Four KIOST Researchers Named Among "World's Most Influential Researchers"

Three Consecutive Years of HCR Recognition
Demonstrating Unrivaled Excellence in Marine Environmental Research
The Einsteins of the Sea! Four KIOST Researchers
Proving World-Class Influence

The status of Korea's marine science has once again been proven to be among the best in the world.

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (President Lee Heeseung, KIOST) announced that four of its researchers-Shim Wonjun, Advisor at the South Sea Research Institute; Hong Sanghee, Principal Researcher; Han Kimyung, Principal Research Engineer; and Jang Mi, Senior Researcher-have been selected as "2025 Highly Cited Researchers (HCR)" by Clarivate, the U.S. company that manages the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).

KIOST has produced researchers selected for three consecutive years since its first nomination in 2023, and this year marks its highest number of honorees to date.

SCIE refers to the Science Citation Index Expanded, a database of research papers and academic studies.

All four researchers were selected in the "Environment and Ecology" category.

Advisor Shim Wonjun was honored for the third consecutive year, while Principal Researcher Hong Sanghee was selected for the second year in a row. Principal Research Engineer Han Kimyung and Senior Researcher Jang Mi were named for the first time this year.

This year, a total of 6,868 researchers from 60 countries were selected as HCRs worldwide. In Korea, KIOST ranked among the top five institutions alongside Kyung Hee University and Yeungnam University.

Notably, in the "Environment and Ecology" category, only four researchers from Korea were selected, all of whom are affiliated with KIOST, demonstrating that the institute's research capabilities in marine environmental science are at the highest global level.

These researchers have conducted a wide range of studies at the KIOST South Sea Research Institute's Ecological Risk Research Division, investigating the pollution levels and environmental behavior of marine microplastics. Their research has provided scientific evidence to policymakers both domestically and internationally and has played a significant role in raising public awareness about the importance of marine environmental protection.

Advisor Shim Wonjun is a globally recognized authority in the field of marine pollution. To date, he has published more than 213 research papers in international journals on marine pollution, including microplastic contamination, and his work has been cited over 16,500 times.

Jin Wonjun, Senior Researcher at KIOST.

Principal Researcher Hong Sanghee has conducted research on the impact of persistent pollutants and marine plastics on marine ecosystems. She has published more than 173 papers in international journals, with a total citation count exceeding 12,300. Since 2015, she has served as the principal investigator for national R&D projects related to marine microplastics.

Sanghee Hong, Principal Researcher at KIOST.

Principal Research Engineer Han Kimyung, selected for the first time this year, has jointly conducted research on the assessment of persistent pollutants and marine microplastic contamination, co-authoring over 30 papers in international journals. He has also played a crucial role in providing analytical and technical support, which is essential for the execution of national R&D projects, thereby strengthening the foundation of research.

KIOST Han Kimyung, Principal Research Engineer.

Senior Researcher Jang Mi is an expert who has focused on the issue of marine pollution caused by microplastics and related chemicals. She has published more than 30 papers in international journals, with her work cited over 8,000 times. In particular, she has identified the impact of hazardous chemicals within marine plastic debris on the environment and organisms, and was the first in Korea to systematically reveal the status of "plastic-derived chemical" pollution.

Jang Mi, Senior Researcher at KIOST.

Each year, Clarivate in the United States selects and announces researchers from around the world who have published the most Highly Cited Papers-those in the top 1% by citations over the past 11 years-in fields such as environment, ecology, chemistry, engineering, microbiology, and social sciences. This recognition is given to only about 0.1% of all researchers worldwide.

President Lee Heeseung stated, "I am extremely proud that KIOST researchers have been selected as Highly Cited Researchers for three consecutive years, and that this year we have the highest number of honorees ever. We will continue to actively support our researchers to further strengthen their capabilities in various fields and achieve world-class research outcomes."

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