On October 27, 2025, SeoulTech’s two undergraduate students published research papers as first authors in international academic journals.

The students, seniors Bomin Seol and Jiyu Kim from the Department of Future Energy Convergence, conducted their research under the guidance of Professor Seunghoon Yoo.

Analyzing Renewable Energy Policy

Bomin Seol published a paper titled “Public perspective on increasing renewable energy use ratio in public buildings in South Korea.” This paper appeared in Sustainability, a journal indexed in the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI).

Seol’s research looked at the economic side of using more renewable energy in public buildings. Specifically, the study evaluated whether it is economically feasible to increase the ratio of renewable energy usage. The paper provides data on how the public views energy transition policies. This data can be used to make decisions about mandatory renewable energy use in government buildings.

Focusing on Nuclear Waste Solutions

Jiyu Kim published a paper titled “Public willingness to pay for interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in South Korea”. This research was published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology, a journal listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).

Kim’s paper deals with the issue of storing spent nuclear fuel, which is often a sensitive topic. The study assessed the “social acceptance” of interim storage facilities. It did this by analyzing how much the public is willing to pay for these facilities. This research offers insight into the social costs of managing radioactive waste, which is a key challenge for national energy policy.

Student and University Reactions

Seol and Kim shared their thoughts on the publication.

“As the first graduates of a newly established department, we are grateful to publish papers in international journals as first authors. We plan to continue challenging ourselves in various research areas to improve our expertise in the future energy field.”

While it is rare for undergraduate students in Korea to be listed as first authors in international journals, it is even more unusual for two students from the first class of a new department to achieve this at the same time.

A Strong Start for a New Department

The Department of Future Energy Convergence was established in 2022 to cultivate experts capable of leading the future energy industry through a multidisciplinary approach. While it is rare for undergraduate students in Korea to be listed as first authors in international journals, these achievements are particularly notable as the department is newly established, with its first cohort of seven students scheduled to graduate in February 2026. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the department’s curriculum and research environment. Moving forward, the faculty is committed to nurturing creative talents equipped with international competitiveness. The ultimate goal is to produce professionals who possess both critical thinking skills and practical capabilities.

Reporter

Jieun Park

pk325382@g.seoultech.ac.kr

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• e-mail : pk325382@g.seoultech.ac.kr