Seoul National University professors Kyungwon Han from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Ji Heong Kang from the Department of Chemistry have been named among the "Innovators Under 35 (TR35) Asia Pacific" by MIT Technology Review. The awards ceremony took place on Monday, September 9, at the Zhangjiang Science Hall in Shanghai, China.
MIT Technology Review, the world's longest-running technology magazine, selects 35 young innovators under the age of 35 from various advanced science, technology, and industry fields each year to commemorate its 100th anniversary as part of its mission to showcase how "technology benefits humanity." Since 2014, TR35 Asia Pacific has been recognizing outstanding young innovators in the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Kyungwon Han (Department of Mechanical Engineering) was recognized for her development of various soft robotics technologies used in medical surgery, treatment, and assistance. Professor Ji Heong Kang (Department of Chemistry) was acknowledged for his contributions to developing an elastomer design method resembling human skin and nanomaterial self-assembly technology in polymers.
Professor Kyungwon Han's diverse soft robotic technologies—including haptic devices that allow medical staff to feel as if they are directly interacting with patient tissues during remote robotic surgery, robotic surgical instruments capable of handling tissues stably, implantable robots that can support organs, and sensors that measure and monitor various bodily signals—facilitate safe interaction with human tissues and are expected to significantly contribute to medical innovation. Professor Han stated, "I aim to develop technology that improves the safety, accuracy, and outcomes of surgeries by enabling robots to interact safely with human tissues. Being recognized for this vision by MIT Technology Review has motivated me to work even harder in my research.“
Professor Ji Heong Kang’s recently developed free-form electronic circuit platform, which utilizes self-healing polymers and stretchable electrode composite materials, has shown potential for application in various electronic device industries that require flexibility, such as free-form displays and wearable medical devices. Professor Kang expressed, "As a materials scientist specializing in chemistry, I aspire to design and develop new materials that can be used in both research and industry. I am very pleased to be recognized by MIT Technology Review, a symbol of innovation, and will dedicate myself further to research in order to achieve this dream.“
The TR35 awardees of MIT Technology Review have gained prominence and built a reputation worldwide. Notable recipients include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, former Apple Chief Design Officer Jonathan Ive, and former Baidu Chief Scientist Andrew Ng. In 2024, four Koreans were named among awardees, including Seoul National University's Professor Kyungwon Han and Professor Ji Heong Kang, KAIST's Professor Ji-Min Park (Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering), and Professor Ann Na Cho of the University of Sydney, further highlighting the international recognition of Korea's scientific and technological community.
Professor Kyungwon Han at the award ceremony
Professor Ji Heong Kang at the award ceremony
Translated by
InKyung Bae
(Department of English Language and Literature)