Research Groups

Based on the physics of molecular complexes and nano structures such as liquid crystals, organic semiconductors, and artificial biological membranes, we investigate their structural, electrical, and optical characteristics, and develop novel control methods of them. Our current research topics include nano-pattern technology, artificial biological membranes, next-generation organic integrated devices and displays, organic solar cells, nano optics, nano-optic integration methods, photon signal processing, photon logic devices, 3-D display, holograms, plasmonics, meta materials, super-radiant lasers, etc.

With the advent of wearable and IoT era, future electronic systems are required to be implemented on not only a rigid platform such as silicon or glass substrates but a flexible stretchable platform for excellent conformability. We are focusing on enhancing performances and stabilities of electronic devices under such wearable harsh environment. Our research area includes flexible/foldable/foldable display technology, eco-friend printed electronics, flexible stretchable electronics, solution-process CNT/organic/oxide thin film transistors, organic/QD LED, organic/inorganic solar cells, stretchable electrodes, and sensors for electronic skin.

In the multimedia signal processing research group, we study statistical modeling of multimedia and multi-dimensional signal processing systems including algorithm development for better recovery, estimation, detection, and sampling, development of video and speech enhancement systems, 2D and 3D image compression and decompression, computer vision for face and object recognition, speech recognition and synthesis for the human-machine interface, and acoustic and sound system design.

We conduct research on compound semiconductors, CMOS and RF MEMS technology for high-frequency devices, and applied circuits and systems. Especially, we are developing the fastest transistors in the world, digital RF technology, antenna and high-efficiency power amplifiers, and RF technology for biological and medical applications

This group conducts research on video quality enhancement, video signal processing for VR/AR, object recognition in a video, standard video compression, big data video processing and computer animation. The research aims to improve the video quality optimized for the cameras and LCD/OLED display devices in latest smartphones and TVs, also to recognize objects in a video for applications such as AI robots, smart vehicles, CC-TV and drones, and to improve the video reality for VR/AR with 3D video signal processing. Additional research subjects include the video compression standard, big data video storage/retrieval, and vivid computer animation by motion simulation.

Semiconductor industry is the backbone of the Nation’s economy, serving as the key technological enabler that drives highly sophisticated state-of-the-art electronics of today. As the need for extremely minuscule semiconductor devices becomes crucial than ever, it is vital to engineer fundamental technological solutions to accommodate the need and ensure the Nation’s continued leadership in the industry. We are specialized in designing, analyzing (w/ modeling), and fabricating noble semiconductor devices through genuinely developed next-generation processing technologies. We have been extensively focusing on wide spectrum of studies: CMOS, memory, nano-scale technology, bio and gas sensors, neuromorphic, reconfigurable, and RF devices. As a next generation technology, we also studying organic transistors-based solar cell and display technology, and nano-scale electrokinetics.

Through a combination of biomedical engineering, electrochemistry, nano-engineering, nano-optics, information technology, and brain imaging, we develop innovative technology to enhance quality of life. Current research topics include the followings: artificial cochlear implant for the hearing impaired, artificial retina for the blind, deep brain simulator for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, membrane-mediated biological activities, high-speed diagnostic machine and fluid control system using nano/micro technology, biomedical big data analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning, brain imaging technology using MRI, and genomics technology by biology/engineering convergence. By suggesting, reinterpreting and rebuilding these research, we will continue to devote ourselves in leading the innovation.

Smart innovations, started from smart phones, have extended to TVs, cars, and IoT devices. For the software platforms of these smart devices, we research architecture design, performance enhancement, low power optimization, and security enforcement. More specifically, we focus on optimizing the web platforms and virtual machines, meeting the QoS, real-time, and the low-power requirements for embedded system software, and enhancing security for smart devices via HW/SW co-design. We are making real-world contributions for diverse smart industries.

In the smart car research group, we conduct researches on new technologies for future automotive that will bring up big impacts on our society and diverse fields of industry. In particular, we focus on high-reliability connectivity between vehicles and other ‘things’, and automated driving technologies. Our research goal is to realize a safe and convenient vehicle through integration of various emerging technologies in the areas of communication, information security, real-time operating system, software, machine learning, sensor, environment perception, and control.

It has been considered that artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques will become the cornerstone for future technology because by modeling a part of human intelligence, they have opened up vast possibilities in various technical fields in today's market . The research topics of our group cover various aspects of artificial intelligence and machine learning: from designing better models and developing fundamental algorithms to applying such techniques to various technical fields including speech & audio recognition, natural language, channel prediction, computer vision, autonomous vehicles, knowledge discovery, healthcare and cyber-physical system & security.

We develop innovative application technologies such as quantum computers and secure quantum communications. Current research topics include quantum platforms, quantum protocols, quantum electronics, optical quantum analogy, optical engineering, photon signal processing, photon logics, and laser engineering.

We research on electric energy systems for solving the problems of energy depletions and environment pollutions, and the sustainable developments. Our research areas are ‘Power Electronics’ and ‘Electric Machine.’ The traditional electric energy systems consisted of the passive elements such as wire, transformer, and switch. But, the active elements have been recently introduced to the electric energy systems. New power circuits, electric machines, and the control are researched from the technologies of the power devices and various energy materials, and the developed information technology. The focused research areas are as follows: Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles/ Energy storage, conversion, charge, management/ Electric drives and electrifications/ Renewable energy device and systems including solar and wind energy / Robotic and electro-magnetic manipulation systems/ Various electric machines/ Electro-magnetic design, analysis, and optimization/ Superconducting devices and systems

Control engineering is related to studying, based on control theory, a way to govern the behavior of dynamic systems. It usually consists of sensing the output of the target system, computing the control input by feedback, and operating the actuators, all of which are the main ingredients of control engineering. Uncertainty that is inevitable in nature is one of the key obstacles that makes control hard, and handling uncertainty is one of main subjects in control engineering. It is fundamental to electrical and mechanical engineering, robotics, aerospace engineering, and mechatronics, and applicable to self-driving vehicles, drones, cyber-physical systems, smart grids, and so on.

We envision a world in which physical entities are tightly connected to the virtual world through vast networks of intelligent systems and robots, providing safety and convenience. For that purpose, we conduct research to improve adaptability, autonomy, efficiency, and reliability of engineered systems. Our research topics include robotics, machine learning, computer vision, and cyber-physical systems.

Integrated circuit (IC) is the key enabling technology that opened the era of personal computers and mobile devices, thanks to the 60-year sustained growth of the semiconductor fabrication technology and IC design methodologies. The currently established research fields include: high-speed data interfaces, clocking circuits such as PLL/DLLs, data converters between analog and digital, and wireless communication circuits. Thanks to the proliferation of IoT devices and machine-learning applications, some of the newly emerging areas are: sensor interface circuits, ultra-low-power digital circuits, micro energy harvesting circuits, and neuromorphic circuit and processor designs.

The emerging applications such as big data, artificial intelligence, and high-quality graphics/image processing typically require an enormous amount of computation. However, the existing computer architecture represented by von Neumann architecture is facing its limitation due to various problems including scalability, memory wall, and energy efficiency. This research group focuses on next generation computing technologies that can replace or supplement the existing ones. The current research topics include big data processing, neuromorphic computing, in-memory database, social computing, computer animation, high-definition image processing, and computer architecture with next-generation memory.

From wired telephones/Internet to the next-generation high-speed wireless Internet, we develop technologies for communication networks that are always available, secure, and fast. Our research goes beyond the traditional communication systems and includes the convergence technologies for Internet of Things (IoT), sensor networks, broadcast systems, automobiles, and power grid systems of tomorrow.

For the various and huge demand for information delivery in the information age, we develop digital wired/wireless communication systems and the related fundamental techniques. Our research interests include communications/information theory, coding theory, next generation mobile communication systems, wireless sensor networks, wireless channel modeling, and design and implementation of wired/wireless transceivers.

The next generation electrical, electronic, and communication systems will be implemented in a single chip with low power consumption. To realize such system, our group focuses on high-performance analog-digital integrated circuit implementation, SoC design methodology, low-power reconfigurable processor implementation, multicore processor design, hardware optimized code generation, and high-resolution video platforms.

We conduct research on the MEMS technology for micro-component of printers, vehicles, mobile phones, display, and bioengineering. Current research projects include design and implementation of inkjet head, micro sensors, micro switches, micro-mirror arrays, micro-lens, micro tips, bio chips, micro robots, ion separator and power-free desalination device.

In the future, the success of new technology will heavily rely on whether it would be able to utilize the vast amount of data generated in its respective field. Therefore, as we are determined to lead the future market, our group conducts research on the entire process of handling big data: designing efficient databases to store and manage data, running real-time data analysis and utilizing big data for artificial intelligence platforms in various technical fields (Healthcare, Computer vision, Search engines, Social network services, Computer security, etc.).