Yang O-bong, President, has been selected as a Regular Member of the Korean Academy of Engineering, the most prestigious organization composed of leading scholars in engineering and technology in Korea.

The Korean Academy of Engineering is an academic research organization that identifies and recognizes outstanding engineers and technologists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of engineering and technology in academia, industry, and government. It selects members through a rigorous process. Experts who have contributed to national development through excellent research achievements and innovative technology development at companies, universities, and research institutes are nominated and then undergo a strict multi-stage review over ten months before selection.

Selected in the Chemical and Biological Engineering category, President Yang was appointed in 1995 as a professor in the Division of Chemical Engineering at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU). For 28 years he has devoted himself to education and research in renewable energy and energy systems. He has published a total of 140 papers in domestic and international journals, including 116 SCI-indexed papers, holds 25 registered patents, has given 234 academic presentations, and has authored eight books and translations in the fields of chemical engineering and environmental energy. He has been recognized for his significant contributions to the advancement of chemical and biological engineering, having served as president of the Korean Photovoltaic Society and as chair of the Catalysis Division of the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers, among other roles.

He also formed a consortium of seven universities, including Seoul National University and Korea University, under the Ministry of Education-supported "Digital New Technology Talent Training Innovative Shared University Project – Energy Industry," and served as the project director for the JBNU Project Group, contributing to talent development and advancement in the relevant fields. Through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy-supported "Energy Convergence Graduate School project," he established the Graduate School of Energy-AI Convergence, laying the foundation in Korea for graduate education that integrates energy and artificial intelligence to train master's and doctoral students.

In particular, President Yang led JBNU's successful selection for the Glocal University 30 project, a major issue in the higher education sector this year, and is leading JBNU's transformation and innovation toward a student-centered university, regional co-prosperity, and realization as a global hub university. He has also been appointed co-chair of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province National Support Committee, to be launched early next year, where he will work to unite provincial public support for new development in Jeonbuk.

In addition, as a member of the Saemangeum Committee he has made significant contributions to the dissemination of renewable energy and to R&D support. Through policy and research guidance provided to the Energy Economics Institute and the Environmental Policy Evaluation Institute affiliated with the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, he has made major contributions to expanding research support in the fields of chemical–biological engineering, energy, and the environment.

President Yang said, "I am deeply honored to become a member of the esteemed Korean Academy of Engineering. I will redouble my efforts to contribute to technological advancement and talent development in the field of renewable energy through exchanges with diverse researchers in engineering."