News center

“Small but Powerful”: POSTECH Recognized Globally as a Leading Science & Technology University

[Ranked in the Top 60s Worldwide in ‘Natural Sciences’ and ‘Engineering & Technology’ in 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject] Experts tend to view these fields differently. In areas such as Natural Sciences and Engineering & Technology, depth and focus often matter more than breadth or size. POSTECH has ranked within the top 60 globally in both Natural Sciences and Engineering & Technology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This places the university more than 40 positions higher than its overall ranking (102nd globally) in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, released in June last year. While this difference may appear to be a simple numerical gap, a closer look at the evaluation frameworks reveals that it offers an important insight into POSTECH’s core strengths. The key difference between the two rankings lies in who evaluates and what criteria are used. The QS World University Rankings are calculated using a range of indicators, including reputation (45%), with survey respondents drawn from researchers across nearly all academic fields—including the humanities, social sciences, and medicine. Within this structure, the strengths of specialized science and engineering institutions can be relatively diluted. By contrast, the QS World University Rankings by Subject place a much greater emphasis on reputation accounting for 60–70% of the evaluation. The methodology also differs: respondents first select their own field of expertise and then identify universities they consider outstanding in that specific discipline. In other words, the rankings for Engineering & Technology and Natural Sciences are primarily shaped by evaluations from experts in those fields across academia and industry. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, POSTECH placed 64th in Natural Sciences and 67th in Engineering & Technology worldwide. The results highlight how the university’s world-class research in science and engineering, combined with its small but highly focused education model, continues to earn recognition from experts in the field. One way to understand the difference is to imagine a restaurant that may not stand out in an overall rating, but is regarded by culinary experts as among the very best in a specific cuisine. “This result reflects POSTECH’s long-standing commitment to competing through expertise rather than scale,” said Professor Sung-Min Park, Vice President for External Affairs at POSTECH. “The essential role of specialized science and engineering universities like POSTECH lies in pursuing challenging research and innovative education through strategic focus and concentration. We will continue to build on our strengths and further sharpen this focus going forward,” he added. Meanwhile, in the JoongAng Ilbo University Rankings by Subject, announced last November, POSTECH and Sungkyunkwan University were the only institutions to receive the highest rating across all fields of Natural Sciences and Engineering.

📢POSTECH Professor Chulhong Kim’s Team Wins Best Paper Award at SPIE Photonics West 2026, the World’s Largest Optics Co

[Transparent ultrasound–based optical–ultrasound fusion imaging technology recognized for its clinical translation potential] Professor Chulhong Kim’s research team at POSTECH, together with Dr. Jeongwoo Park (now Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Convergence Science & Technology at Kyungpook National University), received the Best Paper Award at SPIE Photonics West 2026, the world’s largest optics and photonics conference, held on January 21 in San Francisco, USA. This prestigious award is presented to only three teams worldwide each year. The award recognizes the results of a collaborative study conducted by Professor Kim’s team at POSTECH and Professor Yujin Myung’s team in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital. The joint team was highly commended for developing an optical–ultrasound fusion imaging technology based on a transparent ultrasound transducer array (TUT-array). The technology developed by the team integrates ultrasound imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and fluorescence imaging into a single compact probe. This enables clinicians in real surgical settings to obtain diverse imaging information simultaneously and in real time, without the need to switch between multiple devices. The system has been recognized as a practically deployable image-guided platform for immediate use in clinical environments. The research was published in the international journal Nature Communications, and based on its academic and technological impact, it was selected for the Best Paper Award at the “Photonics Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” conference within SPIE Photonics West 2026. The study was co–first-authored by Dr. Jeongwoo Park (Department of Electrical Engineering at POSTECH, now Assistant Professor at Kyungpook National University), Dr. Donghyeon Oh, and Dr. Jinhee Yoo. Dr. Park said, “This work goes beyond a laboratory-level technology proposal and demonstrates a real-time imaging system that can be applied directly in actual clinical settings, which makes it especially meaningful,” adding, “It is deeply gratifying that both the technical maturity and clinical practicality of our system have been recognized at the world’s largest optics conference.” He continued, “We plan to further extend this technology toward precision surgical image guidance and next-generation optical–ultrasound fusion medical imaging.” Meanwhile, SPIE Photonics West is the world’s largest conference in optics and photonics, organized by SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics). The “Photonics Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” conference, at which the team received the award, is regarded as a key venue focusing on fusion technologies that combine optics and ultrasound.

“From Research to Industry, From the Classroom to the World” — POSTECH Proves Its Virtuous-Cycle Model at CES 2026

[Seven startups participated; three CES Innovation Awards won… spotlight also on POSTECH’s fourth consecutive year of its CES student delegation program] POSTECH participated in CES 2026, the world’s largest IT and consumer electronics exhibition, held in Las Vegas, USA, from the 6th to the 9th, once again showcasing on the global stage its university innovation model in which education, research, and entrepreneurship are tightly interlinked. This year, POSTECH operated an independent booth at CES together with seven companies founded by POSTECH faculty, alumni, and regional partners. All are companies that have grown on the foundation of technologies and talent cultivated at POSTECH, and five of them have been invested in and nurtured through the POSCO Group’s venture platform. Among these, two companies achieved the distinction of receiving CES Innovation Awards. ‘OMNICOAT’ (CEO Sun Hong Park, alumnus of POSTECH’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering) was named an Innovation Award honoree in the “Construction & Industrial Tech” category, recognized for its dry-toner-based digital metal printing technology. In addition, ‘whereable.ai’ (CTO Woo-Sol Hur, alumnus of POSTECH’s Department of Electrical Engineering) presented an indoor multi-passenger autonomous driving system and won Innovation Awards simultaneously in both the “Smart Communities” category and the “Accessibility & Longevity” category. These achievements were supported by the university’s end-to-end consulting program. POSTECH provided close assistance—from assessing technological competitiveness to developing exhibition strategies and responding to evaluations—helping participating companies prepare for CES and expand into global markets. Meanwhile, the university is also working to broaden students’ exposure to global technology frontlines. This year marked the fourth year of POSTECH’s CES student delegation program, with 164 students participating this year and a cumulative total of approximately 720 students over four years. On site, participating students experienced global technology and industry trends firsthand, strengthening practical insights and deepening their understanding of entrepreneurship. A POSTECH official stated, “CES 2026 served as a venue where the university’s research outcomes expanded into industry, and where students absorbed global technology trends through direct experience,” adding, “We will focus on nurturing ‘globally field-ready talent’ through the close integration of research, entrepreneurship, and education.”

📢POSTECH Graduate Student Dongseop Lee Selected as the Only Korean Recipient of the 2025 IEEE AP-S Fellowship Program🎉

[ Next-generation display-based transparent antenna technology gains international recognition in the ISAC field] [ Paving the way for a next-generation hardware platform that integrates display, communication, and sensing] POSTECH Ph.D. integrated program student Dongseop Lee from the Department of Electrical Engineering (advisor: Professor Wonbin Hong) has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 IEEE AP-S Fellowship Program, awarded by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (IEEE AP-S). He is the only recipient from Korea. The IEEE AP-S Fellowship Program is a prestigious international scholarship awarded to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the field of antennas and propagation worldwide who demonstrate strong academic originality and potential for growth. Through a rigorous document-based screening process, only about 48 researchers worldwide are selected each year. Recipients are granted USD 5,000 in research funding along with the title of IEEE AP-S Fellowship awardee. Dongseop Lee was internationally recognized for proposing a new research direction in ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication) through next-generation display-based transparent antenna technology, which integrates communication and sensing. In particular, by realizing a consistent and unified structure that can be scaled from the device level to the entire display panel, he successfully overcame the structural limitations of conventional display-integrated antennas, earning high evaluation. This technology is drawing attention as a core enabling technology that can simultaneously provide high-efficiency communication and precise sensing across a wide range of application platforms, including drones, mobile devices, smartwatches, vehicles, and satellites, as well as flexible and stretchable devices. Lee said, “It is very meaningful that our next-generation display-based transparent antenna technology has been internationally recognized as a new hardware platform that fuses communication and sensing,” and added, “I hope to continue contributing to the advancement of future wireless communication technologies together with fellow researchers at POSTECH.” His advisor, Professor Wonbin Hong, commented, “Dongseop Lee has been conducting globally competitive research in display-based transparent antennas and the ISAC field,” and added, “This selection is an official recognition of the academic maturity and international impact of his research.”

Prof. Moon Jeong Park Appointed as First Korean Executive Editor of Macromolecules

[Serves as key editorial leader of the ACS flagship journal, guiding its overall scholarly direction] Professor Moon Jeong Park of the Department of Chemistry at POSTECH has been appointed Executive Editor of Macromolecules, the world’s leading journal in the field of polymer science published by the American Chemical Society. This is the first time a Korean researcher has served as Executive Editor of this journal. Professor Park’s term will run from February 1, 2026 to 2036. As Executive Editor, she will play a central role in jointly overseeing the journal with the Editor-in-Chief, including making final decisions on the acceptance of submitted manuscripts and shaping the journal’s overall academic direction and standards. Since 2016, Professor Park has served as an Associate Editor of Macromolecules, actively contributing to the journal’s editorial and peer-review processes. As her 10-year term as Associate Editor concludes this year, she has now been appointed Executive Editor. This appointment is regarded as a recognition grounded in her sustained research achievements in polymer science and the strong trust she has built within the international scientific community. Professor Moon Jeong Park is a world-renowned scholar who has led the field through her research on ionic polymer phase transitions, which is considered a paradigm shift in polymer thermodynamics. In 2017, she became the first Korean recipient of the John H. Dillon Medal from the American Physical Society (APS), and in 2021 she was elected an APS Fellow. In 2023, she was elected Vice Chair—and now serves as Chair—of the APS Division of Polymer Physics, becoming the first researcher based at a non-U.S. institution to assume this leadership role. Most recently, she further solidified her academic stature both domestically and internationally by receiving the 2025 POSCO TJ Park Science Prize. Professor Park said, “I feel a deep sense of responsibility in taking on the role of Executive Editor of Macromolecules, a journal with a long history and tradition,” adding, “I will remain committed to upholding the journal’s rigorous academic standards while fostering constructive dialogue with the international scientific community.” Meanwhile, Macromolecules is a flagship journal in polymer science launched in 1968 by the American Chemical Society. For over half a century, it has served as a leading journal that has shaped research trends across polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and materials science as a whole.

POSTECH Professor Heecheon You Elected as International Ergonomics Association Fellow

[Recognized globally for 30 years of innovation in ergonomics for defense, automotive, and medical indiustries] [Formal induction as IEA Fellow to take place at the “IEA 2027” Congress in London, UK, in August 2027] Professor Heecheon You of the Department of Industrial & Management Engineering at POSTECH has been elected as an IEA Fellow, the highest membership grade of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA). This honor recognizes both his outstanding academic achievements and practical contributions to industry, highlighting the global standing of Korean ergonomics research. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IEA is a global federation of ergonomics and human factors societies dedicated to optimizing interactions between humans and systems to improve quality of life and operational efficiency. The title of IEA Fellow is conferred on a select group of researchers worldwide each year in recognition of exceptional scholarly accomplishments or significant practical contributions to the field. Over the past 30 years, Professor You has spearheaded both academic excellence and industrial application in ergonomics and product development, publishing over 250 papers and numerous patents. In particular, he proved his unrivaled research capabilities by applying technologies such as anthropometric data, 3D human body scannig, and digital human modeling and simulation to real-world product design. Professor You’s research has extended well beyond the laboratory, effecting tangible changes in everyday life and industrial practice. Notable examples include the cockpit and avionics information design for the Surion helicopter and the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, 45-passenger seat design for Hyundai and KIA buses, ultrasound probe design for Samsung Medison, earbud and Pra.L Intensive Multicare product development for LG Electronics, the eco-friendly natural-dyed mask “Aria Fresca,” and the liver surgery planning system “Dr. Liver.” Furthermore, Professor You has played a leading role in the international standardization of ergonomics technologies by serving as an expert and project leader for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), contributing significantly to the global adoption of Korean ergonomics standards. With this election, Professor You’s name will be permanently listed on the IEA Fellow Permanent Roster. He expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am pleased to see the recognition of our efforts to develop creative and highly usable products that consider human characteristics and diversity." He added, "I will continue my research to enhance human quality of life by integrating core Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, such as AI and digital twins, with ergonomics. Meanwhile, Professors Myung Hwan Yun of Seoul National University and Dohyung Kee of Keimyung University were also named IEA Fellows. The official induction ceremony will be held at the 23rd IEA World Congress (IEA 2027 Congress) in London, United Kingdom, in August 2027.

POSTECH-Developed Blockchain Technology Becomes a Global Standard

[ITU-T Adopts High-Speed Blockchain Messaging Technology “F.751.28” as an International Standard, Developed by a POSTECH-Led Korean Research Consortium] A blockchain technology led by a research team from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), headed by Professor Hwangjun Song and Professor Chanik Park, with participation from multiple domestic research teams, including Professor Seongho Jeong’s team at the Department of Information and Communication Engineering at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), has been officially approved as an international standard by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). The standard, designated F.751.28, received final approval on December 14 (local time), marking a significant achievement in which Korean researchers established a global reference framework for blockchain services worldwide. The standardization outcome is a key result of a national R&D project titled ‘Core Technologies for Hybrid P2P Network-based Blockchain services’, conducted as part of the ‘Blockchain Technology Development Program for the Data Economy’ supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP). The five-year collaborative research project, launched in 2021, was led by POSTECH (Professors Hwangjun Song and Chanik Park) and involved six universities—Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Professor Seong Ho Jeong), Incheon National University (Professor Giseok Park), Handong Global University (Professor Yunmin Go), Jeonbuk National University (Professor Hyunmin Noh), and Keimyung University (Professor Sejin Park)—as well as two companies, BFLabs and CPLABS. The approved standard, F.751.28, specifies a framework for fast message delivery for distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based services. It is designed to process messages required for inter-node consensus and block propagation in blockchain networks more rapidly and reliably than existing methods. Simply put, it defines a set of transmission rules that enable blockchain systems to exchange information more efficiently. In blockchain systems, multiple computers must simultaneously verify and share transaction data. When this process is delayed, overall service performance deteriorates. The newly standardized technology reduces message delivery latency through technical elements such as network monitoring and enhanced consensus mechanisms, thereby significantly improving transaction processing speed (TPS), a long-standing limitation of blockchain technology. As a result, it is regarded as a foundational technology with immediate applicability across various industries, including finance, logistics, and national authentication systems. The impact of international standard adoption is substantial. Once standardized, the technology effectively becomes a default specification for companies and institutions worldwide when developing related services. This signifies that Korean technology has secured a leading position in the global blockchain infrastructure landscape. Professor Seong Ho Jeong of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies played a key role in finalizing the standardization process by leading technical consensus discussions at the ITU-T Study Group 21 (SG21) meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, last October. Professor Hwangjun Song of POSTECH, who served as the principal investigator, stated, “The adoption of this ITU international standard officially recognizes that our core technology can lead blockchain networking technologies worldwide.” He added, “This marks an important milestone in addressing real-time data processing challenges, which have been one of the biggest obstacles in the blockchain industry.” He further noted, “Going forward, we will continue to expand international leadership in domestic technologies and accelerate the commercialization of distributed ledger technology (DLT) services in 5G and 6G environments.”

POSTECH Professor Yo-Seb Jeon Wins 2025 IEEE ComSoc Asia-Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award

[Recognized for contributions to next-generation wireless communications using AI and machine learning; selected as a representative researcher from the Asia-Pacific region, including Korea, China, and Japan] Professor Yo-Seb Jeon of the Department of Electrical Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Asia-Pacific Outstanding Young Researcher Award. He is the only researcher from Korea to receive the award among the 2024 and 2025 recipients, contributing to the enhanced international standing of Korea’s communications research. The award is presented to a small number of researchers under the age of 35 in the Asia-Pacific region who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements in the field of communications. Professor Jeon was recognized for his academic excellence and significant international contributions in the area of next-generation wireless communications based on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). Professor Jeon’s research focuses on effectively optimizing increasingly complex wireless channels and physical-layer designs in next-generation mobile communication environments by leveraging artificial intelligence technologies. In particular, he has proposed intelligent wireless communication models that enable large-scale data transmission and low-latency communications, which are expected to serve as a foundation for the development of 6G communications and intelligent network technologies. “I believe that research integrating AI and wireless communications will play a key role in transforming the paradigm of future communication technologies,” said Professor Jeon. “I will continue to pursue research that can make meaningful contributions to society and industry.” The award ceremony was held on December 8 in Taipei, Taiwan, during the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), one of the most prestigious international conferences

POSTECH Holds Capital Campaign Preview Meeting… Alumnus Dong-hoon (David) Kim Pledges KRW 3 Billion (USD 2 Million)

[Launch of the largest advancement fund campaign in university history… On-site donation pledges follow] POSTECH held the POSTECH Capital Campaign Preview Meeting on December 18 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The event was organized to share the direction of the upcoming POSTECH Campaign—the largest advancement fund campaign in the university’s history—and to discuss future operational strategies ahead of its official launch. The POSTECH Capital Campaign Committee is composed of alumni, key domestic business leaders, and existing major donors. The committee is chaired by Dai-Kong Lee, Chairman of the AERIN Welfare Foundation. Approximately 20 committee members attended the meeting, along with Seong Keun Kim, President of POSTECH, Jong Kyu Kim, Executive Vice President of POSTECH, and other members of the university leadership. The POSTECH Campaign has been designed to secure the financial resources required to advance the university’s Second Founding, also referred to as POSTECH 2.0. Over the next ten years, the university plans to invest a total of KRW 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 800 million) in education, research, and infrastructure, of which KRW 200 billion (approx. USD 133 million) is expected to be raised through donations to the advancement fund. The remaining resources will be secured through internal and external sources, including KRW 400 billion (approx. USD 267 million) for the Glocal University initiative and KRW 600 billion (approx. USD 400 million) from university endowment transfers. The event also featured notable on-site donation pledges. Dong-hoon (David) Kim, an alumnus of POSTECH (Class of ’90, Department of Computer Science & Engineering), a member of the POSTECH Capital Campaign Committee and COO of Inventage Lab, pledged KRW 3 billion (approx. USD 2 million) to support the improvement of the university’s educational environment and the nurturing of future talent. The donation will be allocated to the construction of a new educational district and the (provisionally named) “Junior Project.” The Junior Project is a student-led program supporting research, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary projects, aiming to encourage students to take bold challenges beyond their major fields. Closing the event, Seong Keun Kim, President of POSTECH, said, “This was a meaningful opportunity to meet the committee members in person and hear a variety of perspectives ahead of the campaign launch. We will actively reflect the opinions shared today in the campaign operations, providing a clear vision and direction that donors can resonate with and support.” He added, “The Second Founding and this Capital Campaign will bring substantial changes across educational spaces and the entire spectrum of education and research, fundamentally transforming the future of POSTECH.”

POSTECH Successfully Concludes Joint Semiconductor Workshop with IMEC and KU Leuven

[Held on October 20–21, the workshop served as a venue for strengthening global semiconductor collaboration and promoting exchanges in next-generation device research.] POSTECH hosted a joint workshop with IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre), the world’s leading semiconductor research institute, and its affiliated university KU-Leuven, in Leuven, Belgium, from October 20 to 21. The workshop was organized to strengthen global cooperation in semiconductor research and explore collaborative directions in next-generation semiconductors, emerging devices, and circuit design. The program was co-chaired by Prof. Jiwon Lee of POSTECH and Prof. Jan Genoe of KU Leuven and IMEC. The event consisted of three technical sessions: ▲semiconductor sensors, ▲circuit design, and ▲next-generation semiconductor devices. Researchers from all three institutions presented their latest findings. A wide range of emerging technologies was discussed, including image sensors, ECRAM-based synaptic circuits for AI and neuromorphic systems, perovskite lasers, and GaN power devices. Building on this workshop, the three institutions plan to continue discussions on identifying joint research projects, facilitating researcher exchanges, and developing new collaborative initiatives. Prof. Jiwon Lee of POSTECH remarked, “This joint workshop served as an opportunity for the three institutions to solidify their international collaboration network in semiconductors and to advance innovative technologies for future intelligent systems. We will continue to build a long-term foundation for next-generation semiconductor innovation.” The workshop was jointly organized by the POSTECH Department of Semiconductor Engineering and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Technology, and was co-supported by the KE-SRCC (Korea-EU Semiconductor R&D Cooperation Center) and the POSTECH Department of Semiconductor Engineering.