Kyunguk National University Shines on the Global Stage of Plant Health

First Place at the Plant Disease Diagnosis Competition
Innovative Achievements Driven by the Smart Disease Diagnosis System

National Kyungguk University (President Jung Taeju) has emerged as a new leader in advanced plant disease diagnostics, sweeping major awards-including first prize-at the Plant Disease Diagnosis Competition held during the 2025 Korean Society of Plant Pathology Fall International Conference.

Plant Disease Diagnosis Competition

The conference took place from October 21 to 24, 2025, at The-K Hotel Gyeongju, under the theme 'Korean Plant Pathology toward World Plant Health.' Approximately 600 domestic and international researchers participated to discuss the future of global plant health.

At the competition, Kim Heejin, a graduate student from the Clinical Plant Pathology Laboratory (supervised by Professor Jeon Yongho) in the Department of Plant Medicine at National Kyungguk University, won the highest honor-the first prize (Administrator Award from the Rural Development Administration). Following this, graduate students Kim Jungyeon and Ahn Hyeongeun each received the President's Award from the Korean Society of Plant Pathology, once again demonstrating the university's research competitiveness.

The competition was based on a list of 500 plant diseases in Korea and required participants to analyze and diagnose disease photos using smartphones within a limited time. Students from National Kyungguk University delivered outstanding results among participants from universities and research institutes nationwide, showcasing their precise disease identification skills and clinical analysis capabilities.

This achievement was made possible by the 'Comprehensive Plant Hospital Disease Diagnosis System,' established with the support of the university's Glocal University Promotion Team (headed by Lim Jaehwan).

This system is a smart disease diagnosis platform that combines artificial intelligence analysis and a database based on field photos. The award-winning students have been directly involved in building and improving this system.

Professor Jeon Yongho emphasized, "This achievement is the result of students developing diagnostic capabilities that allow them to solve problems not just in the laboratory, but also in the field," adding, "This award is a symbolic example of National Kyungguk University establishing itself as a leading model in clinical plant pathology education."

Meanwhile, the conference featured a total of over 400 research presentations, including 53 oral presentations and more than 350 poster presentations, fostering academic exchange.

The Korean Society of Plant Pathology presented a global vision of 'World Plant Health' through this event, providing an opportunity for domestic researchers to actively participate in the global plant health agenda.

A representative from the society stated, "The achievements of domestic researchers, including those from National Kyungguk University, have significantly elevated the international standing of Korean plant pathology," adding, "A new research ecosystem connecting academia, technology, and the field is taking shape."

The accomplishments of National Kyungguk University go beyond mere awards. They are the result of combining 'smart diagnostic technology' with a 'glocal education model' that bridges research and fieldwork, opening new horizons for the future of Korean agriculture and plant health, starting from the university laboratory.

Plant Disease Diagnosis Competition

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