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- [Humanities] Creation of New Knowledge based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
- Professor Min Song Department of Library and Information Science, Yonsei University ■ Humanities / Creation of New Knowledge based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Professor Min Song opens a new chapter for various fields ranging from medicine to SNS with text mining. As data in various forms flood in our lives, increasingly more people are paying attention to big data, which indicates the efforts to analyze and use these data in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Utilization of data often goes beyond the business arena, to be used in developing new materials. For example, when a new medicine is developed, the massive amount of accumulated data regarding the effectiveness and functions of each material and the reactions of the human body help speeding up the process. After coming back to Korea, Professor Min Song at Yonsei University is investing his passion in improving the time and efficiency of the development of new medicines by pharmaceuticals through text mining technique, thereby creating new markets based on big data. Text mining refers to identifying significance in texts underlying mass data, by unraveling the interrelations and analyzing them. Professor Min Song at Yonsei University took interest in computation when he was an undergraduate student, who was studying in the Department of Library and Information Science. After completing his graduate studies in the U. S., he honed his skills in practice at Thomson Reuters, a Philadelphia-based firm, from 1999 to 2005 as a senior software engineer. Soon, he began to get recognized for his talents, and was hired as an assistant professor at the Information System Department at New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2006 to train future scholars and experts. “There was no Korean student in my class, and I felt sorry about it. That is why I instantly applied to this position when Yonsei University posted a job vacancy,” said Professor Song, recalling his days in New Jersey. As he was already a well-known text-mining expert in the overseas, he could open a new chapter for the developers of new medicines by examining numerous datasets ranging from the components and effectiveness of medicines, and the human reactions to drugs. His experience saved the researchers’ time and costs. Now, Professor Song is exploring the ways to analyze and use the trends of data that appear not only in the medical field, but in SNS. He performed big-data analysis on the popular images of the presidential candidates in this last election, and analyzed the public preferences based on deep learning on a real-time basis. He explains, “using big data allows predicting the citizens’ response before the government announces or implements a policy. By using the mass data accumulated layer by layer, the government could offer what the people want.” This achievement is certainly a result of the passion of the professor and researchers, who have been making efforts to go beyond data and to establish a platform for communication between people. Such constant efforts came to fruition as he published 67 SCI papers in the six years since he became a professor at Yonsei University, and wrote “Text Mining (Korean version),” a textbook in his field, in 2017. He also joined hands with Professor Chaomei Chen to write an academic book titled “Representing Scientific Knowledge,” published by Springer. In addition, he is working as an editor for Journal Informetrics and Scientometrics, which are influential academic journals in the information studies, which indicates his prestige in text mining. He is an associate editor for Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. Updated in Jan 2018
- 통합관리자 2018.01.06
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- [Medicine] Discovering a new path of stem cell therapy for chronic wounds
- Professor Dae Hyun Lew (4th from left) & Professor Eunkyung Kim (5th from left) ■ Medicine / Discovering a new path of stem cell therapy for chronic wounds A collaborative effort by medical and engineering researchers led to the development of stem cell sheets with excellent wound healing properties. The year 2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the integration of Yonhui College and Severance Union Medical College into the current Yonsei University. The two institutions have participated in research advancement for decades and there have been active attempts at interdisciplinary research involving multiple academic disciplines. The project “Developing photothermic stem cell sheets for the treatment of intractable wounds” is the epitome of such an effort. Here, we interviewed Dae Hyun Lew (LEW), the principal investigator of the study and a professor at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Yonsei University College of Medicine. Q. What motivated your team to pursue this project? LEW. Chronic wounds, such as bedsores and radiation and diabetic ulcers, are characterized by delayed wound healing despite adequate treatment. As it causes major discomfort for patients carrying out daily activities, many treatment methods have been developed to help patients return to their normal lives as soon as possible. As of today, stem cells are the most promising treatment method under research and development. So far, stem cells have been used to treat wounds by first culturing the cells, isolating those using enzymes, and directly injecting them into the lesion, which largely neglected intercellular interactions. The drawbacks of such a technique are reductions in the ability of cells to release growth factors—due to the lack of intercellular interactions, and difficulties in preserving the cells at the desired location. To overcome these shortcomings, stem cell sheets were developed to apply stem cells to patients without isolating individual cells from the culture or losing intercellular interactions. Generally, cell harvesting is performed using thermosensitive polymers, but such techniques require prolonged exposures to low temperatures. This continuous low-temperature stimulation may hamper cell metabolism and induce necrosis. These techniques also require complex processes to prepare the polymers. We initiated this research from the idea that a cell-harvesting technique using the photothermal effect of conductive polymers could be applied as a method to produce cell sheets for chronic wound treatment, addressing the previously mentioned problems. Q. What are the anticipated effects of the study? LEW. With the collaborative research effort from the medicine and engineering departments, we developed a cell sheet-harvesting technique that involves the use of thermosensitive proteins and thermal energy released from conductive polymers within a few seconds after exposure to biosafe infrared light. We discovered that this technique can also minimize temperature stimulation. By expanding infrared optical technology, it is now possible to harvest cell sheets of various patterns and sizes and to harvest multiple cell sheets at once. We believe that this technique would provide a new type of stem cell therapy for chronic wounds and other treatments. Electron microscopy image of the developed sheet (left) & A schematic illustration of infrared irradiation for harvesting sheets (right) Q. Tell us briefly about the current status of your research. LEW. Our research was selected for the advanced medical technology-based stem cell regeneration project by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute in 2015. We were given government funding of 1.5 billion Won over three years, and are now in our third year. The first part of the project sheds light on the biological characteristics of the stem cell sheets fabricated by the engineering department, and is led by my medical research team. The second part of the project is led by Professor Eunkyoung Kim of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Yonsei University, who established and verified the stem cell sheet manufacturing process. Q. What achievements have your team made? LEW. Over the past two years, we have successfully purified adipose-derived stem cells for manufacturing cell sheets, and developed a more effective technique for harvesting stem cell sheets by controlling the photothermal properties of conductive polymers. The manufactured stem cell sheets show an adequate survival rate for clinical use, and we confirmed that it has more active release of growth factors that help in wound healing than existing solution type agents. We also proved that the wound-healing properties of stem cell sheets are superior in a general wound model. Based on its potential as a new stem cell therapeutic agent, we are currently in the process of obtaining approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for a clinical trial. Q. What are your future research plans? LEW. Currently, we are working on a technique through which stem cell sheets can be efficiently harvested faster by developing conductive polymers with increased photothermal effects, as well as techniques to optically control the shapes and sizes of stem cell sheets. Experiments with diabetes and radiation wound animal models verified faster healing. We are planning to verify the efficacy and safety of the developed adipose-derived stem cell sheets in actual patients with intractable chronic wounds. To this end, we are currently undertaking administrative procedures and collecting and organizing data on efficacy and safety to obtain a final approval from the MFDS. We are also holding multiple meetings with a firm capable of producing cell therapy products to transfer and commercialize the technology. Principal and Co-investigators Principal investigator: Dae Hyun Lew, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei College of Medicine, dhlew@yuhs.ac Principle and co-investigators for each project < Project 1> Professor Dae Hyun Lew, professor Seung Yong Song, professor Chae Eun Yang, Eun Young Park (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine), professor Hyun Ok Kim, Jun Seok Heo (Cell Therapy Center) < Project 2> Professor Eunkyoung Kim, Jong Beom Nah, Min Soo Han, Byung Kwan Kim (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering) List of relevant references Kim CM, Oh JH, Jeon YR, Kang EH, Lew DH. Effects of human adipose-derived stem cells on the survival of rabbit ear composite grafts. Arch Plast Surg. 2017 Sep;44(5):370-377. doi: 10.5999/aps.2017.44.5.370. Epub 2017 Sep 15. Lee DW, Jeon YR, Cho EJ, Kang JH, Lew DH. Optimal administration routes for adipose-derived stem cells therapy in ischaemic flaps. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2014 Aug;8(8):596-603. doi: 10.1002/term.1552. Epub 2012 Jul 10. Na JB, Heo JS, Han MS, Lim HW, Kim HO, Kim EK. Harvesting of Living Cell Sheets by the Dynamic Generation of Diffractive Photothermal Pattern on PEDOT. Adv Funct Mater. 2017 Mar;27(10):1604260. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201604260. Epub 2017 Jan 24. Kim JD, Heo JS, Park TH, Park CH, Kim HO, Kim EK. Photothermally Induced Local Dissociation of Collagens for Harvesting of Cell Sheets. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2015 May;127(20):5967-5971. doi: 10.1002/ange.201411386. Epub 2017 Feb 25. [/hoot_box]
- 통합관리자 2017.12.16
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- [Medicine] Ray of hope: Radiotherapy improves survival of patients with liver cancer invading the portal vein
- Professor Jinsil Seong Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine ■ Medicine / Ray of hope: Radiotherapy improves survival of patients with liver cancer invading the portal vein Hepatitis B and C drastically increase the chances of developing hepatocellular carcinoma that often invades and blocks the portal vein; radiotherapy combined with other therapies offers patients the best hope for improved, increased survival. Hepatitis, a viral infection, results in chronic inflammation of the liver. Of the five types (A-E), hepatitis B and C are most concerning. According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis B infection is most common in Asia and Africa. Both hepatitis B and C are linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer. People with hepatitis B are especially at risk for HCC even if they never experience cirrhosis. Owing to the high incidence of hepatitis B in Asia as well as the connection of hepatitis B with HCC, a study in Korea, led by Prof. Jinsil Seong of the Yonsei University College of Medicine, examined Korean patients with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). The findings of this study have been published in Liver International. When liver cancer has invaded the portal vein, radiotherapy in combination with other treatments offers patients the best odds for increased survival. PVTT is a condition where the cancer spreads to the portal vein, a key blood vessel that drains into the liver. It is a common complication in HCC. Most patients with both HCC and PVTT only survive about 3 months. Through this study, the researchers intended to review previously collected patient data, to identify the most effective radiotherapy treatment options and to investigate associated outcomes. They analyzed previous treatments for HCC, type of radiotherapy given, radiation dose, number of sites targeted (i.e., PVTT only versus PVTT and tumor), and any additional treatment following radiotherapy. They found that the response to irradiation of the PVTT could predict how long the patients survived. Regardless of whether radiotherapy was used alone or in combination with other treatments, the optimal dose was over 45 Gy (Gy stands for Gray, a unit of measure for radiation). The best results were obtained when radiotherapy was combined with other treatments, such as removing a part of the liver, liver transplant, or injecting an agent to prevent blood flow to the tumor. Professor Jinsil Seong says, “We found that using a radiation dose higher than 45 Gy along with a combination of other treatments better controlled cancer invasion into the portal vein and markedly increased patient survival.” The study provides additional evidence that radiotherapy combined with other treatments offers patients improved survival rates. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: Radiotherapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumour thrombosis in a hepatitis B endemic area Journal: Liver International (2017) DOI: 10.1111/liv.13191 Contact corresponding author: Jinsil Seong, M.D., Ph.D ( jsseong@yuhs.ac )
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Engineering/Technology] Artificial materials for developing low-cost optical devices
- Professor Kyoungsik Kim School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei Univeristy ■ Engineering & Technology / Artificial materials for developing low-cost optical devices New research demonstrates macroscale materials having optical properties that are modifiable by mechanical compression, paving the way for industrial-scale production of advanced optical devices. The study—“Scalable variable-index elasto-optic metamaterials for macroscopic optical components and devices”—published in Nature Communications was carried out by a group of researchers including Dr. Kyoungsik Kim of Yonsei University. They developed a method to build large, low-cost, and mass-producible advanced optical devices by using an artificial material called “metamaterial” that changes its refractive index when subjected to mechanical stress. This material was used to demonstrate two macroscopic-scale optical devices that have so far been achieved only in the microscopic scale. These artificially engineered materials can exhibit properties difficult to observe in nature, such as a refractive index varying along the cross section of materials. So far, metamaterials have been fabricated by painstakingly shaping the microscopic structures of materials through nanofabrication techniques. Dr. Kyoungsik Kim shares, “optical metamaterials are limited to a microscopic level because nanofabrication techniques are expensive and time-consuming.” Such microscopic optical devices require artificial light couplers to interact with light, and they can only be used for a limited wavelength range. These limitations motivated the researchers to look for a simple and commercially viable solution to produce advanced optical devices. “Optical metamaterials offer a whole new range of opportunities in photonic markets as they can be produced on a large scale with affordable prices,” Dr. Kim adds. Transparent homogenous aerogel chunk capable of being compressed to obtain the desired refractive index. By Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech (NASA Stardust Website) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons In their experiments, the researchers used a synthetic, porous, and extremely light material called an aerogel. This is essentially a gel formed with air (or a gas) instead of a liquid. They made compressible, transparent, and homogeneous aerogel chunks measuring approximately 5 cm across, filled with nanometer-sized pores. The refractive index of the aerogel varies with the extent of mechanical compression, and the aerogel is transparent in the entire visible spectrum. Thus, it can be used to make optical devices with a graded refractive index, which means that the refractive index within the material continuously changes along one direction. As practical examples, the researchers demonstrated two optical devices—a transformation-optics wave bender and a Luneburg lens—using compressed aerogels. The wave bender is an arc-shaped aerogel slab that can guide light from one end to the other, whereas the Luneburg lens is a disc-shaped aerogel slab that can redirect and focus light. These devices were formed by compressing the aerogel using molds to achieve the required graded refractive index. The sizes of these components were much larger than previously developed metamaterial devices. This means that light can be manipulated in a much larger region, making artificial light couplers unnecessary. Both these optical components were shown to work well in the entire visible spectrum. For the first time, low-cost and mass-producible macroscopic-scale metamaterials were produced. The researchers say, “Our method allows natural light to interact directly with metamaterial devices without any additional coupling components, opening the door to industrial applications of optical metamaterials in general, and transformation optics in particular.” This technology is expected to lead to the industrial-scale production of adaptive lenses for advanced miniaturized cameras, machine vision, lidar-based technologies, and energy harvesting. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: Scalable variable-index elasto-optic metamaterials for macroscopic optical components and devices Journal: Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16090 Contact corresponding author: Kyoungsik Kim ( kks@yonsei.ac.kr )
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Engineering/Technology] The image-matching algorithm that throws the rest out of the window
- Professor Kwanghoon Sohn School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University ■ Engineering & Technology / The image-matching algorithm that throws the rest out of the window A newly developed image-matching algorithm outperforms existing ones on various levels and works properly in many more situations. Mapping every point in an image with the corresponding one in another image might sound easy at first, but it is a fundamental task in many computer vision and photography applications. Although various efficient algorithms to do this have been developed, all of them tend to fail when images of the same thing or place are taken in radically different lighting conditions, or when different camera modes are used (such as in near-infrared pictures). It gets worse if objects are moved or their shapes are altered, or when the camera itself is moved or rotated. Motivated by this lack of a more reliable-image matching algorithm, a team of researchers led by Professor Kwanghoon Sohn from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, have developed a fast, efficient and innovative algorithm, called DASC, which can match two images taken in very different conditions. Automatic image matching has a large number of applications in today’s world, even in something as simple as looking up a certain picture on a search engine. They used an innovative method based on the observation that images have an underlying local internal layout determined by several patches. These patches are used to measure an internal value called “local self-similarity,” which is less affected by distortions caused by different imaging conditions or by geometric changes in the objects within the image. Their approach addresses many challenges that conventional methods failed to overcome, such as the degradation of the center pixel of a patch affecting the overall performance of the algorithm. The researchers also reduced the computational requirements of their matching program by simplifying the computations and by using an edge-aware filter, which drastically improved execution times while ensuring an accurate match. They went on to thoroughly quantify and analyze the algorithm’s performance by comparing it with several preexisting matching methods. They used publicly available images containing particularly difficult pairs, such as photographs of a newspaper before and after serious wrinkles were made. Many other previously published algorithms failed to provide accurate matching for such pictures. The results obtained are very promising. “We found that our method outperforms conventional approaches on various multi-modal and multi-spectral benchmarks,” says Professor Sohn. The usefulness of this method is evident with the increasing number of computer vision applications, which can range from automation and robotics to image searching. “We believe our method will serve as an essential tool for several applications using multi-modal and multi-spectral images,” adds Sohn. The ubiquitousness of cameras in our modern society provides a setting in which matching algorithms of this kind can find interesting and revolutionary applications virtually everywhere. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: DASC: Robust Dense Descriptor for Multi-Modal and Multi-Spectral Correspondence Estimation Journal: IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence DOI: 10.1109/TPAMI.2016.2615619 Contact corresponding author: Kwanghoon Sohn ( khsohn@yonsei.ac.kr )
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Engineering/Technology] Factors that power up building-integrated photovoltaics
- Professor Taehoon Hong,the head of research group (left) & Mr. Choongwan Koo, the lead author Department of Architecture & Architectural Engineering, Yonsei University ■ Engineering & Technology / Factors that power up building-integrated photovoltaics New research suggests variables end-users should consider before installing photovoltaic blinds. Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is a sustainable and clean energy source that permits distributed generation and provides more innovative electrical infrastructure. Building-integrated PV (BIPV) systems appeal to end-users in highly populated urban areas who want to achieve zero-energy buildings; however, their technical and economic performance depends on variables such as equipment design and client goals. Professor Taehoon Hong of Yonsei University led the research, collaborating with Choongwan Koo, Jeongyoon Oh, and Kwangbok Jeong to improve the understanding of the nonlinearity of the shading effect on the technical-economic performance of a building-integrated photovoltaic blind (BIPB). Previous studies have considered the shading effect of the BIPB applied to a building façade. But, according to Professor Hong, “it is not enough to conduct the nonlinearity analysis of the shading effect due to the complex relationship among the design variables of the BIPB.” The design variables considered, in this case, are the orientation and slope of the blind, the width of the PV panel, and the season. Building-integrated photovoltaic blinds are an option in the pursuit of zero-energy structures. The research also sheds light on the economic performance of the BIPB and evaluates the feasibility of the BIPB before its installation. Professor Hong adds that the study suggests variables to consider so that “the BIPB will meet the client expectations on various project objectives;” specifically, the amount of electricity generation per unit area from the BIPB, the net present value (NPV), and the saving-to-investment ratio (SIR) from a life cycle perspective are considered. The researchers conducted building energy simulation to estimate the amount of energy generated from the BIPB considering the shading effect. The simulations were based on an elementary school in Pusan, in South Korea, with the following characteristics: 62.3% visible transmittance, 415.8 m2 of the exterior window area, and 11.7% panel efficiency. For the economic performance analysis, the study used the present worth method and considered the discount rate and costs of ownership. In terms of technical performance, the study found that the blind’s slats can have a nonlinear effect on the amount of energy generated, and more energy is produced in summer than in winter. However, the amount of energy generated also depends on the blind’s orientation and slope, the width of the PV panel, and the season. For example, as the width of the PV panel increases, the energy generated per unit decreases due to the shading effect. The economic performance can change depending on the type of investment values, absolute investment or relative investment. From a life cycle investment perspective, as the width of the PV panel increases, the NPV increases, but the SIR decreases. In sum, clients who intend to install BIPBs should consider design and economic variables before installation to ensure that their expectations are met. Design variables include the orientation and slope of the blind, the width of the PV panel, and the season. Economic variables include the absolute investment value and the relative investment value. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: Nonlinearity analysis of the shading effect on the technical-economic performance of the building-integrated photovoltaic blind Journal: Applied Energy DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.05.027 Contact corresponding author: Choongwan Koo ( cwkoo@yonsei.ac.kr or cwkoo@polyu.edu.hk )
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Natural Sciences] A 40-year Old Unresolved Concept in Chemistry Finally Clarified
- Professor Dongho Kim (left) Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University ■ Natural Sciences / A 40-year Old Unresolved Concept in Chemistry Finally Clarified Yonsei University research team led by Professor Dongho Kim succeeded in "three-dimensional bicycloaromaticity" chemical synthesis. Research team led by Professor Dongho Kim (Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University) formulated a three-dimensional structure of a chemical compound which had existed only in two-dimensional space to implement "bicycloaromaticity" and, simultaneously, to solve the problem of "the reversal of aromaticity in a triplet ground state." The concept of "bicycloaromaticity" had not been resolved in modern chemistry until now. The word meaning fragrance, "aromaticity," is also a chemistry term. Its meaning in chemistry is additional energy stability gained by a carbon compound with a planar ring structure sharing π-electrons in p-orbitals vertical to the plane. But, extra energy stability is gained only if a carbon compound in a resonance state is positioned in two-dimensional space. Professor Kim's team, however, proved the aromaticity of an organic substance with a three-dimensional structure, by successfully synthesizing expanded porphyrin with a three-dimensional structure having aromatic molecular bridges. In such substance, one organic molecule can concurrently contain two independent, aromatic current loops in an external magnetic field. His research team clearly demonstrated this feature using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Expanded porphyrin was synthesized for the first time. It has a three-dimensional structure with aromatic molecular bridges that can have two independent, aromatic current loops within one organic molecular in an external magnetic field. A stable biradical in a triplet ground state is formed, if two outermost electrons are removed from a bicyclic aromatic molecular. It was confirmed that chemical species with 4n π-electrons created by removing 2 electrons have aromaticity and remain stable structurally and energetically. The presence of Baird-type aromaticity in a triplet ground state was demonstrated with laser spectroscopy and other methods. This study, conducted by Korean researchers, is the first study in the world to demonstrate the existence of a chemical compound with Baird-type aromaticity, proposed theoretically and not proved empirically for around 40 years. It is also the first study in the world to clarify "bicycloaromaticity," a concept which was proposed by Roald Hoffman in 1960s and remained unresolved until now. The research outcome is expected to generate a leap in the area of organic synthesis. Because stable aromatic molecules, actively researched in the past, have a feature of not changing into new molecules, it is not easy to synthesize new derivatives. With the study on "the reversal of aromaticity in a triplet ground or excited state", the stability of reactants can be predicted and a new research field will be opened to identify the mechanism for light-selective synthesis and increase efficiency. The study is also highlighted, as the outcome can be applied in the creation of a molecular switch used to develop the tiny supercomputer. The research was published in the August 1 issue of "Nature Chemistry," a world-renowned academic journal. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: Bicyclic Baird-type aromaticity Journal: Nature Chemistry DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2834
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Social Sciences/Business] KakaoStory: not simply Korean Facebook
- Professor Sang Woo Lee Graduate School of Information, Yonsei University ■ Social Sciences & Business / KakaoStory: not simply Korean Facebook A recent study shows the differences in the usage patterns and motivations of KakaoStory and Facebook users in Korea. In a recent study led by Prof. Sang Woo Lee from Yonsei University investigated the differences in the usage patterns and motivations of KakaoStory and Facebook users in Korea. They also studied how the usage patterns of these two social media networks are influenced by different usage motivations. The study reports findings from a 2014 survey with about 300 participants. The responses from the survey helped them compare different usage metrics, such as the average use time per day, posting frequency, number of registered friends, distribution by friend types, and technical statistics for the uploaded content. “There was a tremendous difference between the average number of friends belonging to users of the closed SNS KakaoStory and those of the open SNS Facebook” says Prof. Lee. This seemed to be the result of a difference in the types of friends listed for the users of these two services. While KakaoStory users had larger percentages of family members listed as friends, Facebook friends included more strangers and celebrities. The survey included questions about six possible motives for selecting a service: relationship, information, convenience, self-expression, entertainment, and trendy. Facebook users were more likely to choose the service rather than KakaoStory users, and this mostly stemmed from a desire for information. The “relationship” and “entertainment” motives also had an influence on the use of Facebook. In contrast, only the “trendy” factor seemed to influence the selection of KakaoStory. This seems to be related to the origin of KakaoStory and the collectivist nature of Korean society. Study findings show that older Koreans prefer KakaoStory. KakaoStory grew out of the mobile messaging application KakaoTalk. At present, 90% of smartphone users in Korea use KakaoTalk, which allows easy access to KakaoStory through KakaoTalk profile pictures. Approximately 70% of people over the age of 50 are more likely to use a smartphone than a computer. So, a high proportion of older people use KakaoTalk, and because of the convenient functions of a smartphone, such as the profile photo on KakaoTalk, they find it easier to enter KakaoStory, which allows them to avoid a cumbersome log-on process. Therefore, people with strong trendiness motives are likely to prefer KakaoStory to Facebook. Also, because Korea has a collectivist society, the level to which members belong to the group is important. “KakaoStory narrows the distance between people in a group and secures a form of closeness that creates boundaries between an individual’s group and other groups” adds Prof. Lee. In sum, KakaoStory is not simply Korean Facebook! There are clear differences in the use patterns and motivations of users. While Facebook remains the global leader, KakaoStory has become the preferred SNS among all Koreans except those in their 20s. Updated in Dec 2017 Find Out More Title of original article: A comparative study of KakaoStory and Facebook: Focusing on use patterns and use motives Journal: Telematics and Informatics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2016.04.013 Contact corresponding author: Sang Woo Lee ( leesw726@yonsei.ac.kr )
- 통합관리자 2017.12.09
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- [Yonsei Research In Media] Dean Marvin Chun, a Yonsei graduate and the first Asian to head Yale College
- ■ Yonsei Research in Media / Dean Marvin Chun, a Yonsei graduate and the first Asian to head Yale College “Yonsei University, in the process of establishing a residential college right for Korea” Professor Marvin Chun, Dean of Yale College, Yonsei Graduate (Psychology, Class of 1985) The undergraduate education at Yale University, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, is now being led by a Yonsei graduate. Last April, Marvin Chun who entered Yonsei’s Department of Psychology in 1985, was appointed Dean of Yale College, and began his 5-year term from last July. This is the first time in the history of Yale College, which was founded in 1701 and houses over 6,000 students and 1,100 faculty and staff, that an Asian has been appointed to this prestigious position. Chun, who was born in America but returned to Korean during middle school, encountered many difficulties with language and culture during his university years. He remarked that he was able to overcome them all, however, thanks to the help from his professors, seniors, and friends. He went on to receive his Ph. D. from MIT and in 1996 began teaching at Yale where he served as the Dean of Berkeley College, as well as rising to prominence an international authority in the field of Neuroscience. Following the airing of a video at Yale’s 2011 graduation ceremony in which Yale graduate and singer Sam Tsui expressed his gratitude, Chun has also become quite popular among the student body. Even prior to this, in 2010, he received Lex Hixon Prize for Teaching Excellence in the Social Sciences at Yale. Chun revealed that “The residential college system is the heart of Yale. All undergraduate students belong to a residential college for all 4 years, and during their first 2 years they are required to live there.” He added that he had “visited Yonsei’s RC (Residential College) twice and at the time he was able to share many conversations with the professors and students there,” and that he was “proud to see that this system is being successfully implemented in a way that is right for Korea.” “I am particularly proud and grateful to have graduated from Yonsei,” Chun remarked before offering the following advice: “In college it is important to find and follow a mentor.” He recalled, “Professor Chan Sup Chung both guided me when I was a student and made my present career possible,” before asking that “current Yonsei students listen carefully to the advice they receive and work hard each and every day to implement it.” A view of Yonsei University International Campus where its Residential College System is mainly established Updated in Dec 2017
- 통합관리자 2017.12.01
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- [Yonsei Research In Media] Taking the Lead in the Journey Toward a Sustainable Future
- ■ Yonsei Research in Media / Taking the Lead in the Journey Toward a Sustainable Future Yonsei University leaps forward with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to advance social action. Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon joined Yonsei University to champion a green future for the global community. In the 132nd year since its foundation, Yonsei University last April established the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE) by marshaling independent volunteer and mission groups sown throughout its main campus and the Health System. With the University’s awareness of its capacity to act upon the mounting social issues within society and the global community at large, the IGEE is set to mobilize inherent human and intellectual resources to address humanity’s increasingly urgent problems and needs. Dr. Ban Ki-moon worked toward a better future for humanity during his ten-year tenure as the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations. Now, as honorary chair of the IGEE, he hopes to galvanize social action at Yonsei. At the opening ceremony of the IGEE in which Ban was also inaugurated honorary chair, the University declared its obligation to commit to social responsibility. The day of the ceremony, September 25, marked two years since the UN's adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Representatives from various sectors and social institutions attended the opening ceremony to congratulate Honorary Chair Ban Ki-moon and endorse the IGEE, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon, Minister of the Environment Kim Eunkyung, Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon, and Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea Michael Reiterer. Addressing the audience in a recorded message, Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres commended his predecessor and the opening of the IGEE. “As Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban worked tirelessly to advance sustainable development. With this new center, Mr. Ban continues that work, and I offer my best wishes as the Center builds on that legacy.” Ban expressed his aspirations for the future of Yonsei and the IGEE in his remarks at the ceremony. “I look forward to Yonsei University furnishing an inclusive setting that embraces a wide range of voices and perspectives and where individuals from all walks of life may become participants in meaningful social action.” The term for the MDGs signed in 2000 came to a close in 2015, during Ban’s tenure as UN Secretary General. The SDGs were devised as a successor to the eight original MDGs and shifted focus primarily to sustainable development of the global community in seventeen concrete goals. They were adopted unanimously at the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. After striking another monumental accord for the environment the following December referred to as the Paris Agreement, Ban became known to the international community as “Mr. Climate Change” in recognition of his achievements. The three largest components of the IGEE are the Ban Ki-moon Center for Sustainable Development, the Center for Social Engagement, and the Yonsei Institute for Global Health. Together they constitute a prominent think tank positioned to contribute expert consulting and research services in assessing performance indicators and manpower efforts tied to the seventeen SDGs Ban had advanced. The Ban Ki-moon Center for Sustainable Development’s role will be to further interdisciplinary cooperation in the exchange of SDG-related data, research and education, pertinent climate change research, and involvement in Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. The Center for Social Engagement will facilitate opportunities for students and faculty to become more active in social affairs. The Yonsei Institute for Global Health serves primarily to organize medical missionary work, research on North Korean healthcare and unification preparedness, and ODA projects related to healthcare. Yonsei University President Yong-Hak Kim announced during his welcoming address at the opening ceremony that Yonsei will be hosting the World Sustainable Development Forum to be held in February 2018. The international forum will gather organizations eager to spur sustainable development to thematically discuss implementation strategy and potential future directions. President Kim anticipated, “This forum will be the first of a series that will grow to parallel the World Economic Forum in influence in the area of sustainable development.” Updated in Dec 2017
- 통합관리자 2017.12.01