From left: Kim Jae-hong, director of Yeungnam University's Industry-Academic Research Office; Professor Lee In-hyang; Professor Yoo Ki-su; and Vice President for Industry-Academic Research Kim Sam-su. [Yeungnam University]
From left: Kim Jae-hong, director of Yeungnam University's Industry-Academic Research Office; Professor Lee In-hyang; Professor Yoo Ki-su; and Vice President for Industry-Academic Research Kim Sam-su. [Yeungnam University]

Yeungnam University held a ceremony Thursday to present its 2026 Outstanding Research Faculty awards through its YU'RE Honors program, which recognizes professors for exceptional research achievements.

This year's recipients are Lee In-hyang of the College of Pharmacy and Yoo Ki-su of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

YU'RE Honors was established in 2021 following the inauguration of President Choi Oe-chul to identify faculty with outstanding research records, raise their public profile, and provide administrative and fiscal support so they can focus on their work.

Unlike other awards, the program does not accept applications or nominations from faculty members themselves. Each recipient receives a cash prize of 3 million won ($2,250) to encourage research motivation and recognize achievement.

Final selections are communicated individually to the faculty members chosen as outstanding research faculty of the year.

Lee's research draws on big data — including national health insurance claims records — to analyze the outcomes of pharmaceutical policy and patterns of healthcare service use.

Her recent work has focused on examining how continuity of primary care and pharmaceutical care affects patient health outcomes and healthcare utilization.

Yoo conducts research spanning lithium-ion secondary battery materials through to full battery systems, exploring a wide range of applications for lithium secondary battery-based energy systems in mobility, energy storage and robotics.

His recent work has centered on analyzing battery thermal runaway characteristics and, building on those findings, collaborating with automotive and battery companies on the commercialization of hazard prediction systems — translating academic results into industrial applications.

Vice President for Industry-Academic Research Kim Sam-su said at the ceremony that the two professors "have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields and greatly elevated the university's academic standing," adding that the university "will continue to spare no effort in providing research infrastructure and administrative support so that our faculty can devote themselves even more fully to education and research."


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