Professor Song Jinwon of Korea University College of Medicine Elected as New Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea

Recognized for Achievements in Virus Research

On the 19th, Korea University College of Medicine announced that Professor Jinwon Song of the Department of Microbiology was elected as a new member of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea, in recognition of his achievements in virus research.

Members of the National Academy of Sciences are selected through a review process after multiple candidates are recommended by representative academic organizations in each academic field. The total number of members is limited to 150, with 75 in the humanities and social sciences division and 75 in the natural sciences division. According to the National Academy of Sciences Act, members hold lifetime membership status and receive research-related support from the government.

Professor Song, the first alumnus of Korea University College of Medicine to be elected as a member of the Academy, is described by the university as a researcher with outstanding achievements in virus research. He discovered six new viruses in total, including four viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae family and two adenoviruses from Antarctica, and developed diagnostic methods and surveillance systems for hantaviruses using next-generation sequencing technology.

In addition, he has published the academic research series "Hantavirology" and over 170 academic papers. Professor Song has received the National Academy of Sciences Award in 2011, the Lee Ho Wang Award from the International Society for Hantaviruses in 2013, and the Korea University Alumni Association Academic Award in 2023. He has served as president of the Korean Society for Virology and as vice dean for research at Korea University, and is currently serving as president of the International Society for Hantaviruses.

Professor Song expressed his honor, saying, "It is a great honor to be elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the representative academic institution of the Republic of Korea," and added, "I will devote myself to academic research activities to advance the field of virology research in Korea, the pioneering country in hantavirus research."

Professor Jinwon Song, Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine.
[Photo by Korea University College of Medicine]

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