Professor Jeong Won-mo of Yonsei University, who researched beta and gamma ray detection, passes away

Scholar Focused on Radionuclide Detection Experiments
Also Developed Beta and Gamma Ray Detectors
Key Technology for Detecting 'Samjungsucho' (Tritium)

Professor Emeritus Jeong Won-mo of Yonsei University’s Department of Physics, who contributed to the field of nuclear physics experiments by developing beta and gamma ray spectrometers (detectors), passed away at 1:11 a.m. on the 7th due to old age. He was 91 years old.

Born in Gijang, Busan, the late professor graduated from Yonsei University’s Department of Physics and Meteorology (now Department of Physics) in 1955 and began teaching in the same university’s Department of Physics in 1958. He earned his Ph.D. in 1971 under the guidance of former Yonsei University President Ahn Se-dae, focusing on radionuclide detection experiments together with him.

Jeong Won-mo, Honorary Professor at Yonsei University Photo by Family

He dedicated his research to materials emitting beta rays such as tritium and achieved the remarkable feat of creating beta and gamma ray detectors. These detectors are essential technology for capturing tritium, which emits purely beta rays.

It is known that tritium is also contained in the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which the Japanese government plans to release into the ocean soon.

Until his retirement from the faculty in 1997, he trained numerous students in the field of nuclear physics and also served as Dean of Student Affairs and Dean of the College of Science at Yonsei University.

He authored dozens of papers, including research on the decay of Zirconium-95 (1973), and translated various foreign books such as Modern Physics (1983), Pioneers of Science: Nobel Physics Laureates (1992), and Particle and Radiation Detectors (1993).

He is survived by his wife Lee Young-hee, two sons and two daughters: Jeong Yeon-sook, Jeong Hee-sook, Jeong Jin-hyeok (professor in the Department of Urban Engineering at Yonsei University), and Jeong Jin-yong (businessman), as well as sons-in-law Nam In-hwan (director of Yonsei Nam In-hwan Dermatology Clinic) and Lee Ki-chang (businessman).

The late professor’s funeral is being held at the funeral hall of Sinchon Severance Hospital. The funeral procession will take place at 7 a.m. today, the 9th, and the burial site is Daejeon Memorial Park.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.