[Moderator]

Heesung Yun

Korea Maritime & Ocean University
Professor

Professor Yun Heesung majored in Business Administration (Maritime Finance) at Korea Maritime & Ocean University and the University of London, Bayes Business School, building his expertise through practical experience and research at major Korean corporations and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI). He currently serves as the Dean of the Graduate School of Maritime Finance at Korea Maritime & Ocean University and oversees research and collaborative projects as the Director of the Arctic Research Centre. His primary research interests include shipping market analysis, AI-based forecasting, the economic impact of green and digital transitions, and economic feasibility assessments of Arctic shipping. He is actively engaged in initiatives to support Busan's sustainable development as a maritime capital and financial hub. He also contributes to society by leveraging his expertise in maritime finance through roles such as a board member of the public foundation "Bada-eui Pum" (Embrace of the Sea), a management innovation advisor for the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC), and a ship investment committee member for the Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO). His publications include ‘Understanding and Practice of Maritime Finance’, ‘Shipping Derivatives I & II’, and ‘Shipping Market Made Easy’.

[Speaker]

Sungwoo Lee

Korea Maritime Institute
Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Lee Sung Woo majored in Urban Engineering at the University of Seoul and built his expertise by conducting research in related fields at the Institute of Seoul Studies, the Transport and Logistics Research Institute (University of Hong Kong), the Korea Maritime and Fisheries Development Institute, and the Korea-U.S. Logistics and Supply Chain Center (New Jersey, U.S.). He currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Maritime and Fisheries Development Institute (KOMDI) and has previously held positions as Director of the Port Logistics Research Division, Director of the Policy Trends Division, Director of the Comprehensive Policy Division, and Director of the Regional Cooperation Division. He has also served on key committees for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Unification, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has been actively engaged in various publishing activities, authoring over 10 books in Korean and English and publishing more than 20 papers in SSCI-indexed journals. He oversees over 100 policy research projects both domestically and internationally, as well as numerous international cooperation initiatives. His primary research areas include international logistics, supply chains, Northern logistics, and transportation geography. In addition, he has promoted overseas expansion projects for private companies in over 70 countries worldwide. He has made various contributions—which continue to this day—to government policy formulation, legislation, and projects to establish overseas logistics hubs for private companies. These include planning and executing the Korea-China-Japan Logistics Ministers’ Meeting organized by the government, drafting the first-ever bill on port hinterland zones, and formulating the National Logistics Master Plan. In particular, he has been striving to maximize the Korean Peninsula’s geostrategic advantages by transforming the geopolitical risks surrounding the peninsula into geostrategic strengths through logistics. To this end, he has established various cooperative projects and research hubs (in the U.S. and Russia) with the U.S., North Korea, China, Russia, and Japan. Currently, he serves as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and as a visiting professor at KEAN University (U.S.). As Vice Chairman of Eurasia 21 and a member of the Economic Subcommittee of the Korea-Russia Conference, he is engaged in various activities aimed at connecting the Korean Peninsula and Eurasia through logistics.

[Speaker]

Son Moosung

Korean Register
Senior Surveyor

Moosung Son holds a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and ocean engineering and a master’s degree in offshore engineering from Korea Maritime and Ocean University. Since joining Korean Register (KR) in 2012, he has worked on rule development and research for the safety of polar ships. He served as a co-principal investigator on a project to develop a navigation safety support system for ships operating on Arctic routes. His research has also covered hull structural safety assessment for ice-going ships, the development of core technologies for platform supply vessels operating in polar environments, and configuration design for floating offshore structures in the Arctic. Since 2017, he has served as an instructor for the basic training course for personnel serving on ships operating in polar waters at the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology. In recognition of his contributions to polar shipping and maritime safety, he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Korea Coast Guard in 2020 and a Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2025. He currently serves as a dedicated member of KR’s Arctic Route Support Team, an adviser to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ Arctic Route Development Task Force, a member of the Yeosu-Gwangyang Arctic Route Promotion Committee, and an adviser to the Korea Arctic Cooperation Network (KoNAC).

[Roundtable]

DongKeun Ryoo

President
Korea Maritime & Ocean University

Dr. Dong Keun Ryoo is a maritime educator and university leader with an academic background in shipping management and international transport. He earned a B.A. in Shipping Management from Korea Maritime and Ocean University, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Shipping Management and International Transport from the University of Wales Cardiff, United Kingdom. His academic experience in Korea and the United Kingdom has provided a foundation for his expertise in shipping and logistics. As a Visiting Professor at Cardiff University, he also gained experience in an international teaching and research environment. He currently serves as the ninth President of Korea Maritime and Ocean University, overseeing education, research, and the administration of a university specializing in maritime and ocean fields. Before becoming President, he served as Director of the Institute for Global Maritime Development within the International College and Director of the Office of International Affairs. These roles brought together maritime research and the practical work of university international cooperation, providing a foundation for his subsequent leadership of the university. Beyond the university, Dr. Ryoo’s work extends to maritime industry institutions and higher education networks. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute since 2024. He also chaired the Council of Presidents of National Universities for Maritime and Fisheries Development and the Council of University Presidents of the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam–Jeju Region. These responsibilities have broadened his engagement across maritime research institutions, universities, and regional higher education. His public advisory roles have connected his academic expertise with policy discussions, including service on the Policy Research Review Committee and the Shipping and Logistics Division of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. He also served on the Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy Development, as Vice President of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research, and as a Board Member of the Korean Association of Shipping and Logistics. He received a commendation from the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries in 2016 and was listed in Marquis Who’s Who in the World in 2014 and 2016.

[Speaker]

Liz Ferguson

Ocean Science Analytice
CEO

Liz Ferguson is a Marine Ecologist and Educator with 20 years of experience in the education and research communities of San Diego, California. She is the founder of Ocean Science Analytics, a marine and environmental science consulting firm, and holds an M.S. in General Biology along with a formal GIS Specialist certification. Throughout her career, Liz has combined technical rigor with a strong commitment to translating complex marine science for broader audiences, bridging research, industry, and public understanding of ocean systems. Liz's technical foundation was built on NOAA research vessels, where she worked as a passive acoustic monitoring technician using linear towed hydrophone arrays to localize marine mammal species for density and abundance surveys, as well as tagging studies, across the Gulf of Mexico, the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and the Pacific Northwest. That early hands-on experience with acoustic data collection and post-processing tools laid the groundwork for the large-scale dataset processing she leads today. In recent years, Liz has driven the evolution of passive acoustic monitoring toward deep learning, developing DeepAcoustics, a GUI-based tool for automated multi-class whale call detection. She is also involved in a project validating time-synchronized recorders used in sparse array localization, which also relies on intuitive tools for processing large datasets. Central to her approach is preserving a human in the loop throughout automated workflows, ensuring that AI-accelerated processing still produces informed, validated results that researchers can trust. Beyond her acoustics work, Liz applies her GIS and remote sensing expertise to habitat characterization, integrating satellite-derived environmental variables, including NASA PACE mission data, to study the physical drivers of marine megafauna distribution. She also develops accessible GUI-based tools that lower the barrier for other researchers to work with bioacoustic and geospatial data. An active educator, Liz serves as an Adjunct Instructor at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and San Diego Miramar College, where she teaches GIS and biological statistics, extending her technical work into the training of the next generation of ocean scientists.

[Speaker]

Dongjin Yeo

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO)
Principal researcher

Dr. Dong Jin Yeo earned his degrees in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University and has built over 20 years of expertise through research in the naval architecture and ocean engineering field at the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO). Dr. Yeo is currently a Principal Researcher at KRISO. He participated in the Korea Autonomous Surface Ship (KASS) R&D project (conducted from 2020 to 2025), where he led the development of the Navigation Expert system for MASS Operation (NEMO) as well as the development of verification systems and processes for intelligent navigation systems of MASS. In addition, he serves as the Head of Technology Management Team of Integrated Project Office for the " AI-Driven Autonomous Ship Technology Development Project"—a multi-ministerial R&D initiative recently launched by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)— where he coordinates the integration and coordination of core technologies developed across the project. Dr. Yeo is also actively engaged in international and domestic communities. He has served as a member of the Maneuvering Committee of the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC), serves as an editorial board of International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering(IJNAOE), and acts as a Project Leader for the ISO Smart Shipping Subcommittee (ISO/TC 8/SC 26), thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of the global and domestic naval architecture and ocean engineering fields.

[Panelist]

Hanseon Park

Korea Maritime Institute
Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Han-Seon Park is a Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI). He holds an M.Sc. in Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration from the World Maritime University (WMU) and a Ph.D. in Maritime Law and Policy from Korea Maritime and Ocean University. Before joining KMI, he worked as a marine engineer and ship surveyor for nearly 20 years. With over 26 years of experience in IMO affairs, he has participated in major IMO meetings, including MEPC, MSC, LEG and the IMO Assembly, as a member of the Republic of Korea delegation and an international maritime expert. He has also served as Chair of an IMO MASS Code working group, Chair of the IMO Expert Committee, a Steering Committee member for the Fifth IMO GHG Study, and an IMO GHG-SMART Subject Matter Expert. His expertise covers maritime decarbonization, IMO GHG regulations, maritime safety, green ships and Green Shipping Corridors, MASS, advanced maritime mobility, and international cooperation. He has served as Principal Investigator for major maritime legislation, national master plans and government strategies, including those related to green shipping corridors, eco-friendly ships, maritime safety, maritime mobility and shipping decarbonization. In Korea, he has served on various government policy advisory and review committees covering MASS, maritime policy, maritime safety and shipping, and previously served as an Expert Member of the Presidential National Council on Climate and Air Quality and Chair of KMI’s Research Ethics Committee. Dr. Park currently serves as Vice President of the Korea Mobility Society and the Korean Society of Maritime Law. He is also actively engaged in policy and academic research, with numerous publications in SCI/SCIE and Korean academic journals on maritime decarbonization, digitalization and autonomous shipping.

[Speaker]

Dong Hyoung Lee

National Research Council of Science & Technology
Program Director

Dr. Dong Hyoung Lee received his Ph.D. in Nuclear and Quantum Engineering from KAIST and has extensive experience in national nuclear technology strategy and large-scale R&D program planning at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). He served as the Vice President of the R&D program for Fundamental Technologies of Marine Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), leading the development of key enabling technologies and research activities for the application of MSR technology to the maritime sector. He currently serves as Program Director (PD) of the K-Moonshot SMR Ship Mission at the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST), where he oversees the overall mission, including technology development, safety validation, demonstration, and licensing strategies for MSR-based SMR ships. As Program Director, Dr. Lee places particular emphasis on promoting the convergence of nuclear technology with shipbuilding and marine engineering and on establishing strong collaboration among Korean shipbuilders, construction companies, government-funded research institutes, and universities. Through these efforts, he is working to establish an integrated development framework that connects design, verification, demonstration, licensing, and commercialization, while laying the foundation for the commercialization of maritime nuclear technologies and the creation of a new industrial ecosystem.

[Speaker]

Jungchul Bae

Pukyong National University
Visiting Professor

Dr. Jungchul Bae 1. Core Research & Technical Expertise • Eco-Friendly & Carbon Reduction Marine Equipment: Advancing eco-friendly ship facilities and $CO_2$ reduction technologies to comply with tightening International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations. • Autonomous Ship Equipment: Spearheading the localization of intelligent navigation, communication systems, and marine communication engineering-based equipment for the future maritime mobility paradigm. • Smart Maritime Technology Management: Establishing strategic R&D frameworks for advanced ICT convergence, including Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) and Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) for marine systems. 2. Global International Cooperation & ODA Projects • Sustainable Development for Developing Nations: Planning and executing Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects focused on capacity building and sustainable maritime-shipbuilding infrastructure in developing countries. • Global R&D Networks: Building international joint research frameworks and technical cooperation networks to pave the way for South Korean marine equipment enterprises to expand globally. 3. Policy Advisory & Technical Consulting • Korea Export-Import Bank Technical Expert: Contributing to national maritime finance and policy development through rigorous technical evaluations and risk assessments for shipbuilding and marine projects. • Industry Advisory Services: Providing strategic technical guidance and defining R&D roadmaps for marine equipment leaders like SB Sunbo Group as an External Advisor.

[Speaker]

KangKIi Lee

Zollner Energy Systems GmbH
Managing Director

Professor Dr. Kang-Ki LEE is currently Managing Director of Zollner Energy Systems GmbH in Kiel, Germany. In parallel, he serves as President of the Korea Foundation of Combustion Engines (KOFCE & CIMAC NMA Korea, (사) 한국내연기관협회장) and as an Affiliate Professor at Klaipeda University, contributing to the EU Erasmus++ program. He is currently active in the CIMAC GHG Strategy WG and serves as Advisor to the CEO of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center and on the R&D Steering Committee of TU Graz. He earned his PhD in Maritime Energy Management from WMU, Sweden. He studied Industrial Management at Seoul National University in 2007 and completed MAN Group’s executive management program in cooperation with WHU, Germany, and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK (2007–2010). Research interests focus on energy and emissions, including decarbonization, greenhouse gases & LCA, and future technologies for logistics and transportation. His projects include the world’s first LNG-fueled bulk carrier developed under the IMO IGF Code.

[Speaker]

Hwasup Jang

KOREAN REGISTER
Head(Senior Vice President)

He serves as Head of the AI Convergence Technology Center at the Korean Register (KR), where he oversees the development of autonomous ship technologies, AI agents, ship design automation agents, and XR technologies. In the field of autonomous ships in particular, he has led the development of AI verification and certification technologies as well as fault diagnosis and prediction technologies, which are provided as services to the maritime industry.

[Panelist]

Daesik Seo

HMM
Senior Manager

Daesik Seo majored in Marine Engineering at Mokpo National Maritime University and has over 8 years of experience as a marine engineer (1st Engineer). He has been working at the HMM headquarters for over 12 years, leveraging his extensive experience. During his tenure, he is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine System Engineering at Korea Maritime and Ocean University. Currently, he is serving as the Senior Manager of the Technology & Innovation Institute at HMM, where he primarily conducts reviews and demonstrations of eco-friendly ship technologies. His main responsibilities include ballast water treatment systems, compliance with SOx and NOx emission regulations, improvement of ship energy efficiency, eco-friendly alternative fuels, onboard carbon capture technology, and wind-assisted propulsion systems. Notably, he has conducted the first domestic demonstration of biofuel and onboard carbon capture technology on ships.

[Speaker]

Maritime Humanities and the Humanities: Ocean Discourse in the Anthropocene

Moonsoo Jeong

Institute of International Maritime Affairs
Director

He has served, or is currently serving, in a number of academic and public roles, including as Principal Investigator for the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Humanities Korea (HK) Project (2008–2018), Humanities Korea Plus (HK+) Project (2018–2025), and Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Program (2025–2031). He has also served as a member of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ Advisory Committee on the Northern Sea Route, Chair of the Korea-Germany Cultural Exchange Foundation, President of the Global Regional Studies Association, Chair of the Marine and Fisheries Division of the Busan Metropolitan City Policy Research Council, a member of the Busan Ilbo “Buil Sillon” editorial board, and a member of the KBS Busan Audience Committee. His major authored and translated works include Methodology for the Study of Cultural Interactions in Sea Port Cities, The Relationship between Maritime Studies and the Humanities, Discourses on Bada Humanities, The Free Sea, and Bada Humanities.

[Speaker]

Sally (Suyeon Choe)

SELLY UNIVERSE
REPRESENTATIVE

Su-yeon Choe graduated from Mokpo National Maritime University with a bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering. She has built a strong foundation for engagement in the maritime sector by operating a specialized YouTube channel dedicated to interviews on maritime careers, currently reaching 14,000 subscribers. She presently serves as an official creator for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. As the representative of a specialized maritime content platform, she oversees projects aimed at promoting diverse maritime professions and raising public awareness. Her primary areas of focus include maritime career exploration and the public engagement of maritime industries. She also serves as an executive committee member of the Korea Women’s Maritime Association and as a member of the Korea Coast Guard’s Central Maritime Search and Rescue Technical Committee, contributing to the promotion of maritime safety and related policies.

[Speaker]

EXO (Sunho Lee)

EXOPLANET Co., Ltd
CEO

Lee Sun-ho | Science Communicator & Medical Science Expert Making Science Accessible, Engaging, and Relevant to Our Everyday Lives Lee Sun-ho is a distinguished science communicator and medical science expert with a strong academic background in biotechnology and medicine. He graduated one year early as the valedictorian of Catholic University’s Department of Biotechnology, earned a Master’s degree in Medicine from Seoul National University College of Medicine, and completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in Medicineat Seoul National University. He currently serves as the CEO of Exoplanetand has been a Science Communicator appointed by the Minister of Science and ICT since 2017, actively contributing to the public understanding of science. With extensive experience across television, radio, podcasts, and digital media, Lee has become widely recognized for making complex scientific concepts easy and entertaining to understand. He has hosted science programs including “Exo’s Oh My Science” on KBS FM Daehangil, “What Science Is This?” on EBS, and the science segment of the popular podcast and YouTube show “MaeBul Show.”He also hosted the acclaimed science podcast “Gwajangchang”and runs the YouTube channel “Science-Only Scientist (GwaBunSsa).” His expertise extends beyond media and education. He served as a lecturer on space launch vehicles for the Algerian Space Agencyand as a scientific advisor for Netflix’s “Busted!”, demonstrating his broad expertise spanning medicine, science, space, and popular culture.

[Speaker]

Jihye Jin

Ji-hye Jin earned her degree in Aquatic Life Medicine from Pukyong National University. She currently serves as Director of an Aquatic Organism Disease Inspection Center, where she has developed extensive professional expertise through a wide range of clinical cases and field-based practice. As a licensed Aquatic Organism Disease Inspector, she oversees quarantine operations across roughly 70 designated facilities for imported and exported aquatic species in the Metropolitan Area. She also chairs the Quarantine Management Division of the Korean Aquatic Animal Disease Inspector Association (KADIA), advancing field operations and quarantine practices. As a Public Aquatic Organism Disease Inspector for Incheon City, she conducts disease surveillance across local holding and aquaculture facilities. Working closely with farm operators and field personnel, she helps prevent disease outbreaks and promotes effective health management practices. She provides tailored lectures on aquatic diseases for university students, local disease-control personnel, industry experts, and the public. Additionally, she leads a case-collection project on ornamental fish diseases to bridge the data gap in this under-researched field. Beyond ornamental species, she handles disease cases in commercial aquaculture, collaborating with universities and research institutes to investigate outbreaks and publish academic findings.

[Speaker]

Dongung Kim

Jeju Research Institute
Director

Dr. Dong Sung Kim received a Master’s degree in zoology (1992), and obtained a Ph.D. degree in biological science (1996) both from Tokyo University. Dr. Kim returned to his home country as a prospective young scientist under the National Brain Pool Program. Since his return to Korea, Dr. Kim has dedicated to broaden and firm domestic research foundation as a physiological ecology specialist in field of meiobenthos. Dr. Kim is the pioneer Korean scientist who was onboard the manned underwater vehicle ‘Shinkai 6500’ to explore the hydrothermal vent named “Kairei” first discovered in the Indian Ocean. Successively, he had joined a tri-lateral (Korea, Japan, USA) international expedition team to explore the world’s deepest abyss called as “Mariana Trench” (11,000km/Kaiko). Throughout these experiences, he led an exploratory voyage in 2018 to the High Sea of the Indian Ocean to discover the hydrothermal vent ecosystem named “Onuri”-the first hydrothermal vent ecosystem discovered by Korea but the 4th by the international competitors—resulting in the successful collection of various samples which obtained novel creatures and natural products and writing a number of research outcome papers. In 2012, Dr. Kim was a principal investigator again leading an expedition team to the Indian Ocean to discover a new hydrothermal vent ecosystem named “Onbada” as the second discovery by Korea and discovered the 3rd one named “Onnarae”, contributing to the advancement of research capabilities in area of deep sea extremophile ecosystem. Furthermore, Dr. Kim has led a scientific team for many years to develop research plans about the East Sea and Dokdo micro-and meio-fauna ecosystem. He also has contributed to the advancement of national marine science by actively participating in a number of meetings to develop national and public marine policies and solutions for domestic coastal problems. Presently, Dr. Kim is Director for External Affairs of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), a Member of the Review Committee on Marine Area Use Effect organized by the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries, a Special Advisor for the National Ocean Science Museum, Secretary-General of Green Growth Ocean Forum, a Board Member and an Auditor of the Society of Marine Environment and Biology, Chair of the Committee on Marine Science of the Society of Marine Environment and Biology, a Board Member and Vice-President of Incorporated Association of Korea Marine Policy, a Registered Board Member of Incorporated Association of Gyeonggi Bay Forum, and an Editor of the Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography. In addition, Dr. Kim was a Research Fellow at the Marine Policy Department of the University of Delaware, USA, a Member of the Fundamental Research Promotion Sub-Council under the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, a Member of the Council on Gyeongbuk East Sea Marine Fishery Development, a Member of Marine Policy Advisory Committee of Uljin County, and a Board Member of Incorporated Association of Dokdo Marine Fishery Research. Dr. Kim also served as Director of Strategy Development Division, Director of Marine Biology Division, Director-General of Fundamental Research Department, Director-General of the East Sea Research Institute all under KIOST.

[Track 2 Moderator]

Yoowon Lee

Pukyong National University
Professor

Dr. [Yoo-Won Lee] received a degree in [Fishing Science] from [Hokkaido University] and has built expertise in the field through research positions at [Pukyoung National University] and [Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology]. Dr. [Lee] is currently a [Professor] at [Pukyong National University] and also serves as the [Dean] of [College of Fisheries Sciences] and [Director] of [Institute of Fisheries Sciences], leading international collaborative research and cooperation initiatives. His primary research interests include [Fishing Vessel Safety Management], [Safety of Fisher during Fishing Operation], and [Risk Assessment]. In addition, Dr. [Lee] has planned and implemented international cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, contributing to capacity building and the development of sustainable management systems in [Western Pacific Island Nations/Republic of Fiji and Republic of Palau].

[Panelist]

Kisuc Kim

AGAVITA
CEO

Kisuc Kim has built his professional expertise in the commercialization and field deployment of advanced technologies through his experience in autonomous driving and AI-based mobility. He worked at GM (General Motors) Cruise in the United States and HMG (Hyundai Motor Group) 42dot in Korea, where he was involved in autonomous driving validation and verification, operational systems, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and the commercialization of autonomous mobility services. He is currently the Founder and CEO of AGAVITA and a Ph.D. student in Fisheries Physics at Pukyong National University. His work focuses on the convergence of fisheries and artificial intelligence, particularly Vision AI technologies for smart aquaculture. At AGAVITA, he leads the development of underwater fish recognition, non-contact biomass estimation, and behavioral analysis technologies for high-value aquaculture species, particularly Pacific bluefin tuna, as well as initiatives to standardize aquaculture production data. Kim is expanding AGAVITA’s field validation and international collaboration with fisheries and aquaculture organizations in Korea, Japan, Spain, Norway, Russia, and other countries. He also collaborates with research organizations, including the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), on fisheries data standardization and AI-driven innovation in the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

[Panelist]

Kyungchan Kim

NVC Partners Co. Ltd.
CEO

Dr. Kyungchan Kim earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He also holds a Master of Engineering Management from Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management. Dr. Kim has extensive professional experience in new business development, venture investment, and mergers and acquisitions at major Korean corporations, including SK Group and GS Group. He has also worked as a professional analyst and investor at financial institutions such as the Hana Institute of Finance of Hana Financial Group and Donghoon Investment. Since 2018, Dr. Kim has served as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of NVC Partners Co., Ltd., one of Busan’s leading venture capital firms. In particular, through the management of multiple marine emerging-industry funds and fisheries venture funds, he has contributed to the growth of startups and mid-sized companies in the marine and fisheries sectors.

[Moderator]

Youngtae Chang

Inha University
Professor Emeritus

Young-Tae Chang is a logistics economist with more than 40 years of experience in research, education, and policy practice in the field of international logistics. He served as President of the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and as a professor at the Graduate School of Logistics and the Asia Pacific School of Logistics at Inha University. He is currently Professor Emeritus at Inha University. He founded the Global University 8 Consortium (GU8), an international network for education and research collaboration among leading universities, and the Asia Logistics Round Table (ALRT), and served as the founding Secretary-General of GU8. In the field of international logistics, he has participated in 73 research projects in Korea and abroad and has published 69 articles in internationally recognized academic journals as well as 12 English-language books as author or editor. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University, master’s degrees from Yonsei University and the World Maritime University, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Yonsei University.

[Speaker]

Hyunjung Shim

KAIST (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI)
Associate Professor

Dr. Hyunjung Shim received her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Yonsei University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. She built her research expertise in computer vision and AI through positions at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, and subsequently served as Assistant and Associate Professor at Yonsei University's School of Integrated Technology. Dr. Shim currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI, KAIST, where she leads the Computer Vision and Machine Learning (CVML) Laboratory. Her primary research interests include vision-language foundation models, deep generative models, 3D vision, and trustworthy AI. In addition, Dr. Shim contributes to the global computer vision community through active editorial and organizational leadership. She serves as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (TPAMI) and as Program Chair of the Asian Conference on Computer Vision (ACCV) 2026, and has served as Area Chair for top-tier AI conferences including CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, and NeurIPS. Dr. Shim also serves on domestic academic committees, including the Korean Conference on Computer Vision (KCVS) and the AI Society of the Korean Institute of Information Scientists and Engineers, and served as an Independent Director of Dongwon Industries from 2024 till now contributing her expertise across both academic and industry settings.

[Panelist]

Wonkyung Ryu

KOREA ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION
Executive Director

Executive Director Won-Kyung, RYU majored in Analytical Chemistry at Dankook University Graduate School and built his expertise by conducting research on the cross-industry application of cutting-edge technologies, including roles at the Convergence Planning Department of the Korea Electronics Association (KEA). He currently serves as the Head of the Technology Innovation Division at KEA, overseeing government and corporate support initiatives while managing the Patent & Component Support Department, Electronics Manufacturing Center, Digital Distribution Center, and XR Convergence Center. He also plans and executes various new government projects; notably, he is currently leading the "Tech-GPT" project, which utilizes generative AI to provide companies and researchers with essential information regarding technologies, talent, and enterprises. Additionally, he serves as an expert for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) technical committees TC111 and TC59, and contributes to international cooperation and policy development—including through his role as Chair of the Home Appliance AI Standardization Committee within the M.AX Alliance.