Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has selected and awarded 14 professors who achieved outstanding accomplishments last year in research, publications, teaching, employment, and service.

At the awards ceremony, Professor Lee Yong-cheol (Medical School) and Professor Son Jeong-rak (Department of Psychology) received the top prizes in the papers category. Professor Kang Jun-man (Department of Media and Communication Studies) won the top prize in the publications category. Professor Lee Hwa-dong (Department of Korean Music) received the top prize in the employment category. Professor Choi Won-gyu (Department of Social Welfare) received the top prize in the service category. Professor Ko Soo-il (Department of Business Administration) was honored with the top award for excellent teaching.

Professor Lee Yong-cheol, who won the top prize in the natural sciences papers category, published 12 papers over the past year, including nine in SCI journals ranked within the top 10% in the respiratory field. He serves as director of a Specialized Center for the Development of Lung Injury Treatments designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and is conducting the most active domestic research on intractable pulmonary diseases.

Professor Son Jeong-rak, who won the top prize in the humanities and social sciences papers category, authored 14 papers and served as president of the Korean Psychological Association, contributing significantly to both research and the advancement of psychology.

Professor Kang Jun-man, the top prize recipient in the publications category, published 11 books over the past year and has received this award every year since 2007.

Professor Lee Hwa-dong, the top prize recipient in the employment category, secured a kindergarten arts-education coupling project from the Jeonbuk Provincial Government, which led to employment for 30 graduates and helped significantly raise the Department of Korean Music's employment rate.

In addition, Professor Ko Soo-il, who received the top teaching award, taught "Organizational Behavior" and "Organizational Structure" last year and received the highest teaching evaluations.

Professor Choi Won-gyu, recipient of the top service award, has led seven overseas volunteer delegations to date and was recognized for contributions to improving social workers' rights and promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities through various external activities.

Excellence Awards were presented to Kim Hak-yong (Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering) and Professor Yoon Myung-sook (Department of Social Welfare) in the papers category, and to Professor Wang Cheol (Department of English Language & Literature) in the teaching category. Encouragement Awards were given to Son In-jin (Division of Advanced Materials Engineering) and Professor Park Sang-joon (Department of Business Administration) in the papers category; to Professor Kang Du-ho (Department of Ethics Education) in the teaching category; and to teaching assistants Yang Eun-in (Department of Food Science and Technology) and Yoo Eun-young (Division of Advanced Materials Engineering) in the employment category.

At the awards ceremony, President Seo Geoseok stated, "Many professors have generously contributed to the university's development, but those selected as outstanding professors have played an exceptional role in enhancing our university's competitiveness. We will expand various support measures to create a university where professors can demonstrate outstanding abilities in improved environments."

Meanwhile, awardees received a total of KRW 39,000,000 in prize money, with the highest individual award being up to KRW 5,000,000.