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Zero-Crease Foldable Technology to Shift the Paradigm of Next-Generation Displays
< Professor Phil-Seung Lee (center), Master’s graduate Jun-han Bae (top left) >
The "crease," long considered the biggest weakness of foldable smartphones, has been pointed out as a major obstacle to market expansion, causing screen distortion and reduced durability over repeated use. A research team at KAIST has presented a solution to this problem, marking a turning point for foldables to leap forward as the standard for next-generation smartphones. Furthermore, the technology is expected to establish itself as a core component of the future mobile industry, expanding into various devices such as laptops.
KAIST announced on April 20th that a research team led by Professor Phil-Seung Lee of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed an original technology capable of fundamentally solving the crease issue that occurs at the folding area of foldable smartphone displays and has registered a patent for it. The team has secured global technological competitiveness by filing patent applications in the United States, China, and the European Union (EU), in addition to South Korea.
While global smartphone companies have attempted to solve this issue through massive R&D investments for years, they have yet to achieve the complete removal of the crease. Consequently, the industry has identified the crease problem as the single greatest barrier to the widespread adoption of the foldable smartphone market.
The research team began their study to resolve the inconveniences they personally experienced while using mobile foldable phones. After disassembling dozens of used foldable phones and repeating various experiments, they derived a solution by innovatively redesigning the "adhesive area" between the display and the supporting plate. The core of the design is ensuring that deformation is not concentrated in a specific folding area but is instead distributed to the surrounding sections. Through this, they perfectly demonstrated the feasibility of a "crease-free foldable" while maintaining normal smartphone functionality.
To verify performance, the team shone a straight-line LED light onto the screen. Unlike commercial products where the light refracts and the straight line appears curved at the fold, the prototype maintained a sharp, straight reflection without any distortion. Notably, no visual distortion appeared even under conditions sensitive enough to detect minute curves with a crease depth of less than 0.1mm.
< Display surface reflecting a straight-line LED lamp >
This technology presents a new design paradigm that surpasses the limitations faced by the current industry. It not only fundamentally suppresses the formation of creases but also ensures superior durability by minimizing deformation even after tens of thousands of folding cycles.
Furthermore, because the structure is intuitive and simple, it can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes. It is expected to have high industrial utility, as it can be expanded beyond smartphones to various foldable display devices, including tablets and laptops.
< Core idea of the invention: (a) Adhesive and non-adhesive areas of a conventional foldable smartphone, (b) Adhesive and non-adhesive areas in this invention, (c) Stress distribution in a conventional foldable smartphone display, (d) Stress distribution in a foldable smartphone display applying this technology >
Industry experts anticipate that the commercialization of this technology will encourage global companies—which have been hesitant to enter the market due to crease issues—to participate. This is projected to significantly improve consumer satisfaction and accelerate the growth of the stagnating foldable market.
Professor Phil-Seung Lee stated, "We have solved a challenge that global giants could not resolve, using a relatively simple and clear method. We expect this technology to spread across next-generation displays, including laptops and tablets, further strengthening Korea's technological competitiveness."
Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the "2022 Daedeok Innopolis Campus Project," and the patent for the related original technology was registered on September 9, 2025.
2026.04.21 View 780 -
Breakthrough in Data Processing via Light Control... Enhancing AI Accelerators and Quantum Communication
< (From left) Undergraduate researcher Taewon Kim and Professor Sangsik Kim >
A new technology has been developed that allows light to be "designed" into desired forms, potentially making Artificial Intelligence (AI) and communication technologies faster and more accurate. A KAIST research team has developed an "integrated photonic resonator"—a core component of next-generation optical integrated circuits that process data using light. The research is particularly significant as it was led by an undergraduate student. This technology is expected to serve as a key foundation for next-generation security technologies such as high-speed data processing and quantum communication.
KAIST announced on the 15th that a research team led by Professor Sangsik Kim from the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Jae Woong Yoon’s team from the Department of Physics at Hanyang University (President Kigeong Lee), has developed a new integrated photonic resonator structure capable of freely controlling optical signals by utilizing light interference (the phenomenon where two light waves meet and influence each other).
Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) process data at ultra-high speeds and with low power consumption using light. They are garnering significant attention as a fundamental platform technology for next-generation fields such as AI, data centers, and quantum information processing.
The core of this technology lies in the precision with which light can be controlled. Specifically, the ability to freely adjust the spectrum (color or wavelength distribution) and phase response (timing or wave position) of optical signals is essential for implementing high-performance optical communication and computing. However, conventional methods have faced fundamental limitations.
The integrated photonic resonator (optical resonator) focused on by the research team is a key optical device that traps light in a specific space to amplify it or select specific colors (wavelengths), similar to how the body of a musical instrument amplifies sound. However, existing single-bus resonators have had limitations in precisely adjusting the phase and spectrum of optical signals.
To overcome these challenges, the research team introduced a "dual-bus" structure. This design allows light that has passed through the resonator to recombine with light that has not, enabling precise control over interference. This allows for the free design of optical signals into desired forms, making it possible to control various types of light signals that were previously difficult to implement.
By applying this technology, the research team secured new characteristics for more precise control of wavelength properties and presented new possibilities for non-linear frequency conversion research (changing the color of light). Utilizing this technology enables faster and more accurate data processing, which is expected to provide the groundwork for performance enhancements in future high-speed data centers, AI accelerators, and quantum communication systems.
This research is especially meaningful as it was led by an undergraduate student. Taewon Kim, an undergraduate student who conducted the study through the KAIST Undergraduate Research Program (URP), stated, "I was able to develop the resonator principles I learned in the Introduction to Integrated Optics class into actual device designs and a published paper."
< Research Image of the Dual-bus Resonator >
Professor Sangsik Kim remarked, "This study goes beyond proposing a new device; it demonstrates that by precisely analyzing previously overlooked optical characteristics, physical limitations can be overcome. We expect this to contribute broadly to the development of optics-based AI accelerators and optical communication technologies."
KAIST undergraduate student Taewon Kim participated as the lead author of this study, and the results were published on March 6th in the international optics journal, Laser & Photonics Reviews.
Paper Title: Dual-bus resonator for multi-port spectral engineering DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202502935 Authors: Taewon Kim, Mehedi Hasan, Yu Sung Choi, Jae Woong Yoon, and Sangsik Kim
This research was supported by the KAIST URP Program, the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), the U.S. Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD), and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
2026.04.16 View 700 -
AI, Humanoid Robots, and Space Rovers to Gather: Experience Future Technologies at the Science Festival
<(From left) Photos of the KAIST Science Festival exhibition hall and booths from the previous year>
KAIST announced on April 10th that KAIST will participate in the ‘2026 Korea Science and Technology Festival,’ the largest science festival in the country, to mark Science Month in April. KAIST will operate ‘KAIST Play World,’ an interactive exhibition hall showcasing the pinnacle of AI and robotics. This year’s festival will be held in two parts: ‘2026 Korea Science Festival in Daejeon (April 17–19)’ and ‘2026 Korea Science Festival in Gyeonggi (April 24–26).’ KAIST will host consecutive exhibitions at the Daejeon DCC (Second Exhibition Hall) and KINTEX in Ilsan. Under the ‘Play World’ concept, KAIST plans to offer differentiated interactive content tailored to various generations. In particular, on-site events and souvenirs featuring the KAIST character ‘Nupjuk-i’ will be provided to enhance visitor engagement.
□ [Daejeon] From Humanoid Robots to Space Rovers and AI Semiconductor Friend ‘BROCA’ The exhibition at Daejeon DCC from April 17 to 19 will feature ‘Future Tech Experience Content’ centered on advanced robotics, space technology, and AI semiconductor technology, allowing visitors to experience KAIST's core research achievements firsthand. First, a humanoid robot equipped with control technology developed by Eurobotics Co., Ltd., a startup from Professor Myung Hyun’s research team in the School of Electrical Engineering, will be unveiled on the 17th. This robot is gaining attention as a next-generation platform capable of natural walking in both industrial and urban environments. Additionally, on the 19th, a humanoid robot from Professor Park Hae-won’s team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will demonstrate high-difficulty human movements such as the duck walk and moonwalk, showcasing its potential for practical industrial use. Professor Lee Dae-young’s team in the Department of Aerospace Engineering will present the world’s first deployable lunar rover wheel based on origami technology. Visitors can touch the transformable wheel model and observe space rover demonstrations and displays by the co-developer, Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL). Educational sessions for folding various space systems using origami will also be available. Along with this, visitors can experience advanced human-machine interaction through ‘BROCA,’ a mobile social AI agent that builds relationships with users beyond simple Q&A, and the voice-capable guide robot ‘On-Newro,’ developed by Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s team at the AI Semiconductor Graduate School. The student startup ‘Liar Games’ will operate a trial zone for ‘Dual Focus,’ an abstract strategy board game where players compete 1:1 against AI. Similar to the deep strategic play of chess or Go, the rules are intuitive enough to learn in 5 minutes, which is expected to stimulate the challenge-seeking spirit of visitors.
< (Top row from left) Professor Park Hae-won’s humanoid robot, Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s BROCA, (Bottom row from left) Eurobotics’ humanoid walking technology capable of overcoming any terrain based on a mobile kit, Professor Lee Dae-young’s storable and deployable rover for lunar exploration >
□ [Gyeonggi] ‘Raibo’ the Rough-Terrain Robot and AI-Based Future Experiences The Gyeonggi exhibition at KINTEX from April 24 to 26 will focus on ‘Life-Oriented Experience Content’ centered on AI and everyday technology. ‘Raibo,’ a quadrupedal robot developed by Professor Hwangbo Jemin’s team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is capable of high-speed movement on complex terrains such as sand, stairs, and debris, and is expected to be utilized for disaster relief and search missions. Visitors can experience Raibo’s driving technology directly at the site. The ‘Future Memories Studio’ from Professor Nam Tek-jin’s team in the Department of Industrial Design will provide a new experience where visitors can meet and talk to their future selves 10 years later, recreated using AI-generated visuals and voices. Participants will receive a four-cut photo capturing a moment that is the future for their current self but a memory for their future self. Professor Yun Yun-jin’s team at the KAIST Urban AI Research Center will present technology that analyzes the impact of climate change on small business sales through ‘AI-based Sight and Sound for Heatwave Consumption Index.’ They will showcase time-series AI-based sales prediction technology and generative AI technology that expresses this visually and audibly. Furthermore, Professor Yun’s lecture, “City Walk of Artificial Intelligence: Urban AI and the Future of Cities,” will be held on April 24 (Fri) at 15:00 in KINTEX Meeting Room 206. In addition, Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s team from the AI Semiconductor Graduate School will continue from the Daejeon exhibition to operate an experience zone for various mobile AI agents based on AI semiconductors. Also, the student startup Rabbithole Company will introduce a new type of game where AI NPCs (Non-Player Characters) converse and cooperate to solve given problems. Visitors can participate by observing the process where AI characters create their own stories by being presented with situations or goals instead of being directly controlled.
< (Top row from left) Professor Hwangbo Jemin’s Raibo, Professor Nam Tek-jin’s team: Met My Future Self 10 Years Later, (Bottom row from left) Professor Yun Yun-jin’s Seeing and Hearing Heatwave Consumption Index through AI, Game image from CEO Kim Na-hoon’s Rabbithole Company >
Through the exhibitions in both regions, KAIST plans to operate various participatory programs to make science and technology easy and fun to approach, vividly conveying how technology from the laboratory transforms our lives. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung remarked, “This year’s science festival is a large-scale event connecting Daejeon and Gyeonggi, allowing more citizens to experience KAIST’s innovative research achievements firsthand.” He added, “I hope this will be a precious time for people to experience the future created by robots and AI, fostering their dreams and curiosity about science.”
2026.04.13 View 1230 -
Undergraduate Rover Team (MR2) Advances to Finals of 'URC 2026', the World’s Largest Mars Rover Competition
<Photo: KAIST Undergraduate Club MR2 Team Members>
Undergraduate students from KAIST are set to take on the world stage with an exploration rover—a robotic vehicle designed to explore in place of humans—that they built themselves. The team has secured a spot in the finals of the world’s largest Mars rover competition, marking a first-ever achievement for KAIST.
KAIST announced on the 3rd that 'MR2' (Advised by Professor Yong-Hwa Park, Department of Mechanical Engineering), a rover team from the undergraduate robotics club MR (Microrobot Research), has earned a seed in the finals of the '2026 University Rover Challenge (URC)', the premier international Mars rover competition for university students.
The URC is organized by The Mars Society and takes place at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, USA, an environment that closely mimics the Martian surface. Participating teams compete in four key missions using rovers they developed: ▲Science Mission, ▲Delivery Mission, ▲Equipment Servicing Mission, and ▲Autonomous Navigation Mission.
This year’s competition saw 116 university teams from 18 countries engage in a fierce preliminary round. Team MR2 secured its place in the top 38 finalists by scoring 95.38 out of 100. This milestone is particularly significant as it is the first time a KAIST team has ever reached the URC finals, proving the excellence of KAIST undergraduates in robot design and control on a global scale.
The next-generation exploration rover 'GAP-1000', independently developed by MR2, is a modular rover designed for stable operation in extreme environments. It features a 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) robotic arm capable of precisely controlling objects over 5kg, allowing it to perform complex equipment manipulation tasks.
<Photo: Operation of GAP-1000's Manipulator and Science Module Integration>
The rover also boasts strong autonomous driving capabilities. By combining RTK-GNSS (precision satellite positioning), IMU (Inertial Measurement Units) for motion sensing, and odometry based on wheel rotation, it can autonomously navigate optimal paths through complex terrain. Additionally, a drone relay system has been integrated to ensure stable exploration even in areas with communication dead zones.
For the science mission, the rover can collect soil from 10cm underground, remove impurities via centrifugation, and analyze traces of life using protein detection reagents such as Biuret and Bradford. This is paired with spectroscopic analysis technology that identifies material composition by analyzing light wavelengths, creating an integrated system for real-time life detection.
"We experienced a lot of trial and error while managing everything from design to production ourselves, but I am thrilled that we achieved KAIST’s first-ever advancement to the finals," said Myung-woo Jung (Department of Mechanical Engineering), the team leader of MR2. "We will prepare thoroughly in the remaining time to achieve a great result on-site."
<Photo: Scenery of MDRS in Utah, USA, where the competition will be held (Photo Credit: The Mars Society)>
Advising Professor Yong-Hwa Park noted, "It is impressive that the students independently implemented a rover for extreme environments. This competition will serve as an opportunity to showcase KAIST’s technological prowess to the world."
KAIST President Kwang-Hyung Lee added, "It is a very meaningful achievement for our undergraduates to reach the finals of the world’s largest competition with a rover they designed and built themselves. I hope this experience serves as a catalyst for our students to challenge themselves and grow on the global stage."
Team MR2 consists of 13 undergraduate students from various majors, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Design. Having completed long-distance operation tests in outdoor environments, they are currently conducting final checks for the finals. The main competition will be held from May 27th to 30th at the MDRS in Utah, USA.
※ Related Links
MR2 Official Website: https://urc-kaist.github.io/
MR2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urc_mr2/
MR2 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MR2KAISTRoverTeam
2026.04.03 View 904 -
KAIST, Developing National Positioning Infrastructure with Wi-Fi-Based Precision Technology… A Step Toward “Location Sovereignty”
<(From Left) Prof. Dong-Soo Han, Dr. Kyuho Son, Dr. Byeongcheol Moon, Dr. Sumin Ahn, Ph.D candidate Seungwoo Chae>
A Korean research team has developed a technology that enables precise indoor positioning using only a smartphone. Developed over eight years by KAIST researchers, this technology is expected to help secure critical time in missing-person searches and is being recognized as a “location sovereignty” solution that could reshape the current location service ecosystem dominated by global big tech companies such as Google and Apple.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 2nd pf April that a research team led by Professor Dongsoo Han of the School of Computing has developed a core technology that can build a nationwide high-precision positioning infrastructure in a short time and at low cost by combining smartphone Wi-Fi signals with real-world address data. This achievement is the result of eight years of research, during which the team filed around ten patents to enhance the technology’s completeness.
The key feature of this technology is its use of Wi-Fi signals collected by smartphones in everyday life. It can provide precise location information anywhere in the country without requiring large-scale equipment or additional infrastructure. It also maintains high accuracy in environments where GPS is weak, such as indoors, underground, or in dense high-rise areas.
In particular, this research is seen as a challenge to the location service ecosystem currently led by global platform companies. Today, most location data worldwide is accumulated and managed by a small number of big tech firms, and Korea also relies heavily on these platforms.
Most importantly, this research establishes a foundation for independently building and managing location data generated domestically. Amid ongoing debates over exporting high-resolution national maps (1:5,000 scale spatial data detailing buildings and roads), the importance of data sovereignty is growing. This technology is drawing attention as an alternative that could reduce dependence on global big tech and realize “location sovereignty.”
The research team proposed a method that automatically combines Wi-Fi signals collected during smartphone app usage with the actual address of the location. This allows the construction of a unique “signal pattern map” (signal fingerprint) for each place, with accuracy improving as more data accumulates.
In a real-world demonstration in Daejeon, using a gas meter reading app, an average of about 30 Wi-Fi signals were detected per household in apartment complexes. This confirmed that city-scale location data can be rapidly built using this approach.
<Status of Radio Map Construction in Daejeon Using a Gas Meter Reader App>
<Address-Based Automation of Wireless Signal Collection and AI-Based Location Labeling Techniques for Collected Wireless Signals>
This technology is expected to significantly reduce location errors—previously up to hundreds of meters—in emergency situations such as missing-person searches, helping secure critical response time. It can also be applied to “location-based authentication,” allowing payments only at specific locations, thereby helping prevent financial crimes such as identity theft or unauthorized remote transactions.
Furthermore, precise location data is a key infrastructure for future AI industries, including autonomous driving, robotics, and logistics. This achievement is expected to enhance competitiveness across these sectors.
<Research Use Image (AI-Generated Image)>
Professor Dongsoo Han stated, “Positioning infrastructure is not just a convenience technology but a core asset directly linked to national data sovereignty,” adding, “It is time for the government, telecom companies, and platform providers to collaborate in building an independent national positioning infrastructure.”
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the National Fire Agency, and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) (Grant No. RS-2025-02313957).
2026.04.03 View 776 -
KAIST Professor Jinjoon Lee’s 10-Meter Hanji Scroll PhD Thesis from Oxford Enters the Permanent Collection of the World’s Oldest Museum, First Work by a Contemporary Korean Artist
<A ten-metre scroll doctoral thesis reinterpreting the 15th-century Joseon landscape painting scroll tradition, Empty Garden, exhibited at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, founded in the 15th century. 2020>
- Media artist and KAIST professor Jinjoon Lee's doctoral thesis 'Empty Garden' officially acquired by the Ashmolean Museum, UK, for permanent collection
- Korean artistic and academic achievement recognized as public cultural heritage at a museum predating the Louvre by 110 years — the 'heart of Western intellectual history'
- Blending Eastern aesthetics of 'wandering' (거닐기) and 'emptiness' with data technology in the AI era — awarded Oxford's unanimous 'No Corrections' in just 2.5 years in 2020
- First work by a contemporary Korean artist to enter the Ashmolean's permanent collection — officially confirmed by the museum's curator
- Korean artistic and academic achievement officially recognised as intellectual cultural heritage — permanently preserved, researched, and exhibited within the Western public knowledge system
A doctoral thesis is often imagined as a dense, bound volume. Yet a 10-meter-long hanji scroll- traditional Korean mulberry paper prized for its durability across centuries- is now drawing global attention from the art world and academia alike.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 26th that Empty Garden – A Liminoid Journey to Nowhere in Somewhere (2020), a doctoral thesis by media artist and KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology Professor Jinjoon Lee, has been officially acquired by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, for its permanent collection and exhibition — through formal purchase, not donation.
Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the world's first university museum, operated by the University of Oxford with over 340 years of history. It predates the Louvre (1793) by 110 years and the British Museum (1759) by 76 years, and is regarded as the starting point of European Enlightenment scholarship. Its collections include masterworks by Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Turner, alongside ancient artefacts and East Asian ceramics and paintings — over one million objects in total.
The Ashmolean is not simply an exhibition venue but an academic institution integrating collection, research, and education. Unlike Tate Modern, which engages with the contemporary art market, or the British Museum, which displays national heritage, the Ashmolean's core mission is scholarly preservation and research. The acquisition of Professor Lee's doctoral thesis here signifies that Korean aesthetics and philosophical thought have entered the public record of European intellectual history.
Professor Lee's PhD thesis Empty Garden reinterprets the concept of uiwon (意園) — an imaginary garden cultivated in the mind by Joseon-era scholars — through contemporary data and media language, proposing 'data gardening' as a methodology for tending to the philosophy of emptiness. It is a work that continues to ask fundamental questions about human sensation, memory, and existence, even within an environment dominated by AI and data.
The 10-meter hanji scroll format is itself a central feature of the thesis. As readers engage with the text, they are naturally led to move through space — physically enacting the East Asian garden tradition of 'wandering' (거닐기). The work is designed not merely to be read but to be experienced through movement and contemplation. The thesis was produced as nine hanji scrolls in total; one of these has been acquired by the Ashmolean for its permanent collection.
This thesis received unanimous 'No Corrections' approval at its DPhil in Fine Art examination at the University of Oxford in 2020, recognising its academic rigour and originality — an achievement completed in just two and a half years, where the process typically takes over four. It is an extremely rare distinction even within Oxford's 900-year history, and drew significant attention at the time.
Oxford doctoral theses are typically archived at the Bodleian Library as academic records. This acquisition is entirely separate from that process: the museum conducted an independent five-year review following the award of the degree, assessed the work on its artistic and scholarly merits, and made a formal purchase. The inclusion of a living artist's doctoral thesis in the permanent collection of the world's oldest university museum through purchase — not donation — is exceptionally rare.
Professor Shelagh Vainker, Alice King Curator of Chinese and Korean Art at the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, stated:
"I am delighted that the Ashmolean Museum has been able to acquire Dr Jinjoon Lee's Empty Garden for our permanent collection. The long, contemplative scroll breaks new ground in so many ways: in the materials and techniques employed, in the breadth and depth of cultural and intellectual knowledge embedded in it, and in the complexity of the presentation of different spaces — all providing the viewer with multiple perspectives and experiences. Empty Garden is the first piece by a contemporary Korean artist to enter the collection; when not on display it will be available for viewing by appointment."
— Shelagh Vainker, Alice King Curator of Chinese and Korean Art, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
<Dr Shelagh Vainker, Professor at the University of Oxford and Alice King Curator of Chinese and Korean Art at the Ashmolean Museum, reviewing the doctoral thesis Empty Garden in the Eastern Art Study Room, Ashmolean Museum. 2026>
Professor Lee noted that during his doctoral research at Oxford, a serious leg injury left him using a wheelchair for an extended period, during which he reflected deeply on the relationship between movement, stillness, and thought. He stated: "In the age of AI, art cannot remain confined to immaterial images on screens. Data and images can only acquire depth through material forms capable of enduring time and preservation."
He further expressed his hope that Empty Garden, now housed within the public collection of Western intellectual history, would "serve as a continuing reference point connecting East Asian thought — including that of Korea — with new sensory frameworks for the age of artificial intelligence."
The first practicing artist to be appointed as a tenure-track professor at KAIST, Professor Lee currently holds concurrent positions as Visiting Fellow at Exeter College, University of Oxford, Visiting Senior Researcher at Tokyo University of the Arts, and Adjunct Professor at New York University, continuing interdisciplinary research across art, technology, and the humanities. Most recently, his work has drawn international attention from arts community, including Good Morning, Mr. G-Dragon, a space art project based on the iris data of K-pop artist G-Dragon, and Cine Forest: Awakening Bloom, an AI-based media symphony at Bundang Central Park in S. Korea.
<Jinjoon Lee, artist's studio, Seoul. 2025>
This acquisition is an exceptionally rare case of a doctoral thesis entering the permanent collection of the world's oldest university museum through formal purchase, and a historic event in which a work by a contemporary Korean artist has entered the Ashmolean's collection for the first time. Korean research that poses new questions about the role of art and the humanities in the post-AI era has now found a permanent place within the public record of Western intellectual history.
2026.03.26 View 1001 -
KAIST Reveals the Formation Mechanism of Skyrmions Inside Magnets… A Clue to Solving AI Power Consumption
<(From Left) Prof.Se Kwon Kim, Dr. Gyungchoon Go>
“Skyrmions,” in which electron spins inside a magnet are arranged like vortices, are a key structure in next-generation spintronics technology. KAIST researchers have shown that skyrmions can form using only the fundamental physical interactions within magnets, without requiring special physical conditions. This finding expands the possibility of realizing skyrmions in a wide range of magnetic materials and suggests new potential for developing next-generation ultra-low-power information devices with data storage densities tens to hundreds of times higher than current technologies.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 19th of March that a research team led by Professor Se Kwon Kim from the Department of Physics has proposed a new theoretical framework showing that vortex-like magnetic structures can naturally emerge solely through magnetoelastic coupling—the interaction between magnetism and lattice structure.
The team demonstrated that the interaction between spins (the intrinsic magnetic property of electrons) and lattice deformation (the slight distortion of atomic arrangements) alone can lead to the spontaneous formation of vortex-like magnetic structures.
In particular, skyrmions—vortex-like spin structures found inside magnetic materials—are extremely small and highly stable, making them promising candidates for ultra-high-density, low-power information devices. However, until now, forming such structures was believed to require specific physical conditions such as crystal asymmetry or strong spin–orbit coupling.
The researchers theoretically showed that even without such special conditions, magnetoelastic coupling, which naturally occurs in most magnetic materials, is sufficient to generate a structure in which skyrmions and antiskyrmions are alternately arranged.
Magnetoelastic coupling refers to the phenomenon in which magnetism (spin) and lattice deformation influence each other, and it is a fundamental physical property present in nearly all magnetic materials. The team showed that when this coupling becomes sufficiently strong, the original ground state—where magnetization is uniformly aligned—becomes unstable and transitions into a new vortex-like ordered state.
In this process, they proposed a new mechanism in which spin tilting and lattice distortion occur simultaneously, forming a chiral spin texture composed of alternating skyrmions and antiskyrmions.
Professor Se Kwon Kim explained, “This study demonstrates that skyrmion-like magnetic structures can form even without specific or exotic interactions. It is particularly meaningful in that it suggests the possibility of realizing such structures in two-dimensional magnetic materials, where research is currently very active.”
This study was led by Gyungchoon Go, who participated as the first author. The research was published on February 11 in the internationally renowned journal Physical Review Letters, recognizing its significance in the field of physics.
※ Paper title: “Magnetoelastic Coupling-Driven Chiral Spin Textures: A Skyrmion-Antiskyrmion-like Array,” DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/5csz-pw7x
※ Main Authors: Gyungchoon Go (first author), Se Kwon Kim (corresponding author)
This research was supported by the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, the Brain Pool Plus Program by the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the Sejong Science Fellowship.
2026.03.19 View 993 -
KAIST Reveals the Orbital Principle of Electron Motion for Realizing Memory of Dreams
<(From Left) Dr. Geun-Hee Lee, Professor Kyung-Jin Lee, Professor Kyoung-Whan Kim>
Research is actively underway to develop a “dream memory” that can reduce heat generation in smartphones and laptops while delivering faster performance and lower power consumption. Korean researchers have now proposed a new possibility for controlling magnetism using the exchange interaction of electron orbitals—the motion of electrons orbiting around an atomic nucleus—rather than relying on the conventional exchange interaction of electron spin, the rotational property of electrons inside semiconductors.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 16th of March that a joint research team led by Professor Kyung-Jin Lee of the Department of Physics at KAIST and Professor Kyoung-Whan Kim of the Department of Physics at Yonsei University (President Dong-Sup Yoon) has established, for the first time in the world, a new theoretical framework enabling magnetism to be freely controlled through orbital exchange interaction*, surpassing the limitations of conventional technologies that control magnetism using electric currents.*Orbital exchange interaction: a phenomenon in which the orbitals formed by electrons moving around an atomic nucleus interact with one another, thereby influencing the direction or properties of magnetism.
Until now, next-generation memory research has mainly focused on the spin of electrons. Spin refers to the property of electrons that rotate on their own axis like tiny spinning tops, and information can be stored by using the direction of this rotation. However, electrons simultaneously move around the atomic nucleus along paths known as orbitals. In this study, the research team theoretically demonstrated that when electric current flows, the orbital energy of electrons interacts directly with the orbitals of magnetic materials, enabling the transmission of information. Through this mechanism, they confirmed that the properties of magnets can be altered much more efficiently than with conventional spin-based approaches.
The most significant outcome of this research is the discovery that electric current does not merely change the direction of a magnet but can also modify the intrinsic properties of the magnet itself, such as the magnetic anisotropy (a magnet’s preferred direction) and rotational characteristics.
In particular, calculations by the research team showed that orbital-based control effects could be significantly stronger than existing spin-based methods. This finding suggests the possibility of a future era of orbital-based electronic devices, in which orbitals rather than spin play the central role in semiconductor components. The researchers also proposed practical experimental methods to measure these effects, which is expected to increase the potential for industrial applications.
The principle may also apply to altermagnetic materials, which have recently attracted significant attention in academia. Altermagnetism refers to a new form of magnetic material in which electron spins within atoms are arranged in alternating directions in an ordered pattern. Although these materials do not appear magnetic externally, they strongly influence electron motion. Because of this property, they allow precise control of electron states and are considered promising for high-speed, low-power semiconductor devices and next-generation memory technologies. The study therefore provides a strong theoretical foundation for developing future logic and memory devices.
Dr. Geun-Hee Lee stated, “This study demonstrates that controlling magnetism with electric current does not necessarily have to rely solely on spin. A new perspective—understanding and controlling magnetism using the orbital motion of electrons—will become an important milestone for the development of next-generation ultra-fast, low-power memory.”
In this research, Dr. Geun-Hee Lee (KAIST) participated as the first author, while Professor Kyoung-Whan Kim (Yonsei University) and Professor Kyung-Jin Lee (KAIST) served as co-corresponding authors. The results were published on February 2 in the internationally renowned journal Nature Communications, recognizing the academic significance of the work.
※ Paper title: “Orbital exchange-mediated current control of magnetism,” DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68846-x
This research was supported by the Frontier Challenge R&D Project, the Mid-Career Researcher Program, the Science Research Center (SRC) program, the Early Career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, and Samsung Electronics.
2026.03.16 View 941 -
KAIST Solves the 500-Year-Old ‘Pain’ Behind Michelangelo’s painting of The Creation of Adam
<(From Left) Ph.D candidate Minwoo Choi, Ph.D candidate Hyejoon Jun, Professor Hyoungsoo Kim>
More than 500 years ago, Michelangelo spent four years painting The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, struggling with paint dripping onto his face. He described the process as “closer to torture than painting.” Now, researchers at KAIST have developed a technology that can effectively “hold up falling paint.” Beyond ceiling paintings, this principle could help solve the problem of liquid films collapsing on inclined surfaces, with potential applications in precision coating, electronic circuit printing, 3D printing, and fluid control in space environments.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 12th of March that a research team led by Professor Hyoungsoo Kim of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has reinterpreted the fundamental cause of downward flow under gravity—known as gravitational instability—from the perspective of interfacial fluid mechanics* and proposed a method to control it by mixing a small amount of volatile liquid into a suspended liquid film.*Interfacial fluid mechanics: the study of the balance of microscopic forces acting at the surface of liquids.
Why was it so difficult for Michelangelo to paint on the ceiling? When paint is applied to a ceiling, a thin liquid film forms. However, this film gradually becomes unstable due to gravity and eventually drips down. This phenomenon is common in everyday life.
For example, when steam condenses on a bathroom ceiling, it first forms a thin layer of water that eventually gathers into droplets and falls. Similarly, droplets that appear on the ceiling of a refrigerator initially form a thin layer but gradually grow and begin to drip downward. This type of instability, where liquid accumulated on an upper surface collapses under gravity, is known as Rayleigh–Taylor instability. Until now, it has generally been considered unavoidable in the presence of gravity.
The research team proposed mixing a small amount of volatile liquid into the suspended liquid film. As the volatile component evaporates, it changes the concentration distribution along the liquid surface, creating differences in surface tension. Surface tension is the force that pulls a liquid surface inward, which is why water droplets maintain a rounded shape.
When differences in surface tension arise, the region with stronger tension pulls liquid toward itself from regions with weaker tension. This creates a surface flow known as the Marangoni effect. Through experiments and theoretical analysis, the researchers demonstrated that this surface flow can effectively hold the liquid in place and suppress the gravitational instability that would otherwise cause it to fall.
A familiar example can illustrate this effect. If pepper powder is sprinkled evenly on the surface of water, it remains floating. However, if a drop of detergent is placed in the center, the pepper suddenly moves outward toward the edges. This happens because the detergent reduces the surface tension where it touches the water, allowing the surrounding regions with stronger surface tension to pull the liquid outward. As the surface flow develops, the pepper particles move along with it.
In this study, evaporation of the volatile liquid created a similar surface tension difference. But instead of pushing particles outward like in the pepper example, the flow pulled the liquid upward, counteracting the force that would otherwise cause it to drip downward.
As a result, under certain conditions the liquid film remained intact despite gravity. In some cases, the researchers even observed a new behavior in which droplets did not fall but the liquid film oscillated periodically. This demonstrates that gravitational instability can be actively controlled using only natural processes—such as liquid composition and evaporation—without any external energy input.
This principle could enable thinner and more uniform liquid films in precision coating, printing, and layer-by-layer manufacturing processes, allowing stable coating even on tilted surfaces. It may also extend to technologies such as 3D printing and fluid control in specialized environments like space. In essence, the physical limitation that Michelangelo struggled with 500 years ago may now inspire future industrial technologies.
The Creation of Adam (AI-generated image)>
Professor Hyoungsoo Kim stated, “Rayleigh–Taylor instability has long been considered unavoidable as long as gravity exists. This research is meaningful because it shows that gravitational instability can be actively controlled without external energy by utilizing natural processes such as liquid composition and evaporation.” He added, “This principle could extend beyond coating, printing, and layering processes to fluid control technologies in space environments.”
This study was led by Minwoo Choi, an integrated master’s–PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, as the first author. The discovery, recognized as a new finding in the control of hydrodynamic instability, was published online on January 29 in the international journal Advanced Science (Wiley) and was selected as a Frontispiece article.
※ Paper title: “Evaporation-Driven Solutal Marangoni Control of Rayleigh–Taylor Instability in Inverted Films,” Authors: First author Minwoo Choi (KAIST), co-author Hyejoon Jun (KAIST), corresponding author Hyoungsoo Kim (KAIST), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202520343
This research was supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (MSIT: 2021R1A2C2007835)
2026.03.12 View 870 -
Student Entrepreneur Inseo Chung Donates 1 Billion Won to Foster Inclusive AI Talent
< Photo of the Donation Agreement Ceremony >
KAIST announced on March 11th that Inseo Chung (28), an undergraduate student in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and CEO of the global music-tech startup MPAG, donated 1 billion won in development funds on the 10th to foster ‘Inclusive AI’ talent. Inclusive AI talent refers to experts who research and develop AI technologies so that the socially vulnerable, including people with disabilities and the technologically marginalized, can also enjoy the benefits of AI technology.
Inseo Chung is a student entrepreneur who has dedicated himself to “solving social problems through technology” while balancing startup activities and research during his studies. Alongside his academic advisor, Professor Hyunwook Ka of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, he has consistently researched how technology can embrace those who are marginalized.
His research, including software for the hearing impaired, studies for users requiring linguistic support in media, and bidirectional assistive technology devices for the visually and hearing impaired, has garnered attention at domestic and international conferences. This work has also led to several patent applications filed under the name of KAIST.
He founded the global music-tech startup MPAG, which operates a sheet music sales platform and AI music education service with over 4 million members worldwide, and is also developing features to provide braille sheet music for the visually impaired.
The donation will be used to establish a Master’s and Doctoral Education & Research Program in ‘AI-based Assistive Technology’ for the disabled and the technologically and socially vulnerable within the newly established KAIST AI College. This program aims to conduct research on AI-based rehabilitation assistive technology, nurture Master’s and Doctoral-level experts in the field, and build an inclusive technology ecosystem. Professor Hyunwook Ka, an expert in this field, will lead the operation and guidance of the degree program to ensure research continuity and expertise.
Inseo Chung emphasized, “As AI technology advances exponentially, it is absolutely necessary to expand into ‘Inclusive AI’ so that its benefits reach the disabled and the technologically marginalized. I am confident that through a formal graduate program, the number of experts in this field will grow, and KAIST’s specialized AI research capabilities will serve as the catalyst.”
This is not Inseo Chung’s first donation. He previously donated through the KAIST Development Foundation in 2024 and 2025 before contributing an additional 1 billion won this year. The 2024 donation was used to create the ‘Creative Workshop’ for junior students in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies to realize their creative ideas, and the 2025 donation was allocated to the School of Computing.
President Kwang Hyung Lee stated, “The decision by student Inseo Chung to donate the fruits of his startup efforts for the future of his alma mater and the realization of social values serves as a great inspiration to all members of KAIST. We will do our best to nurture inclusive AI talent so that the benefits of technology can spread throughout society, honoring the donor’s intent.”
2026.03.11 View 1244 -
KAIST Develops Self-Regenerating Catalyst That Restores Its Own Performance, Opening a Breakthrough for CO₂ Conversion Technology
<(From Left) Professor Dong Young Chung, Ph.D Candidate Hongmin An, Hanjoo Kim>
Technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted from factories and power plants into useful chemical feedstocks are considered key to achieving carbon neutrality. However, rapid degradation of catalyst performance has long hindered commercialization. KAIST researchers have now developed a “self-regenerating” catalyst that restores its activity during operation, offering a potential solution to this challenge.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 11th of March that a research team led by Professor Dong Young Chung from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has identified the fundamental cause of catalyst degradation in electrochemical reactions that convert CO₂ into useful materials and has developed a new design strategy that allows catalysts to maintain their active state during the reaction.
<Schematic Illustration of Copper Catalyst Reconstruction>
The research team focused particularly on copper (Cu) catalysts, which are widely used in CO₂ conversion reactions. Copper catalysts are known not to simply degrade during reactions but instead undergo a process called surface reconstruction, in which their surface structure continuously changes. The study revealed that the performance and lifetime of the catalyst vary significantly depending on how this reconstruction occurs.
The researchers discovered that copper catalyst reconstruction occurs mainly through two different mechanisms. The first involves formation and reduction of oxide layers on the catalyst surface. While this temporarily increases catalytic activity, it ultimately leads to long-term degradation of catalyst performance.
The second mechanism involves partial dissolution of the catalyst metal into the electrolyte followed by redeposition onto the catalyst surface. During this process, new reactive sites—known as active sites—are continuously created on the catalyst surface.
Based on this mechanism, the team proposed a method that allows the catalyst to maintain its active state during the reaction. By introducing a trace amount of copper ions into the electrolyte, dissolution and redeposition of copper occur in a balanced cycle on the catalyst surface. This continuous cycle generates new active sites, enabling the catalyst to maintain stable performance over extended periods.
Importantly, this technology can be implemented without complex additional processes or high-voltage conditions, significantly reducing energy consumption while enabling stable production of high-value C₂ compounds such as ethylene and ethanol. C₂ compounds are molecules containing two carbon atoms and are industrially important chemicals used as feedstocks for plastics, fuels, and other materials.
This research is significant because it proposes a new design concept in which catalysts are not merely optimized at the initial stage but are engineered to maintain their optimal state throughout the reaction process. The concept is expected to be applicable not only to CO₂ conversion technologies but also to a wide range of electrochemical energy conversion systems.
Professor Dong Young Chung stated, “This research approached catalyst degradation not as an inevitable phenomenon but as a controllable process,” adding, “We proposed a new strategy that allows catalysts to continuously maintain optimal activity during the reaction.”
The study was led by Hanjoo Kim, a doctoral student at KAIST, and Hongmin An, a combined master’s-doctoral student, as co-first authors. The research was published online on February 5 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), one of the world’s most prestigious journals in chemistry.
※ Paper title: “Dynamic Interface Engineering via Mechanistic Understanding of Copper Reconstruction in Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Reaction” DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c16244
This research was supported by the Global Young Connect Program for Materials and the National Strategic Materials Technology Development Program funded through the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2026.03.11 View 1295 -
Secret to Drug Addiction Relapse Found: Brain's Addiction Circuit Identified
<(From Left) Dr. Minju Jeong,(UCSD), Prof. Byung Kook Lim (UCSD), Prof. Se-Bum Paik (KAIST)>
Drug addiction carries an extremely high risk of relapse, as cravings can be reignited by minor stimuli even long after one has stopped using. Previously, this phenomenon was attributed to a decline in the function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which regulates impulses. However, a joint international research team has recently revealed that the cause of addiction relapse is not a simple decline in brain function, but rather an imbalance in specific neural circuits.
KAIST announced on March 9th that a research team led by Prof. Se-Bum Paik from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Prof. Byung Kook Lim from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has identified the core principle by which specific inhibitory neurons in the prefrontal cortex regulate cocaine-seeking behavior.
In particular, the research team focused on parvalbumin-positive (PV) inhibitory neurons, which regulate the balance of neural signals by suppressing the activity of other neurons in the brain. They confirmed that these cells act as a "brake gate" that controls excitatory signals in the brain and serve as a crucial factor in determining drug-seeking behavior that emerges after withdrawal.
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) of our brain can properly perform its "braking" function to suppress impulses when excitatory and inhibitory signals are in balance. To investigate how chronic drug exposure disrupts this balance, the research team conducted cocaine administration experiments on mice. During this process, they tracked when inhibitory neurons in the PFC were activated and how they sent signals to downstream brain regions.
The experimental results showed that parvalbumin (PV) cells, which account for about 60-70% of the inhibitory neurons in the PFC, were highly active when the mice attempted to seek cocaine. However, when "extinction training"—training to stop seeking the drug—was conducted, the activity of these cells significantly decreased. This demonstrates that the activity patterns of PV cells are not permanently fixed by addiction but can be readjusted through the extinction process.
<Figure 1. Experimental design illustrating cocaine self-administration and longitudinal tracking of prefrontal cortical neural activity during cocaine-seeking behavior>
The research team confirmed that artificially suppressing PV cell activity significantly reduced cocaine-seeking behavior in mice. Conversely, activating these cells caused the drug-seeking behavior to persist even after the extinction process. This effect was specifically observed in drug-addiction behavior and did not appear with general rewards like sugar water. Furthermore, this phenomenon was not observed in somatostatin (SOM) cells—another type of inhibitory neuron—indicating that PV cells selectively regulate drug addiction behavior.
<Figure 2. Comparison of single-neuron activity, population activity patterns, and behavioral modulation of prefrontal inhibitory neurons across different stages of cocaine-seeking behavior>
The team also identified the specific brain circuit through which these PV cells operate. Signals originating from the prefrontal cortex are transmitted to the reward circuit of the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), a key brain region related to reward. This pathway emerged as the central channel for regulating addiction behavior, determining whether or not to seek the drug again. In this process, PV neurons act as a "regulatory switch," controlling the flow of signals to influence dopamine signaling and deciding whether to maintain or suppress addictive behavior.
In short, the study revealed that addiction relapse is not due to an overall functional decline of the prefrontal cortex, but is determined by whether PV neurons regulate the neural pathway connecting the PFC to the reward circuit.
<Figure 3. Schematic illustrating the prefrontal–reward circuit mechanism that determines drug-seeking behavior>
Prof. Se-Bum Paik stated, "This research shows that drug addiction is a circuit-level problem arising from a collapse in the regulatory balance of specific neurons and downstream neural circuits. The discovery that parvalbumin (PV) cells act as a 'gate' for addictive behavior will provide a crucial lead for developing precision-targeted treatment strategies in the future."
This study was led by Dr. Minju Jeong (UCSD) as the first author, with Prof. Byung Kook Lim (UCSD) and Prof. Se-Bum Paik (KAIST) serving as co-corresponding authors. The findings were published online on February 26 in Neuron, a premier journal in the field of neuroscience.
Paper Title: Distinct Interneuronal Dynamics Selectively Gate Target-Specific Cortical Projections in Drug Seeking
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2026.01.002
Full Author List: Minju Jeong, Seungdae Baek, Qingdi Wang, Li Yao, Eun Ji Lee, Arturo Marroquin Rivera, Joann Jocelynn Lee, Hyeonseok Jang, Dhananjay Bambah-Mukku, Christine Hyun-Seung Mun, Tyler Boesen, Sumit Nanda, Cheol Ryong Ku, Hong-wei Dong, Benoit Labonté, Se-Bum Paik, and Byung Kook Lim.
This research was conducted with the support of the Basic Research Program in Science and Engineering of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2026.03.10 View 1211