in lectures and field training, operating an intensive curriculum that covered the entirety of quantum information science.
The lecturing faculty included world authorities in quantum computing, quantum devices, quantum machine learning, and quantum simulation, such as MIT professors Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, Seth Lloyd, Kevin P. O’Brien, and William D. Oliver, as well as KAIST scholars Jaewook Ahn, Joonwoo Bae, Gil-Young Cho, and Jae-yoon Choi.
Going beyond theoretical lectures, participants gained a broad understanding of research trends, technical limitations, and future development directions of state-of-the-art quantum technology through experimental training in core areas such as quantum computing, communication, sensing, and simulation.
< Scene from a Winter School lecture >
Furthermore, students visited the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to experience actual research sites, engaging in field-oriented education that bridges quantum theory and practice. The poster presentation session, where students shared their own research ideas, received enthusiastic responses as a forum for deep academic exchange, allowing students to receive direct feedback from MIT faculty.
Tae-hee Kim, a student from Pusan National University, remarked, “I was greatly inspired by the passion of the MIT faculty and the high level of questions from the students. It served as a motivation for me to pursue deeper studies independently.” Byung-jin Hwang, a student from Yonsei University, added, “I expected lectures from world-class scholars to be difficult, but I was impressed by the explanations tailored to the undergraduate level. The poster presentation session was particularly memorable.”
Eun-seong Kim, Dean of the KAIST Graduate School of Quantum Science and Technology, stated, “The KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School is a special educational program where students can learn directly from world-renowned quantum researchers and experience cutting-edge research. We look forward to the active participation of future talents who will lead the quantum industry.”
Participants for this Winter School were selected through a document review process, and the program was operated entirely free of charge. KAIST covered all educational expenses and provided dormitory accommodations and lunch. Detailed information about the event can be found on the KAIST Graduate School of Quantum Science and Technology website (https://quantumschool.kaist.ac.kr/).
< Poster for the KAIST-MIT Quantum Information Winter School >
2026.01.16 View 6080 -
Chairman Jae-Chul Kim of Dongwon Group Donates a Total of 60.3 Billion Won to KAIST
<Jae-Chul Kim, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group>
"In the era of AI, a new future lies within the sea of data. I ask that KAIST leaps forward to become the world's No. 1 AI research group." — Jae-Chul Kim, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group
KAIST announced on January 16th that Honorary Chairman Jae-Chul Kim of Dongwon Group has pledged an additional 5.9 billion KRW in development funds to foster Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent and strengthen research infrastructure, bringing his total contribution to 60.3 billion KRW. This marks his second additional donation since 2020, continuing his steadfast support for strengthening South Korea's national competitiveness in the field of AI.
Through his initial donation in 2020, Chairman Kim established the 'Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI' at KAIST, urging the university to secure world-class capabilities. Upon hearing that KAIST’s AI research level ranked 5th among global universities over the past five years (2020–2024), Chairman Kim requested that the university strive to reach the No. 1 spot in the world.
In response, President Kwang Hyung Lee explained, "To surpass Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), which is currently evaluated as the world’s best with an AI faculty of about 45, the KAIST Graduate School of AI needs to expand its faculty to over 50 and construct a dedicated research building." Chairman Kim responded by saying, "I will build the building," and this latest donation is a fulfillment of that promise.
This third pledge of 5.9 billion KRW was decided to cover the projected budget shortfall as the design of the AI Education and Research Building enters full-scale development.
The AI Education and Research Building will be a facility with 8 floors above ground and 1 basement level, covering a total floor area of 18,182 m² (approx. 5,500 pyeong). It is scheduled for completion in February 2028. Once finished, it will serve as a global AI research hub housing 50 faculty members and 1,000 students.
Since the 2021 academic year, KAIST has been selecting 60 Master’s and 10 Doctoral students annually as 'Dongwon Scholars' outside of the regular quota for a period of 10 years. While the tuition and research incentives for the first three years were supported by the donation, KAIST has been utilizing its own budget since the 2024 academic year to ensure students can focus entirely on their research.
Moving forward, the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI plans to build a world-class faculty and operate systematic Master's and Doctoral programs to cultivate global AI leaders. In addition to technical expertise, the school will offer educational programs focused on character and holistic development, leading the charge in strengthening Korea's AI competitiveness.
Honorary Chairman Jae-Chul Kim stated, "I hope this donation serves as a small 'priming water' for South Korea to leap forward as an AI powerhouse. I look forward to seeing global core talents grow here and contribute to our national strength."
President Kwang Hyung Lee expressed his gratitude, saying, "Chairman Kim’s unwavering support is the greatest driving force for KAIST to secure global AI sovereignty. We will ensure the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI becomes a mecca where the world's best AI minds gather to innovate, honoring the Chairman’s vision."
2026.01.16 View 5081 -
KAIST–Daekyo, Opening of the Cognitive Enhancement Research Center Lounge
< Group photo of officials at the opening ceremony of the KAIST–Daekyo Cognitive Enhancement Research Center Lounge >
KAIST held the opening ceremony for the ‘KAIST–Daekyo Cognitive Enhancement Research Center Lounge,’ jointly established with Daekyo, at the Meta-Convergence Hall on the Daejeon main campus last Saturday, the 10th.
This lounge was established through an in-kind donation by Daekyo for space creation as part of research cooperation. It was designed as a base space to more systematically operate brain development and cognitive function enhancement research that KAIST and Daekyo have been jointly promoting, and to share research results with society. Through this event, KAIST introduced the achievements of its research cooperation to date and provided a forum to explore the future directions of education and brain science.
Key KAIST officials, including Kyun Min Lee, Vice President for Provost and Academic Affairs, and Dae-Soo Kim, Dean of the College of Life Science and Bioengineering, as well as officials from both organizations, including Ho-joon Kang, CEO of Daekyo, attended the event to celebrate the opening of the lounge.
Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for industry-academic research cooperation with Daekyo in 2023, our university has been jointly conducting research on cognitive function enhancement and mental health across the entire life cycle—from infants to adults and seniors—based on brain and cognitive science. The cooperation continues to expand these research results into educational content and solutions.
An official from Daekyo stated, "The Cognitive Enhancement Research Center Lounge is a symbolic space for the research cooperation accumulated by both organizations, and it is highly meaningful to be able to communicate directly with customers and share research results here. Moving forward, Daekyo will continue to expand its cooperation with KAIST to prove the value of scientific and systematic education."
Kyun Min Lee, Vice President for Provost and Academic Affairs, said, "The opening of this lounge is significant in that a space for industry-academic cooperation research was created through Daekyo’s donation. Based on this space, KAIST will strive to share the achievements of brain and cognitive science research with society and contribute to the field of education."
2026.01.12 View 3008 -
KAIST to Showcase K-Tech Competitiveness at KAIST Pavilion during CES 2026
< Figure 1. Bird's-eye view of the KAIST Pavilion at CES 2026 >
KAIST announced on January 2nd that it will participate in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026), held from January 6 to 9, 2026, at Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo, Las Vegas. KAIST will operate a dedicated 111㎡ "KAIST Pavilion" to showcase its innovative technologies to global corporations and investors.
A total of 12 startups will participate in the KAIST Pavilion at CES 2026. Notably, eight of these companies are built on core AI technologies, highlighting KAIST's artificial intelligence research capabilities and its achievements in technology commercialization.
The participating companies will unveil solutions targeting the global market across various high-tech sectors centered on AI, including robotics, bio-health, hardware devices, and content technology.
One of the standout participants is Hypergram, a faculty-led startup. Hypergram will introduce 'HG VNIR Pro,' the world’s first commercialized compressive hyperspectral imaging technology. This product is an end-to-end solution that integrates industrial-grade precision hardware with AI analysis software, capable of detecting minute chemical properties invisible to the human eye in real-time. During the exhibition, the company plans to demonstrate high-precision AI image analysis using its high-speed hyperspectral machine vision camera.
< Figure 2. Hypergram >
MOSS, a winner of the CES 2026 Innovation Award, will exhibit an AI-based, all-in-one mobile music production platform. This platform allows the general public and indie musicians to create high-quality music without a heavy financial burden. Visitors can experience the intuitiveness and innovation of the technology at an AI experience zone, where they can create music by linking the MOSS app with the dedicated hardware, 'MOSS Pocket Studio.'
< Figure 3. MOSS (Innovation Award Winning Product) >
BareulEye is developing a medical AI diagnostic solution that detects high-resolution changes in internal organ microstructures based on AI-powered quantitative ultrasound analysis technology. At CES 2026, they will unveil a 3D volume reconstruction technology that utilizes smart mirror-based self-ultrasound imaging.
Leveraging this technological prowess, BareulEye recently secured approximately $10 million (14 billion KRW) in a strategic Series A investment from a leading global healthcare company. Led by Professor Hyeon-min Bae, the Director of the KAIST Institute for Startup & Entrepreneurship and CEO of BareulEye, the company plans to accelerate joint technology development and overseas market expansion.
< Figure 4. BareulEye >
In addition to these, various KAIST startups leading innovation in AI, bio, and hardware devices will participate to solidify their foundations for entering the global market.
The KAIST Pavilion is designed with an open layout and large-scale LED displays to attract attention, featuring independent spaces for each company to facilitate in-depth technical presentations and investment consultations.
"Through CES 2026, we aim to imprint the AI-driven innovative technologies of KAIST startups on the global stage and establish a practical bridgehead for their international expansion," said Keon Jae Lee, Vice President of the KAIST Institute for Technology Value Creation.
2026.01.02 View 6851 -
President Kwang Hyung Lee, 2026 New Year Message
In his 2026 New Year’s Address, KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee stated, “Based on the ‘QAIST-New Culture Strategy’ that encourages asking questions and taking on challenges, KAIST will accelerate AI-centered innovation in education and research to leap forward as a world-class university.”
President Lee highlighted the major achievements of the past year, including:
▲Educational innovation to nurture inquisitive minds ▲Advancement of education and research systems through the establishment of the College of AI ▲Establishment of a postdoc-centered research ecosystem through the InnoCORE Program, a national initiative to cultivate world-class AI talent ▲An approximately 20 percent increase in research funding ▲Expansion of research collaboration with global companies and universities
Particularly in the education sector, he explained that KAIST has fostered a culture where failure is viewed as a starting point for new challenges. This has been achieved through initiatives such as student-generated exam questions, the ‘Problem Definition to Solution Program (PDSP)’—where students define and solve problems on their own—and the operation of ‘KAIST Failure Week.’
He emphasized that these changes led to tangible results, with undergraduate early-admission applicants increasing by 1.9 times and graduate school applicants by 1.3 times over the past three years.
At the same time, efforts have been made to improve students' learning and living environments. KAIST has pursued the renovation and remodeling of all dormitories and enhanced student dining facilities and menu options to ensure students enjoy a more comfortable campus life. President Lee stressed, “The most precious members of KAIST are our students, and the university's role is to create an environment where they can freely ask questions and take on challenges.”
In the research field, KAIST secured billions of Korean won in annual research funding through joint initiatives with Germany’s Merck and Taiwan’s Formosa Group. It also established a strategic hub connecting to the global startup ecosystem through the KAIST–IDIS Silicon Valley Campus. Furthermore, 26 buildings have been newly constructed or expanded over the past five years, and 24 buildings are currently under construction or scheduled to break ground, ensuring the continuous expansion of education and research infrastructure.
In terms of technology commercialization, as of 2025, KAIST launched 59 deep-tech startups and completed technology transfers totaling KRW 8.2 billion. Notably, Sovargen, a faculty startup, successfully concluded a KRW 750 billion technology export deal.
President Lee presented the following key priorities for 2026: ▲Elevating the College of AI to a world-leading level ▲Advancing the Pyeongtaek, Osong, and Sejong campus projects ▲Expanding global partnerships ▲Ensuring the safe execution of 24 major construction projects
President Lee concluded by saying, “KAIST has now firmly established itself as a leading university representing the Republic of Korea, and its global recognition is rising rapidly through internationalization efforts. If we continue to work together in 2026, KAIST will stand proudly as a truly world-class university.”
2025.12.31 View 8931 -
Finding Solutions to Foreign Disinformation Through Youth Ideas
< Group Photo of the Awards Ceremony >
KAIST has announced that the awards ceremony for the ‘2025 Foreign Disinformation Response Idea Competition for University Students (Counter-Disinformation Challenge),’ organized by the Institute for Security Convergence in collaboration with the National Intelligence Service (NIS), is scheduled to be held on the afternoon of the 23rd at the KAIST Munji Campus.
This competition, held for the second time since its inaugural launch last year, was established to inform the public about the current state of the creation and spread of foreign disinformation and its resulting social and national harms, as well as to seek future response measures. It solicited practical ideas covering both technology and policy from university students and the general public.
Based on the awareness of the issues raised through last year’s competition, our university focused this year on strengthening the link between technology and policy and discovering ideas that can lead to actual research and development (R&D) and institutional improvements. Through this, the university plans to establish the foundation for a mid-to-long-term strategy for responding to foreign disinformation.
The competition was held from November 1st to December 5th in two categories: ▲ Technical ideas to prevent the spread of foreign disinformation, and ▲ Policy proposals and institutional improvement ideas to solve foreign disinformation issues. A total of 144 teams, comprising 259 university and graduate students (including those on leave) from across the country, participated.
Among them, 18 teams were selected as the final winners. This represents an improvement in both the scale of participation and the completeness of the proposals compared to last year, demonstrating the high level of interest among the youth in responding to foreign disinformation.
The awards consist of: ▲ Technical Idea category: 1 Grand Prize, 3 First Prizes, 5 Excellence Prizes; ▲ Policy Proposal and Institutional Improvement category: 1 Grand Prize, 3 First Prizes, 5 Excellence Prizes.
The Grand Prize (KAIST President's Award) in the ‘Technical Idea for Disinformation Response’ category will be awarded to Team ‘Lemming,’ composed of students Lee Jun, Kang Yun-ah, and Ma Seon-young from Jeju National University. Team Lemming proposed a technology that utilizes multi-persona AI agents to virtually simulate the creation, spread, and response processes of disinformation.
Additionally, the Grand Prize (KAIST President's Award) in the ‘Policy Proposal and Institutional Improvement for Disinformation Response’ category will be awarded to Team ‘Kim Anbo Girls,’ composed of student Kim Yeon-jung from Jungwon University and student Kim Hyun-jin from Baekseok Arts University.
Bae Joong-myeon, Director of the KAIST Institute for Security Convergence, stated, “Foreign disinformation is a future-type security threat where technology, policy, and society are complexly intertwined. We plan to link the students’ ideas to future R&D and policy reviews through collaboration with the National Intelligence Service and the Cyber Security Research Center of the KAIST Institute for Security Convergence.”
Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Service, which sponsored this competition, has been accepting reports of foreign disinformation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through the ‘111 Reporting Center’ and its official website since September 2024, and is promoting the strengthening of an integrated response system through cooperation with related organizations.
< Event Poster >
2025.12.23 View 3513 -
Vieworks CEO Hu-sik Kim Appointed as 28th KAIST Alumni Association President
< Hu-sik Kim, 28th President of KAIST Alumni Association (CEO of Vieworks) >
KAIST announced on December 23rd that Hu-sik Kim, CEO of Vieworks—a company specializing in medical and industrial imaging solutions—has been appointed as the 28th President of the KAIST Alumni Association.
President-elect Hu-sik Kim, an alumnus with a Master’s degree in Physics (Class of ’95) from KAIST, is a technology-driven leader who has dedicated 26 years to the field of imaging solutions. He is recognized as a "field-oriented innovator" who has pioneered global niche markets with world-first technologies and driven long-term growth by prioritizing people and organizational culture as core competencies.
While working professionally, he enrolled in the KAIST Master’s program to strengthen his theoretical and practical expertise in optics. Later, he played a leading role in co-founding a venture company with fellow alumni, successfully growing Vieworks into a prominent global mid-sized enterprise.
In his inauguration remarks, President Kim stated, “I feel a profound sense of responsibility to give back to the nation and the community for the benefits I have received. I will do my best to ensure that the values of innovation and entrepreneurship are realized through our alumni network, and that the alumni association and our alma mater can prosper together.”
President Kim’s term will span two years starting from January 2026. The inauguration ceremony will be held during the "2026 New Year’s Greeting Ceremony" on January 16, 2026, at the El Tower in Seoul.
2025.12.23 View 5062 -
Professor Insik Shin Becomes First Korean to Win the RTSS Most Influential Paper Award
< KAIST Professor Insik Shin >
KAIST announced on December 21st that Professor Insik Shin from the School of Computing has received the Influential Paper Award 2025 at the IEEE Real-Time Systems Symposium (RTSS), the world's most prestigious international conference in the field of real-time systems.
This honor is a "Test of Time Award," presented to papers that have exerted a sustained and significant influence on both academia and industry for more than 10 years after publication. This marks the first time a Korean researcher has received this prestigious award. The ceremony took place at IEEE RTSS 2025 in Boston, USA, on December 4th (local time).
Professor Shin’s award-winning research is the "Periodic Resource Model," co published in 2003 with Professor Insup Lee of the University of Pennsylvania. Rather than trying to verify a complex machine or system all at once, this study developed a method to verify individual components—much like LEGO blocks—to ensure each meets its designated timing requirements. It mathematically guarantees that when these components are assembled, the entire system will operate safely.
Paper Title: Periodic Resource Model for Compositional Real-Time Guarantees
DOI: 10.1109/REAL.2003.1253249
Thanks to this research, it has become possible to design real-time systems that cannot tolerate even a moment of delay—such as autonomous vehicles, aircraft, and industrial robots—with greater precision and safety. This breakthrough overcame the limitations of existing methods that required analyzing an entire system at once, which had become nearly impossible as the complexity of modern real-time systems increased rapidly.
Professor Shin presented a method to divide a system into small modules, verify that each module satisfies its time constraints, and mathematically prove that the safety of the entire system is guaranteed upon integration. This work is credited with establishing the foundation for modern compositional real-time scheduling theory.
At the time of its initial publication in 2003, this paper won the 'Best Paper Award' at RTSS—another first for a Korean researcher. Now, 20 years later, its academic and industrial value has been officially recognized once again. This is because the theory has transcended academic boundaries to become a core analytical tool in various safety-critical industries, including autonomous driving, aerospace control, and industrial automation.
The IEEE Technical Committee stated, "This model has established itself as a core language for modern real-time system design and has guided the direction of research and industry for the past 20 years." The paper is currently featured in textbooks at major universities in the United States and Europe, serving as a standard theory in the field.
"As a scholar, this is the award I have wanted most in my life," said Professor Shin. "I am honored to have it recognized that research from 20 years ago has truly had a major impact on the world. This was made possible by the many researchers and companies who applied this theory to actual systems."
Meanwhile, Professor Shin is expanding his research beyond real-time systems into the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He founded the faculty-led startup Fluiz and developed FluidGPT, a mobile AI agent technology that allows users to execute smartphone apps via voice commands. This technology recently won the AI Champion Competition hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Experts evaluate Professor Shin as achieving rare success by bridging basic theory and applied technology, effectively linking research to industry.
2025.12.22 View 4388