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KAIST to Lead the Way in Nurturing Talent and Driving S&T Innovation for a G3 AI Powerhouse
* Focusing on nurturing talent and dedicating to R&D to become a G3 AI powerhouse (Top 3 AI Nations).
* Leading the realization of an "AI-driven Basic Society for All" and developing technologies that leverage AI to overcome the crisis in Korea's manufacturing sector.
* 50 years ago, South Korea emerged as a scientific and technological powerhouse from the ashes, with KAIST at its core, contributing to the development of scientific and technological talent, innovative technology, national industrial growth, and the creation of a startup innovation ecosystem.
As public interest in AI and science and technology has significantly grown with the inauguration of the new government, KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced its plan, on June 24th, to transform into an "AI-centric, Value-Creating Science and Technology University" that leads national innovation based on science and technology and spearheads solutions to global challenges.
At a time when South Korea is undergoing a major transition to a technology-driven society, KAIST, drawing on its half-century of experience as a "Starter Kit" for national development, is preparing to leap beyond being a mere educational and research institution to become a global innovation hub that creates new social value.
In particular, KAIST has presented a vision for realizing an "AI-driven Basic Society" where all citizens can utilize AI without alienation, enabling South Korea to ascend to the top three AI nations (G3). To achieve this, through the "National AI Research Hub" project (headed by Kee Eung Kim), led by KAIST representing South Korea, the institution is dedicated to enhancing industrial competitiveness and effectively solving social problems based on AI technology.
< KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee >
KAIST's research achievements in the AI field are garnering international attention. In the top three machine learning conferences (ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR), KAIST ranked 5th globally and 1st in Asia over the past five years (2020-2024). During the same period, based on the number of papers published in top conferences in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision (ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV), KAIST ranked 5th globally and 4th in Asia. Furthermore, KAIST has consistently demonstrated unparalleled research capabilities, ranking 1st globally in the average number of papers accepted at ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference), the world's most prestigious academic conference on semiconductor integrated circuits, for 19 years (2006-2024).
KAIST is continuously expanding its research into core AI technologies, including hyper-scale AI models (Korean LLM), neuromorphic semiconductors, and low-power AI processors, as well as various application areas such as autonomous driving, urban air mobility (UAM), precision medicine, and explainable AI (XAI).
In the manufacturing sector, KAIST's AI technologies are also driving on-site innovation. Professor Young Jae Jang's team has enhanced productivity in advanced manufacturing fields like semiconductors and displays through digital twins utilizing manufacturing site data and AI-based prediction technology. Professor Song Min Kim's team developed ultra-low power wireless tag technology capable of tracking locations with sub-centimeter precision, accelerating the implementation of smart factories. Technologies such as industrial process optimization and equipment failure prediction developed by INEEJI Co., Ltd., founded by Professor Jaesik Choi, are being rapidly applied in real industrial settings, yielding results. INEEJI was designated as a national strategic technology in the 'Explainable AI (XAI)' field by the government in March.
< Researchers performing data analysis for AI research >
Practical applications are also emerging in the robotics sector, which is closely linked to AI. Professor Jemin Hwangbo's team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering garnered attention by newly developing RAIBO 2, a quadrupedal robot usable in high-risk environments such as disaster relief and rough terrain exploration. Professor Kyoung Chul Kong's team and Angel Robotics Co., Ltd. developed the WalkOn Suit exoskeleton robot, significantly improving the quality of life for individuals with complete lower body paralysis or walking disabilities.
Additionally, remarkable research is ongoing in future core technology areas such as AI semiconductors, quantum cryptography communication, ultra-small satellites, hydrogen fuel cells, next-generation batteries, and biomimetic sensors. Notably, space exploration technology based on small satellites, asteroid exploration projects, energy harvesting, and high-speed charging technologies are gaining attention.
Particularly in advanced bio and life sciences, KAIST is collaborating with Germany's Merck company on various research initiatives, including synthetic biology and mRNA. KAIST is also contributing to the construction of a 430 billion won Merck Bio-Center in Daejeon, thereby stimulating the local economy and creating jobs.
Based on these cutting-edge research capabilities, KAIST continues to expand its influence not only within the industry but also on the global stage. It has established strategic partnerships with leading universities worldwide, including MIT, Stanford University, and New York University (NYU). Notably, KAIST and NYU have established a joint campus in New York to strengthen human exchange and collaborative research. Active industry-academia collaborations with global companies such as Google, Intel, and TSMC are also ongoing, playing a pivotal role in future technology development and the creation of an innovation ecosystem.
These activities also lead to a strong startup ecosystem that drives South Korean industries. The flow of startups, which began with companies like Qnix Computer, Nexon, and Naver, has expanded to a total of 1,914 companies to date. Their cumulative assets amount to 94 trillion won, with sales reaching 36 trillion won and employing approximately 60,000 people. Over 90% of these are technology-based startups originating from faculty and student labs, demonstrating a model that makes a tangible economic contribution based on science and technology.
< Students at work >
Having consistently generated diverse achievements, KAIST has already produced approximately 80,000 "KAISTians" who have created innovation through challenge and failure, and is currently recruiting new talent to continue driving innovation that transforms South Korea and the world.
President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized, "KAIST will establish itself as a global leader in science and technology, designing the future of South Korea and humanity and creating tangible value." He added, "We will focus on talent nurturing and research and development to realize the new government's national agenda of becoming a G3 AI powerhouse."
He further stated, "KAIST's vision for the AI field, in which it places particular emphasis, is to strive for a society where everyone can freely utilize AI. We will contribute to significantly boosting productivity by recovering manufacturing competitiveness through AI and actively disseminating physical AI, AI robots, and AI mobility technologies to industrial sites."
2025.06.24 View 386 -
KAIST Develops Glare-Free, Heat-Blocking 'Smart Window'... Applicable to Buildings and Vehicles
• Professor Hong Chul Moon of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering develops RECM, a next-generation smart window technology, expecting cooling energy savings and effective indoor thermal management.
• When using the developed RECM, a significantly superior temperature reduction effect is observed compared to conventional windows.
• With a 'pedestrian-friendly smart window' design that eliminates glare by suppressing external reflections, it is expected to be adapted in architectural structures, transportation, and more.
< (From left) First author Hoy Jung Jo, Professor Hong Chul Moon >
In the building sector, which accounts for approximately 40% of global energy consumption, heat ingress through windows has been identified as a primary cause of wasted heating and cooling energy. Our research team has successfully developed a 'pedestrian-friendly smart window' technology capable of not only reducing heating and cooling energy in urban buildings but also resolving the persistent issue of 'light pollution' in urban living.
On the 17th of June, Professor Hong Chul Moon's research team at KAIST's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering announced the development of a 'smart window technology' that allows users to control the light and heat entering through windows according to their intent, and effectively neutralize glare from external sources.
Recently, 'active smart window' technology, which enables free adjustment of light and heat based on user operation, has garnered significant attention. Unlike conventional windows that passively react to changes in temperature or light, this is a next-generation window system that can be controlled in real-time via electrical signals.
The next-generation smart window technology developed by the research team, RECM (Reversible Electrodeposition and Electrochromic Mirror), is a smart window system based on a single-structured *electrochromic device that can actively control the transmittance of visible light and near-infrared (heat).
*Electrochromic device: A device whose optical properties change in response to an electrical signal.
In particular, by effectively suppressing the glare phenomenon caused by external reflected light—a problem previously identified in traditional metal *deposition smart windows—through the combined application of electrochromic materials, a 'pedestrian-friendly smart window' suitable for building facades has been realized.
*Deposition: A process involving the electrochemical reaction to coat metal ions, such as Ag+, onto an electrode surface in solid form.
The RECM system developed in this study operates in three modes depending on voltage control.
Mode I (Transparent Mode) is advantageous for allowing sunlight to enter the indoor space during winter, as it transmits both light and heat like ordinary glass.
In Mode II (Colored Mode), *Prussian Blue (PB) and **DHV+• chemical species are formed through a redox (oxidation-reduction) reaction, causing the window to turn a deep blue color. In this state, light is absorbed, and only a portion of the heat is transmitted, allowing for privacy while enabling appropriate indoor temperature control.
*Prussian Blue: An electrochromic material that transitions between colorless and blue upon electrical stimulation.
**DHV+•: A radical state colored molecule generated upon electrical stimulation.
Mode III (Colored and Deposition Mode) involves the reduction and deposition of silver (Ag+) ions on the electrode surface, reflecting both light and heat. Concurrently, the colored material absorbs the reflected light, effectively blocking glare for external pedestrians.
The research team validated the practical indoor temperature reduction effect of the RECM technology through experiments utilizing a miniature model house. When a conventional glass window was installed, the indoor temperature rose to 58.7°C within 45 minutes. Conversely, when RECM was operated in Mode III, the temperature reached 31.5°C, demonstrating a temperature reduction effect of approximately 27.2°C.
Furthermore, since each state transition is achievable solely by electrical signals, it is regarded as an active smart technology capable of instantaneous response according to season, time, and intended use.
< Figure 1. Operation mechanism of the RECM smart window. The RECM system can switch among three states—transparent, colored, and colored & deposition—via electrical stimulation. At -1.6 V, DHV•+ and Prussian Blue (PB) are formed, blocking visible light to provide privacy protection and heat blocking. At -2.0 V, silver (Ag) is deposited on the electrode surface, reflecting light and heat, while DHV•+ and Prussian Blue absorb reflected light, effectively suppressing external glare. Through this mechanism, it functions as an active smart window that simultaneously controls light, heat, and glare. >
Professor Hong Chul Moon of KAIST, the corresponding author of this study, stated, "This research goes beyond existing smart window technologies limited to visible light control, presenting a truly smart window platform that comprehensively considers not only active indoor thermal control but also the visual safety of pedestrians." He added, "Various applications are anticipated, from urban buildings to vehicles and trains."
< Figure 2. Analysis of glare suppression effect of conventional reflective smart windows and RECM. This figure presents the results comparing the glare phenomenon occurring during silver (Ag) deposition between conventional reflective smart windows and RECM Mode III. Conventional reflective devices resulted in strong reflected light on the desk surface due to their high reflectivity. In contrast, RECM Mode III, where the colored material absorbed reflected light, showed a 33% reduction in reflected light intensity, and no reflected light was observed from outside. This highlights the RECM system's distinctiveness and practicality as a 'pedestrian-friendly smart window' optimized for dense urban environments, extending beyond just heat blocking. >
The findings of this research were published on June 13, 2025, in Volume 10, Issue 6 of 'ACS Energy Letters'. The listed authors for this publication are Hoy Jung Jo, Yeon Jae Jang, Hyeon-Don Kim, Kwang-Seop Kim, and Hong Chul Moon.
※ Paper Title: Glare-Free, Energy-Efficient Smart Windows: A Pedestrian-Friendly System with Dynamically Tunable Light and Heat Regulation
※ DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c00637
< Figure 3. Temperature reduction performance verification in a miniature model house. The actual heat blocking effect was evaluated by applying RECM devices to a model building. Under identical conditions, the indoor temperature with ordinary glass rose to 58.7°C, whereas with RECM in Mode III, it reached 31.5°C, demonstrating a maximum temperature reduction effect of 27.2°C. The indoor temperature difference was also visually confirmed through thermal images, which proves the potential for indoor temperature control in urban buildings. >
This research was supported by the Nano & Material Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the internal research program of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials.
2025.06.20 View 1689 -
KAIST Holds a Ceremony to Declare their Renewed Commitment for Ethical Management
KAIST held a ceremony to declare their renewed "Commitment for Ethical Management" to raise awareness and solidify the commitment its members to faithfully fulfill ethical responsibilities and duties.
Last March, the university established the 'Special Committee for Ethical Management,' chaired by the Provost, and under the leadership of this committee, a new 'Code of Ethics' and 'Code of Conduct' were prepared, containing ethical standards that members must adhere to across all areas of education, research, and administration.
< Photo 1. Attendees pledge to practice ethics during the declaration for the ethical management. >
This ceremony was arranged as an occasion for the president, key executives, and representatives from each university constituent to share the purpose and direction of the newly established ethical standards and to pledge their commitment to practicing them.
The Ethical Management Declaration consisted of: ▲ a progress report by the KAIST Special Committee for Ethical Management, ▲ a commemorative address by the president, ▲ an oath of the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, and ▲ the presentation of the 'Excellent Ethics Professor Award' organized by the Graduate Student Human Rights Center. Attendees shared the values and meaning of ethical management pursued by KAIST.
Particularly at this ceremony, six representatives – faculty, staff, and students – selected to reflect KAIST's values encompassing diversity in position, role, gender, and future generations, took the oath for the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.
< Photo 2. Attendees pledge to practice ethics during the Ethical Management Declaration. >
Also introduced at the ceremony was the "Ethical Excellence Award for Professors". It is an award that was organized by the Graduate Student Human Rights Center under the KAIST Student Council to recognize the faculty members for their outstanding ethical conduct in the laboratory setting. The 2025 recipients of the newly established award were the honored at the declaration ceremony for added significance.
Taking this declaration ceremony as an example, KAIST plans to actively encourage each departments, divisions and offices to also hold ethical management declarations of their own to establish a trustworthy, healthy, and transparent organizational culture through the daily practice of ethical responsibilities, and to continuously spread the practice of ethical management among all members.
President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized, "Adhering to research and social ethics must be the foundation for KAIST to become a university trusted globally," and expressed, "I hope this ceremony serves as a turning point for all members to more faithfully practice their ethical responsibilities and duties."
2025.06.16 View 503 -
KAIST Succeeds in Real-Time Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Without Batteries or External Power
< (From left) Master's Student Gyurim Jang, Professor Kyeongha Kwon >
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on June 9th that a research team led by Professor Kyeongha Kwon from the School of Electrical Engineering, in a joint study with Professor Hanjun Ryu's team at Chung-Ang University, has developed a self-powered wireless carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring system. This innovative system harvests fine vibrational energy from its surroundings to periodically measure CO2 concentrations.
This breakthrough addresses a critical need in environmental monitoring: accurately understanding "how much" CO2 is being emitted to combat climate change and global warming. While CO2 monitoring technology is key to this, existing systems largely rely on batteries or wired power system, imposing limitations on installation and maintenance. The KAIST team tackled this by creating a self-powered wireless system that operates without external power.
The core of this new system is an "Inertia-driven Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG)" that converts vibrations (with amplitudes ranging from 20-4000 ㎛ and frequencies from 0-300 Hz) generated by industrial equipment or pipelines into electricity. This enables periodic CO2 concentration measurements and wireless transmission without the need for batteries.
< Figure 1. Concept and configuration of self-powered wireless CO2 monitoring system using fine vibration harvesting (a) System block diagram (b) Photo of fabricated system prototype >
The research team successfully amplified fine vibrations and induced resonance by combining spring-attached 4-stack TENGs. They achieved stable power production of 0.5 mW under conditions of 13 Hz and 0.56 g acceleration. The generated power was then used to operate a CO2 sensor and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) system-on-a-chip (SoC).
Professor Kyeongha Kwon emphasized, "For efficient environmental monitoring, a system that can operate continuously without power limitations is essential." She explained, "In this research, we implemented a self-powered system that can periodically measure and wirelessly transmit CO2 concentrations based on the energy generated from an inertia-driven TENG." She added, "This technology can serve as a foundational technology for future self-powered environmental monitoring platforms integrating various sensors."
< Figure 2. TENG energy harvesting-based wireless CO2 sensing system operation results (c) Experimental setup (d) Measured CO2 concentration results powered by TENG and conventional DC power source >
This research was published on June 1st in the internationally renowned academic journal `Nano Energy (IF 16.8)`. Gyurim Jang, a master's student at KAIST, and Daniel Manaye Tiruneh, a master's student at Chung-Ang University, are the co-first authors of the paper.*Paper Title: Highly compact inertia-driven triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered wireless CO2 monitoring via fine-vibration harvesting*DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2025.110872
This research was supported by the Saudi Aramco-KAIST CO2 Management Center.
2025.06.09 View 46661 -
KAIST Research Team Develops Electronic Ink for Room-Temperature Printing of High-Resolution, Variable-Stiffness Electronics
A team of researchers from KAIST and Seoul National University has developed a groundbreaking electronic ink that enables room-temperature printing of variable-stiffness circuits capable of switching between rigid and soft modes. This advancement marks a significant leap toward next-generation wearable, implantable, and robotic devices.
< Photo 1. (From left) Professor Jae-Woong Jeong and PhD candidate Simok Lee of the School of Electrical Engineering, (in separate bubbles, from left) Professor Gun-Hee Lee of Pusan National University, Professor Seongjun Park of Seoul National University, Professor Steve Park of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering>
Variable-stiffness electronics are at the forefront of adaptive technology, offering the ability for a single device to transition between rigid and soft modes depending on its use case. Gallium, a metal known for its high rigidity contrast between solid and liquid states, is a promising candidate for such applications. However, its use has been hindered by challenges including high surface tension, low viscosity, and undesirable phase transitions during manufacturing.
On June 4th, a research team led by Professor Jae-Woong Jeong from the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST, Professor Seongjun Park from the Digital Healthcare Major at Seoul National University, and Professor Steve Park from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST introduced a novel liquid metal electronic ink. This ink allows for micro-scale circuit printing – thinner than a human hair – at room temperature, with the ability to reversibly switch between rigid and soft modes depending on temperature.
The new ink combines printable viscosity with excellent electrical conductivity, enabling the creation of complex, high-resolution multilayer circuits comparable to commercial printed circuit boards (PCBs). These circuits can dynamically change stiffness in response to temperature, presenting new opportunities for multifunctional electronics, medical technologies, and robotics.
Conventional electronics typically have fixed form factors – either rigid for durability or soft for wearability. Rigid devices like smartphones and laptops offer robust performance but are uncomfortable when worn, while soft electronics are more comfortable but lack precise handling. As demand grows for devices that can adapt their stiffness to context, variable-stiffness electronics are becoming increasingly important.
< Figure 1. Fabrication process of stable, high-viscosity electronic ink by dispersing micro-sized gallium particles in a polymer matrix (left). High-resolution large-area circuit printing process through pH-controlled chemical sintering (right). >
To address this challenge, the researchers focused on gallium, which melts just below body temperature. Solid gallium is quite stiff, while its liquid form is fluid and soft. Despite its potential, gallium’s use in electronic printing has been limited by its high surface tension and instability when melted.
To overcome these issues, the team developed a pH-controlled liquid metal ink printing process. By dispersing micro-sized gallium particles into a hydrophilic polyurethane matrix using a neutral solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO), they created a stable, high-viscosity ink suitable for precision printing. During post-print heating, the DMSO decomposes to form an acidic environment, which removes the oxide layer on the gallium particles. This triggers the particles to coalesce into electrically conductive networks with tunable mechanical properties.
The resulting printed circuits exhibit fine feature sizes (~50 μm), high conductivity (2.27 × 10⁶ S/m), and a stiffness modulation ratio of up to 1,465 – allowing the material to shift from plastic-like rigidity to rubber-like softness. Furthermore, the ink is compatible with conventional printing techniques such as screen printing and dip coating, supporting large-area and 3D device fabrication.
< Figure 2. Key features of the electronic ink. (i) High-resolution printing and multilayer integration capability. (ii) Batch fabrication capability through large-area screen printing. (iii) Complex three-dimensional structure printing capability through dip coating. (iv) Excellent electrical conductivity and stiffness control capability.>
The team demonstrated this technology by developing a multi-functional device that operates as a rigid portable electronic under normal conditions but transforms into a soft wearable healthcare device when attached to the body. They also created a neural probe that remains stiff during surgical insertion for accurate positioning but softens once inside brain tissue to reduce inflammation – highlighting its potential for biomedical implants.
< Figure 3. Variable stiffness wearable electronics with high-resolution circuits and multilayer structure comparable to commercial printed circuit boards (PCBs). Functions as a rigid portable electronic device at room temperature, then transforms into a wearable healthcare device by softening at body temperature upon skin contact.>
“The core achievement of this research lies in overcoming the longstanding challenges of liquid metal printing through our innovative technology,” said Professor Jeong. “By controlling the ink’s acidity, we were able to electrically and mechanically connect printed gallium particles, enabling the room-temperature fabrication of high-resolution, large-area circuits with tunable stiffness. This opens up new possibilities for future personal electronics, medical devices, and robotics.”
< Figure 4. Body-temperature softening neural probe implemented by coating electronic ink on an optical waveguide structure. (Left) Remains rigid during surgery for precise manipulation and brain insertion, then softens after implantation to minimize mechanical stress on the brain and greatly enhance biocompatibility. (Right) >
This research was published in Science Advances under the title, “Phase-Change Metal Ink with pH-Controlled Chemical Sintering for Versatile and Scalable Fabrication of Variable Stiffness Electronics.” The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Boston-Korea Project, and the BK21 FOUR Program.
2025.06.04 View 1738 -
KAIST-UIUC researchers develop a treatment platform to disable the ‘biofilm’ shield of superbugs
< (From left) Ph.D. Candidate Joo Hun Lee (co-author), Professor Hyunjoon Kong (co-corresponding author) and Postdoctoral Researcher Yujin Ahn (co-first author) from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Ju Yeon Chung (co-first author) from the Integrated Master's and Doctoral Program, and Professor Hyun Jung Chung (co-corresponding author) from the Department of Biological Sciences of KAIST >
A major cause of hospital-acquired infections, the super bacteria Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), not only exhibits strong resistance to existing antibiotics but also forms a dense biofilm that blocks the effects of external treatments. To meet this challenge, KAIST researchers, in collaboration with an international team, successfully developed a platform that utilizes microbubbles to deliver gene-targeted nanoparticles capable of break ing down the biofilms, offering an innovative solution for treating infections resistant to conventional antibiotics.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on May 29 that a research team led by Professor Hyun Jung Chung from the Department of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with Professor Hyunjoon Kong's team at the University of Illinois, has developed a microbubble-based nano-gene delivery platform (BTN MB) that precisely delivers gene suppressors into bacteria to effectively remove biofilms formed by MRSA.
The research team first designed short DNA oligonucleotides that simultaneously suppress three major MRSA genes, related to—biofilm formation (icaA), cell division (ftsZ), and antibiotic resistance (mecA)—and engineered nanoparticles (BTN) to effectively deliver them into the bacteria.
< Figure 1. Effective biofilm treatment using biofilm-targeting nanoparticles controlled by microbubbler system. Schematic illustration of BTN delivery with microbubbles (MB), enabling effective permeation of ASOs targeting bacterial genes within biofilms infecting skin wounds. Gene silencing of targets involved in biofilm formation, bacterial proliferation, and antibiotic resistance leads to effective biofilm removal and antibacterial efficacy in vivo. >
In addition, microbubbles (MB) were used to increase the permeability of the microbial membrane, specifically the biofilm formed by MRSA. By combining these two technologies, the team implemented a dual-strike strategy that fundamentally blocks bacterial growth and prevents resistance acquisition.
This treatment system operates in two stages. First, the MBs induce pressure changes within the bacterial biofilm, allowing the BTNs to penetrate. Then, the BTNs slip through the gaps in the biofilm and enter the bacteria, delivering the gene suppressors precisely. This leads to gene regulation within MRSA, simultaneously blocking biofilm regeneration, cell proliferation, and antibiotic resistance expression.
In experiments conducted in a porcine skin model and a mouse wound model infected with MRSA biofilm, the BTN MB treatment group showed a significant reduction in biofilm thickness, as well as remarkable decreases in bacterial count and inflammatory responses.
< Figure 2. (a) Schematic illustration on the evaluation of treatment efficacy of BTN-MB gene therapy. (b) Reduction in MRSA biofilm mass via simultaneous inhibition of multiple genes. (c, d) Antibacterial efficacy of BTN-MB over time in a porcine skin infection biofilm model. (e) Schematic of the experimental setup to verify antibacterial efficacy in a mouse skin wound infection model. (f) Wound healing effects in mice. (g) Antibacterial effects at the wound site. (h) Histological analysis results. >
These results are difficult to achieve with conventional antibiotic monotherapy and demonstrate the potential for treating a wide range of resistant bacterial infections.
Professor Hyun Jung Chung of KAIST, who led the research, stated, “This study presents a new therapeutic solution that combines nanotechnology, gene suppression, and physical delivery strategies to address superbug infections that existing antibiotics cannot resolve. We will continue our research with the aim of expanding its application to systemic infections and various other infectious diseases.”
< (From left) Ju Yeon Chung from the Integrated Master's and Doctoral Program, and Professor Hyun Jung Chung from the Department of Biological Sciences >
The study was co-first authored by Ju Yeon Chung, a graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST, and Dr. Yujin Ahn from the University of Illinois. The study was published online on May 19 in the journal, Advanced Functional Materials.
※ Paper Title: Microbubble-Controlled Delivery of Biofilm-Targeting Nanoparticles to Treat MRSA Infection ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202508291
This study was supported by the National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea; and the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, USA.
2025.05.29 View 1470 -
KAIST to Develop a Korean-style ChatGPT Platform Specifically Geared Toward Medical Diagnosis and Drug Discovery
On May 23rd, KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced that its Digital Bio-Health AI Research Center (Director: Professor JongChul Ye of KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI) has been selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'AI Top-Tier Young Researcher Support Program (AI Star Fellowship Project).' With a total investment of ₩11.5 billion from May 2025 to December 2030, the center will embark on the full-scale development of AI technology and a platform capable of independently inferring and determining the kinds of diseases, and discovering new drugs.
< Photo. On May 20th, a kick-off meeting for the AI Star Fellowship Project was held at KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI’s Yangjae Research Center with the KAIST research team and participating organizations of Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS. [From left to right in the front row] Professor Jaegul Joo (KAIST), Professor Yoonjae Choi (KAIST), Professor Woo Youn Kim (KAIST/HITS), Professor JongChul Ye (KAIST), Professor Sungsoo Ahn (KAIST), Dr. Haanju Yoo (NAVER Cloud), Yoonho Lee (KAIST), HyeYoon Moon (Samsung Medical Center), Dr. Su Min Kim (Samsung Medical Center) >
This project aims to foster an innovative AI research ecosystem centered on young researchers and develop an inferential AI agent that can utilize and automatically expand specialized knowledge systems in the bio and medical fields.
Professor JongChul Ye of the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI will serve as the lead researcher, with young researchers from KAIST including Professors Yoonjae Choi, Kimin Lee, Sungsoo Ahn, and Chanyoung Park, along with mid-career researchers like Professors Jaegul Joo and Woo Youn Kim, jointly undertaking the project. They will collaborate with various laboratories within KAIST to conduct comprehensive research covering the entire cycle from the theoretical foundations of AI inference to its practical application.
Specifically, the main goals include: - Building high-performance inference models that integrate diverse medical knowledge systems to enhance the precision and reliability of diagnosis and treatment. - Developing a convergence inference platform that efficiently combines symbol-based inference with neural network models. - Securing AI technology for new drug development and biomarker discovery based on 'cell ontology.'
Furthermore, through close collaboration with industry and medical institutions such as Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS Co., Ltd., the project aims to achieve: - Clinical diagnostic AI utilizing medical knowledge systems. - AI-based molecular target exploration for new drug development. - Commercialization of an extendible AI inference platform.
Professor JongChul Ye, Director of KAIST's Digital Bio-Health AI Research Center, stated, "At a time when competition in AI inference model development is intensifying, it is a great honor for KAIST to lead the development of AI technology specialized in the bio and medical fields with world-class young researchers." He added, "We will do our best to ensure that the participating young researchers reach a world-leading level in terms of research achievements after the completion of this seven-year project starting in 2025."
The AI Star Fellowship is a newly established program where post-doctoral researchers and faculty members within seven years of appointment participate as project leaders (PLs) to independently lead research. Multiple laboratories within a university and demand-side companies form a consortium to operate the program.
Through this initiative, KAIST plans to nurture bio-medical convergence AI talent and simultaneously promote the commercialization of core technologies in collaboration with Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS.
2025.05.26 View 2862 -
<Big Coins> Exhibition: Where Coins and Imagination Collide - Held at SUPEX Hall, KAIST Seoul Campus
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on May 19th the opening of the solo exhibition, “Big Coins,” by photographer and media artist Hojun Ji (Adjunct Professor, Department of Industrial Design) at the SUPEX Hall in the Business School of the Seoul Campus. The exhibition will run from May 19th to the end of February of the following year.
This exhibition at the KAIST Seoul Campus Business School presents artworks with an insightful perspective, inviting diverse interpretations from the audience. Notable pieces include ‘Priced,’ which juxtaposes Leonardo da Vinci's ‘Salvator Mundi,’ sold for approximately 450 million US dollars at a 2017 auction, with a Vatican coin bearing the image of Pope John XXIII. Another work, ‘Ciphered,’ superimposes a code used by the German army during World War II onto a Swiss coin featuring Helvetia.
< Priced, 150x150cm, 2025 >
Currently, Hojun Ji, an Adjunct Professor in KAIST’s Department of Industrial Design (and a student at the KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology), creates his art using images captured by observing everyday objects through optical or electron microscopes.
He has garnered particular attention for his unique artistic world, which combines enlarged microscopic photographs of coins from across the globe with significant news articles from modern and contemporary history.
Yeo-sun Yoon, Dean of the College of Business Administration, commented, “While the KAIST Art Museum is located at the main campus in Daejeon, the College of Business Administration here on the Seoul Campus also regularly hosts exhibitions curated by the museum. I am delighted to encounter a new realm of art through this solo exhibition by Artist Hojun Ji.”
< Ciphered, 150x150cm, 2025 >
Hyeon-Jeong Suk, Director of the Art Museum and a Full Professor in KAIST’s Department of Industrial Design, remarked, “Professor Hojun Ji's experimental imagination is remarkably unique and eccentric. As a graduate student, he connected data from his observations of his lab dog’s droppings with Jeong Seon's <Geumgang Jeondo>. Such imaginative thinking exemplifies the direction KAIST is pursuing.”
Artist Hojun Ji stated, “The coins I examined through optical and electron microscopes were not merely a form of payment but rather portraits of humanity etched with time and power. The history and memories embedded in their fine cracks and textures resonated with me as a singular sculpture. I aim to unlock the vast world of imagination concealed within these small pieces of metal.”
< Geumgang Byeondo: a Variation of the View of Mt. Geumgang (a twist of Geumgang Jeondo - a Complete View of Geumgangsan Mountain, 1734), 80x120cm, 2009 >
Ji has presented experimental works that transcend the boundaries of science and art through numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally. His work has also been featured on the cover of the international academic journal Digital Creativity and is increasingly recognized for its artistic merit, with pieces housed in the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Turkey, the Seoul Museum of Art, and the 9/11 Memorial Center in the United States.
This solo exhibition, which will continue until the end of February of next year, is open to KAIST members and external visitors free of charge.
2025.05.20 View 1713 -
“For the First Time, We Shared a Meaningful Exchange”: KAIST Develops an AI App for Parents and Minimally Verbal Autistic Children Connect
• KAIST team up with NAVER AI Lab and Dodakim Child Development Center Develop ‘AAcessTalk’, an AI-driven Communication Tool bridging the gap Between Children with Autism and their Parents
• The project earned the prestigious Best Paper Award at the ACM CHI 2025, the Premier International Conference in Human-Computer Interaction
• Families share heartwarming stories of breakthrough communication and newfound understanding.
< Photo 1. (From left) Professor Hwajung Hong and Doctoral candidate Dasom Choi of the Department of Industrial Design with SoHyun Park and Young-Ho Kim of Naver Cloud AI Lab >
For many families of minimally verbal autistic (MVA) children, communication often feels like an uphill battle. But now, thanks to a new AI-powered app developed by researchers at KAIST in collaboration with NAVER AI Lab and Dodakim Child Development Center, parents are finally experiencing moments of genuine connection with their children.
On the 16th, the KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) research team, led by Professor Hwajung Hong of the Department of Industrial Design, announced the development of ‘AAcessTalk,’ an artificial intelligence (AI)-based communication tool that enables genuine communication between children with autism and their parents.
This research was recognized for its human-centered AI approach and received international attention, earning the Best Paper Award at the ACM CHI 2025*, an international conference held in Yokohama, Japan.*ACM CHI (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) 2025: One of the world's most prestigious academic conference in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
This year, approximately 1,200 papers were selected out of about 5,000 submissions, with the Best Paper Award given to only the top 1%. The conference, which drew over 5,000 researchers, was the largest in its history, reflecting the growing interest in ‘Human-AI Interaction.’
Called AACessTalk, the app offers personalized vocabulary cards tailored to each child’s interests and context, while guiding parents through conversations with customized prompts. This creates a space where children’s voices can finally be heard—and where parents and children can connect on a deeper level.
Traditional augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools have relied heavily on fixed card systems that often fail to capture the subtle emotions and shifting interests of children with autism. AACessTalk breaks new ground by integrating AI technology that adapts in real time to the child’s mood and environment.
< Figure. Schematics of AACessTalk system. It provides personalized vocabulary cards for children with autism and context-based conversation guides for parents to focus on practical communication. Large ‘Turn Pass Button’ is placed at the child’s side to allow the child to lead the conversation. >
Among its standout features is a large ‘Turn Pass Button’ that gives children control over when to start or end conversations—allowing them to lead with agency. Another feature, the “What about Mom/Dad?” button, encourages children to ask about their parents’ thoughts, fostering mutual engagement in dialogue, something many children had never done before.
One parent shared, “For the first time, we shared a meaningful exchange.” Such stories were common among the 11 families who participated in a two-week pilot study, where children used the app to take more initiative in conversations and parents discovered new layers of their children’s language abilities.
Parents also reported moments of surprise and joy when their children used unexpected words or took the lead in conversations, breaking free from repetitive patterns. “I was amazed when my child used a word I hadn’t heard before. It helped me understand them in a whole new way,” recalled one caregiver.
Professor Hwajung Hong, who led the research at KAIST’s Department of Industrial Design, emphasized the importance of empowering children to express their own voices. “This study shows that AI can be more than a communication aid—it can be a bridge to genuine connection and understanding within families,” she said.
Looking ahead, the team plans to refine and expand human-centered AI technologies that honor neurodiversity, with a focus on bringing practical solutions to socially vulnerable groups and enriching user experiences.
This research is the result of KAIST Department of Industrial Design doctoral student Dasom Choi's internship at NAVER AI Lab.* Thesis Title: AACessTalk: Fostering Communication between Minimally Verbal Autistic Children and Parents with Contextual Guidance and Card Recommendation* DOI: 10.1145/3706598.3713792* Main Author Information: Dasom Choi (KAIST, NAVER AI Lab, First Author), SoHyun Park (NAVER AI Lab) , Kyungah Lee (Dodakim Child Development Center), Hwajung Hong (KAIST), and Young-Ho Kim (NAVER AI Lab, Corresponding Author)
This research was supported by the NAVER AI Lab internship program and grants from the National Research Foundation of Korea: the Doctoral Student Research Encouragement Grant (NRF-2024S1A5B5A19043580) and the Mid-Career Researcher Support Program for the Development of a Generative AI-Based Augmentative and Alternative Communication System for Autism Spectrum Disorder (RS-2024-00458557).
2025.05.19 View 3320 -
KAIST & CMU Unveils Amuse, a Songwriting AI-Collaborator to Help Create Music
Wouldn't it be great if music creators had someone to brainstorm with, help them when they're stuck, and explore different musical directions together? Researchers of KAIST and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed AI technology similar to a fellow songwriter who helps create music.
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) has developed an AI-based music creation support system, Amuse, by a research team led by Professor Sung-Ju Lee of the School of Electrical Engineering in collaboration with CMU. The research was presented at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), one of the world’s top conferences in human-computer interaction, held in Yokohama, Japan from April 26 to May 1. It received the Best Paper Award, given to only the top 1% of all submissions.
< (From left) Professor Chris Donahue of Carnegie Mellon University, Ph.D. Student Yewon Kim and Professor Sung-Ju Lee of the School of Electrical Engineering >
The system developed by Professor Sung-Ju Lee’s research team, Amuse, is an AI-based system that converts various forms of inspiration such as text, images, and audio into harmonic structures (chord progressions) to support composition.
For example, if a user inputs a phrase, image, or sound clip such as “memories of a warm summer beach”, Amuse automatically generates and suggests chord progressions that match the inspiration.
Unlike existing generative AI, Amuse is differentiated in that it respects the user's creative flow and naturally induces creative exploration through an interactive method that allows flexible integration and modification of AI suggestions.
The core technology of the Amuse system is a generation method that blends two approaches: a large language model creates music code based on the user's prompt and inspiration, while another AI model, trained on real music data, filters out awkward or unnatural results using rejection sampling.
< Figure 1. Amuse system configuration. After extracting music keywords from user input, a large language model-based code progression is generated and refined through rejection sampling (left). Code extraction from audio input is also possible (right). The bottom is an example visualizing the chord structure of the generated code. >
The research team conducted a user study targeting actual musicians and evaluated that Amuse has high potential as a creative companion, or a Co-Creative AI, a concept in which people and AI collaborate, rather than having a generative AI simply put together a song.
The paper, in which a Ph.D. student Yewon Kim and Professor Sung-Ju Lee of KAIST School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University Professor Chris Donahue participated, demonstrated the potential of creative AI system design in both academia and industry. ※ Paper title: Amuse: Human-AI Collaborative Songwriting with Multimodal Inspirations DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713818
※ Research demo video: https://youtu.be/udilkRSnftI?si=FNXccC9EjxHOCrm1
※ Research homepage: https://nmsl.kaist.ac.kr/projects/amuse/
Professor Sung-Ju Lee said, “Recent generative AI technology has raised concerns in that it directly imitates copyrighted content, thereby violating the copyright of the creator, or generating results one-way regardless of the creator’s intention. Accordingly, the research team was aware of this trend, paid attention to what the creator actually needs, and focused on designing an AI system centered on the creator.”
He continued, “Amuse is an attempt to explore the possibility of collaboration with AI while maintaining the initiative of the creator, and is expected to be a starting point for suggesting a more creator-friendly direction in the development of music creation tools and generative AI systems in the future.”
This research was conducted with the support of the National Research Foundation of Korea with funding from the government (Ministry of Science and ICT). (RS-2024-00337007)
2025.05.07 View 4459 -
KAIST Art Museum Showcases the Works of Van Gogh, Cy Twombly, and More at "The Vault of Masterpieces"
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) opened a special exhibition, "The Vault of Masterpieces", featuring the architects of the Gallerist Hong Gyu Shin, who is active in New York, on April 29th.
Since its opening in December 2024, the KAIST Museum of Art, which has mainly exhibited works from its own collection, has boldly invited internationally renowned Gallerist Shin Hong-gyu to hold its first full-scale special exhibition, displaying a large number of his collections in the center of the campus.
This exhibition will feature a variety of artifacts from artists who are looking for a society that includes the 18th century artist Tanksuis Boucher, the 19th century master Vincent van Gogh’s “Head of a Peasant (1885)”, the 20th century master of the orthodoxy Saibli, and Joan Miró’s friend Carlarena, a forgotten figure in history who has been brought to life by Gallerist Shin.
< Photo 1. A space where the works and props of the new collection are combined is recreated in the exhibition hall. ⓒ Shin Gallery >
Shin, who majored in ceramics and restoration at the University of Delaware, is a gallerist, curator, and collector of paintings who has embraced the world of space and artifacts.
Shin has been trading, respecting, and exhibiting artifacts ranging from the 18th century to the moderncontemporary, and has been a part of the global art scene since his youth in 1990.
So far, he has put on 150 exhibitions and has participated in over 300 events with members of the National Assembly, Watertan, Treatment, Reina Commission, Guggenheim, Whitney, New York Anne, Kunstmuseum Basel, Van Gogh Foundation, Biennale, etc. This shows well how much trust Shin’s vision and movement are receiving in the international field.
Shin said, “This 'Vault of Masterpieces' exhibition is not just a place where works of art stay, but a place where conversations flow beyond time and space. In this world where art becomes a question, empathy, and a self-portrait that constantly changes its appearance, we will feel a life living with art, and if this exhibition has left a little trembling in someone's heart, I am happy enough with that alone."
< Photo 2. Gallerist Hong-Gyu Shin's lecture on the topic of how Van Gogh's paintings came to my hands >
Hyeon-Jeong Suk, the director of KAIST Art Museum and a professor of KAIST Department of Industrial Design said, “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to comfortably experience the latest collection trends of the New York art world here at the KAIST Museum of Art, and you will also be able to experience a unique exhibition composition that reconstructed the living room of Mr. Hong Gyu Shin residence as is.”
President Kwang-Hyung Lee said, “Despite being a new museum that has only been open for four months, we are very grateful to Hong Gyu Shin entrusting the works of masters such as Vincent van Gogh. The Vault will be an unforgettable exhibition for the members of KAIST and the community at large.”
KAIST and the Art Museum hosted a lecture by Gallerist Hong Gyu Shin, "How I got my first Van Gogh" on the 29th, and the opening ceremony of the Vault of Masterpieces Exhibition with invited guests.
The general public can visit from the 30th of April to the 29th of August, and the admission is free of charge on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
< Photo 3. Opening ceremony for the Exhibition of the Vault of Masterpieces >
2025.04.30 View 2721 -
KAIST sends out Music and Bio-Signs of Professor Kwon Ji-yong, a.k.a. G-Dragon, into Space to Pulsate through Universe and Resonate among Stars
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 10th of April that it successfully promoted the world’s first ‘Space Sound Source Transmission Project’ based on media art at the KAIST Space Research Institute on April 9th through collaboration between Professor Jinjoon Lee of the Graduate School of Culture Technology, a world-renowned media artist, and the global K-Pop artist, G-Dragon.
This project was proposed as part of the ‘AI Entertech Research Center’ being promoted by KAIST and Galaxy Corporation. It is a project to transmit the message and sound of G-Dragon (real name, Kwon Ji-yong), a singer/song writer affiliated with Galaxy Corporation and a visiting professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST, to space for the first time in the world.
This is a convergence project that combines science, technology, art, and popular music, and is a new form of ‘space culture content’ experiment that connects KAIST’s cutting-edge space technology, Professor Jinjoon Lee’s media art work, and G-Dragon’s voice and sound source containing his latest digital single, "HOME SWEET HOME".
< Photo 1. Professor Jinjoon Lee's Open Your Eyes Project "Iris"'s imagery projected on the 13m space antenna at the Space Research Institute >
This collaboration was planned with the theme of ‘emotional signals that expand the inner universe of humans to the outer universe.’ The image of G-Dragon’s iris was augmented through AI as a window into soul symbolizing his uniqueness and identity, and the new song “Home Sweet Home” was combined as an audio message containing the vibration of that emotion.
This was actually transmitted into space using a next-generation small satellite developed by KAIST Space Research Institute, completing a symbolic performance in which an individual’s inner universe is transmitted to outer space.
Professor Jinjoon Lee’s cinematic media art work “Iris” was unveiled at the site. This work was screened in the world’s first projection mapping method* on KAIST Space Research Institute’s 13m space antenna. This video was created using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology based on the image of G-Dragon's iris, and combined with sound using the data of the sounds of Emile Bell rings – the bell that holds a thousand years of history, it presented an emotional art experience that transcends time and space.
*Projection Mapping: A technology that projects light and images onto actual structures to create visual changes, and is a method of expression that artistically reinterprets space.
This work is one of the major research achievements of KAIST TX Lab and Professor Lee based on new media technology based on biometric data such as iris, heartbeat, and brain waves.
Professor Jinjoon Lee said, "The iris is a symbol that reflects inner emotions and identity, so much so that it is called the 'mirror of the soul,' and this work sought to express 'the infinite universe seen from the inside of humanity' through G-Dragon's gaze."
< Photo 2. (From left) Professor Jinjoon Lee of the Graduate School of Culture Technology and G-Dragon (Visiting Professor Kwon Ji-yong of the Department of Mechanical Engineering) >
He continued, "The universe is a realm of technology as well as a stage for imagination and emotion, and I look forward to an encounter with the unknown through a new attempt to speak of art in the language of science including AI and imagine science in the form of art." “G-Dragon’s voice and music have now begun their journey to space,” said Yong-ho Choi, Galaxy Corporation’s Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). “This project is an act of leaving music as a legacy for humanity, while also having an important meaning of attempting to communicate with space.” He added, “This is a pioneering step to introduce human culture to space, and it will remain as a monumental performance that opens a new chapter in the history of music comparable to the Beatles.”
Galaxy Corporation is leading the future entertainment technology industry through its collaboration with KAIST, and was recently selected as the only entertainment technology company in a private meeting with Microsoft CEO Nadella. In particular, it is promoting the globalization of AI entertainment technology, receiving praise as a “pioneer of imagination” for new forms of AI entertainment content, including the AI contents for the deceased.
< Photo 3. Photo of G-Dragon's Home Sweet Home being sent into the space via Professor Jinjoon Lee's Space Sound Source Transmission Project >
Through this project, KAIST Space Research Institute presented new possibilities for utilizing satellite technology, and showed a model for science to connect with society in a more popular way.
KAIST President Kwang-Hyung Lee said, “KAIST is a place that always supports new imaginations and challenges,” and added, “We will continue to strive to continue creative research that no one has ever thought of, like this project that combines science, technology, and art.”
In the meantime, Galaxy Corporation, the agency of G-Dragon’s Professor Kwon Ji-yong, is an AI entertainment company that presents a new paradigm based on IP, media, tech, and entertainment convergence technology.
2025.04.10 View 4311