Yonsei University annually presents the Yonsei Academic Award to full-time faculty members who have made significant contributions to academic advancement through outstanding research achievements. The Yonsei Academic Award is the university’s most prestigious honor, and candidates are evaluated through a working committee composed of the Graduate School, Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Research Affairs, and the Medical Science Research Office of the Medical Center. The committee verifies achievements in various fields, followed by peer review by external experts, evaluation by sector-specific review panels, and final deliberation by a selection committee to determine the recipients. The award is given in five categories: Humanities & Arts, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Medicine category is represented by the Medical Science Award (Academic Division).

For the 2025 Yonsei Academic Award, Professor Moowon Lee (Department of Business Administration, School of Business) was selected in the Social Sciences category, Professor Youngwook Lee (Department of Astronomy, College of Science) in the Natural Sciences category, and Professor Kwanghoon Son (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering) in the Engineering category. For the Medical Science Award (Academic Division), which represents the Medicine category, Professor Namhoon Cho (Department of Pathology, College of Medicine) was selected.

Professor Moowon Lee has conducted leading research on organizational innovation and corporate strategy based on organizational learning theory and is further expanding his work by exploring integration with other organizational theories and East Asian philosophy. Professor Youngwook Lee was recognized for his groundbreaking research in supernova cosmology, which contributed to elucidating dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the universe—considered one of the greatest challenges in modern science. Professor Kwanghoon Son developed, for the first time in the world, a deep learning-based technology that refines ultra-precise depth information by modeling the correlation among RGB images, depth data, and matching cost. He has been recognized for proposing a new paradigm in the field of reliability estimation for stereo matching technology. Professor Namhoon Cho has led research on the pathophysiological mechanisms of virus-induced carcinogenesis, the cell cycle, signal transduction, and the tumor microenvironment. He is also expanding his research influence through the development of pathological medical image datasets and AI solution platforms, resulting in patents and technology transfers.

The awards were presented during the 140th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony held at the Centennial Hall on May 10.

Development of Core Deep Learning-Based Technologies for Ultra-Precise Depth Imaging and Confidence Estimation

Recipient of the Yonsei Academic Award in the Engineering Category: Professor Kwang-Hoon Son, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering

Two Decades of Research Meet AI to Yield New Breakthroughs
The Yonsei Academic Award is not only a great honor for me personally, but also a source of shared joy with the researchers who have participated in this work, as it represents the outcome of over 20 years of research in the field of 3D image processing, now brought to new fruition through integration with artificial intelligence. In particular, I find great significance in the fact that this research successfully modeled the complex interrelationships among RGB images, depth information, and matching cost to develop, for the first time in the world, a deep learning-based 3D image processing technology that refines ultra-precise depth data. This technology has been recognized for contributing academically by presenting a new paradigm in stereo matching confidence estimation. Going forward, I will continue striving to expand the horizons of research with my students, always balancing academic curiosity with social contribution.

Focusing on 3D Generative AI Technologies
In terms of future research plans, I aim to focus on developing 3D generative AI technologies based on the 3D image processing and AI technologies I have studied for many years. Recently, 3D generative AI technologies for realistic spatial modeling have been actively researched, but conventional methods face limitations in modeling dynamic real-world space-time that changes moment by moment.

To address this, I plan to newly define a concept called HyperSpace, which integrates controllable, human-centric interaction elements and immersive spatiotemporal modeling elements—namely α-space and 4D space-time—and focus on developing human-centered immersive HyperSpace generative AI technologies that can produce interactive space-time content in real time. If successful, this research is expected to propose a new paradigm in generative AI by reflecting various characteristics on the HyperSpace, which combines both 4D space-time data and α-space data—unlike existing generative AI approaches.

The Gospel and Academia—All Within God's Plan
It has been by God's great grace that I have been able to serve as a professor for 30 years at Yonsei University, which was founded in 1885 by missionary Horace G. Underwood, who brought both the Gospel and academia to this land. In that same year, 1885, missionary Henry G. Appenzeller established Jeongdong First Methodist Church, where I have been blessed to live a life of faith within a community of believers. Looking back on the past years of nurturing students and sharing the Gospel under the protection of God and the dedication of these two missionaries, I can only confess that everything has been within God’s plan.

It is with deep gratitude and emotion that I witness the students I have taught now going on to mentor the next generation, as I have been able to carry out the mission of research and education on the foundation of such a rich history and tradition. I consider it a great honor to be selected as a recipient of the Yonsei Academic Award—an award that carries on the visionary academic spirit and ideals of service to humanity exemplified by missionary Underwood through modern scholarly achievement. I give all glory to God. I will continue to do my best to integrate faith and scholarship in the role I have been given.

Link : https://engineering.yonsei.ac.kr/engineering/board/research.do?mode=view&articleNo=447313&article.offset=0&articleLimit=10