K-Health_MIRAE Initiative

Chang-mo Sung currently serves as the Mission PM Center Director for the K-Health MIRAE Initiative. He is also an adjunct professor at Korea University's Green School and was an endowed professor at KIRD, under the Ministry of Science and ICT, from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, he served as the National Project Director for the 'National Science Grand Challenge Initiative' (2020-2022), also under the Ministry of Science and ICT. He has effectively utilized Nature Navigator and Dimensions AI to understand global networks, competitors, and funding trends in the biomedical research field.

Chang-mo Sung served for five years as president and CTO of Hyosung Technical Center. Before that, from 1992 to 2004, he was a tenured professor in the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he participated in research projects for the NSF, DARPA, and the U.S. Army. After 22 years in the U.S., he returned to South Korea in 2004 to become the president of Inje University in Busan.

As a professor of biochemical engineering, he completed projects for biomedical companies like Johnson & Johnson, MilliporeSigma, and Boston Scientific, located on Boston's Route 128 and 495. He also mentored 32 master's and Ph.D. students and seven postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Mo has authored over 100 academic papers and given more than 150 invited lectures in the fields of biomaterials and nanoengineering. He earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh University in the United States.

Kee-Jong Hong PM graduated from Seoul National University's College of Natural Sciences in 1988 and earned his master's degree in Biology from the same university. He then moved to the U.S., where he received his Ph.D. in Science from Texas Tech University. Afterward, he conducted research on infection and immunity as a researcher at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the University of Kansas Medical Center. In 2006, he began his research and administrative career in Korea at the National Institute of Health, under the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (now the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency). He continued to build his career in government institutions as a principal researcher, public health researcher, and research group leader until 2014. Subsequently, he served as the Director of Research Planning at the Institut Pasteur Korea and as an R&D executive at mid-sized companies like Interpark Bio Convergence Research Institute. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Microbiology at Gachon University College of Medicine.

After returning to Korea, Kee-Jong Hong PM has dedicated 20 years primarily to developing vaccines and diagnostic technologies to prepare for infectious disease pandemics. His major achievements during his time at the National Institute of Health include developing anthrax, avian influenza, and tularemia vaccines. Currently, he is still conducting research on mRNA vaccine development for diseases such as Nipah virus, Japanese encephalitis, and bacterial dysentery. In 2022, he was selected as the head of the 'Novel Infectious Disease mRNA Vaccine Project Group (KmVAC)', organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, where he has been leading the advancement of domestic mRNA vaccine research and industry.

Since June 2024, Kee-Jong Hong PM has been appointed as the Project Manager (PM) for the Public Health Security sector of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative. In this role, he is responsible for the development of vaccines, treatments, and related technologies to respond to and prepare for new pandemics. He has held various prominent positions, including Director of the Infectious Disease Research Institute at Gachon University, member of the Convergence Subcommittee for the Health and Medical Technology Policy Deliberation Committee, Chairman of the Academic Committee for the Korean Association of Immunologists, and Editor-in-Chief for the Korean Society for Virology. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of the Korean Society of Zoonoses and as Editor-in-Chief for the journal 'Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research (CEVR)' by the Korean Society of Vaccines. After a long tenure as an advisor to the International Vaccine Institute, he has also been serving since 2024 as a Scientific Advisory Board member for the Institut Pasteur Korea, a project selection committee member for the Right Foundation, and a scientific committee member for the CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations).

• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccines
• Treatments
• Pandemic
• Health Security
• Vaccine Sovereignty
• GlobalHub
• mRNA Technology

Youn-Been Kim PM graduated from Sookmyung Women's University with a degree in Pharmacy and earned her MBA from Yonsei University Graduate School. She has over 20 years of experience working for multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer and Novartis. Notably, in 2006, she initiated and led Novartis Venture Fund's investment operations in Korea. Subsequently, from 2008 to 2017, she served as the Head of International Collaboration and Research Operations at the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases in Singapore, where she successfully concluded over 500 contracts for infectious disease drug development collaborations.

In 2018, she was appointed as the founding CEO of the RIGHT Fund, a global health research fund jointly established by Korean pharmaceutical companies, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this role, she led initiatives to support domestic health technology development aimed at resolving healthcare inequality in developing countries. From 2022 to 2023, she also served as a global pharmaceutical expert consultant for the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

• Unmet Medical Needs
• Intractable Diseases
• Rare Diseases
• Treatments
• Diagnostics
• Vaccines
• Digital Health Technology

• Development of highly sensitive and accessible early detection methods for the ten most prevalent cancers in the Korean populationMore

• Ultra-Fast Validation and Development of Novel Drug Targets for Cold Tumors refractory to current treatmentMore

• Establishing an optimization platform for developing patient-customized cancer vaccinesMore

Young-Jae Cho PM graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine in 2002 and earned both his Master of Public Health and Ph.D. in Medicine from the same university. Since 2011, he has been a professor in the Division of Pulmonology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.

As a clinician, Young-Jae Cho PM is a specialist in pulmonology and critical care medicine. He oversees the overall operation of critical care systems, with a particular focus on diagnosing and treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and severe hospital-acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit. He is also an expert in applying Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with severe respiratory failure. Dr. Cho has performed over 1,000 percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies, a minimally invasive procedure aimed at early liberation from mechanical ventilation and reducing hospital stays for critically ill patients. He has also educated and disseminated these techniques to other critical care specialists. He successfully established and operated the hospital's rapid response team, "SAFER," and continues to be an active member of the team. Furthermore, he introduced lung ultrasound into clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also provides necessary care in areas such as sleep-disordered breathing requiring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, and interventional bronchoscopy and invasive respiratory procedures.

After completing short and long-term training at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Bioengineering and Seoul National University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, Young-Jae Cho PM has been actively engaged in new translational research. This includes acquiring patient-derived lung cells and conducting 3D cell culture research using lung-on-a-chip technology and organoids. He collaborates with basic scientists in the US, Europe, and Korea. In connection with this, he serves as a PM for the Advanced Bio Subcommittee at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, a technical expert for ISO TC 276 at the Korean Standards Association, and a steering committee member for the Alternative Animal Testing Methods at the Korea Bio-pharmaceutical Association. He continues his Disruptive Biohealth activities, contributing to patent applications and registrations for research outcomes, founding companies in the Red Bio sector, and establishing national verification centers in the MPS field.

Currently, Young-Jae Cho PM serves as the Associate Editor for the Journal of the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Director of Standardization for the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Director of Policy for the Korean Sleep Research Society. He has received numerous accolades, including the Young Investigator Award from the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine (2019), the Academic Award from the Korean Association of Internal Medicine (2021), and the Hanmaum Academic Award from the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (2024). Starting in September 2024, he began a secondment as the PM for the Disruptive Biohealth sector of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, where he has pioneered the planning of Korea's first space medicine project.

• Advanced Bio
• Innovative Medical Technology
• Translational Medicine
• Space Medicine
• Future Medicine

Seung-Kyu Yi PM was appointed as the PM for the Welfare and Care sector of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, starting in March 2025. In this role, he is tasked with leading a new Future Welfare and Care Revolution aimed at improving healthy life expectancy in a super-aged society. With a diverse academic background including molecular biology (bachelor's, master's), an MBA, and technology policy (Ph.D.), he seeks to pursue balanced and integrated innovation in welfare and care systems through the application of science and technology.

Prior to joining the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, Seung-Kyu Yi PM conducted research on angiogenesis and stroke at SK Inc. Life Science Group (now SK Biopharmaceuticals). Subsequently, he spent 19 years at the Korea Institute of S&T Planning and Evaluation (KISTEP), where he specialized in technology forecasting, identifying promising future technologies, and conducting preliminary feasibility studies for national R&D projects in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, and healthcare. He has also amassed diverse research experience, including predicting future societies shaped by digital transformation, devising integration strategies for a unified Korea's national innovation system, exploring ways to improve quality of life through science and technology, developing science and technology policies for socio-economic system innovation, and formulating challenge-driven innovation R&D policies. Notably, starting in 2018, he served as the Director of the Science and Technology Policy Center for Social Problems under the Ministry of Science and ICT, tasked with identifying societal challenges and establishing problem-solving R&D policies to address them. In the realm of healthcare R&D, his contributions include serving as the General Project Manager for the Fostering Research-Driven Hospitals initiative (R&D) in 2011. He also held positions as a specialist committee member for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Health and Medical Technology Policy Deliberation Committee and as Chairman of the Future Forecasting Subcommittee for the Future Medical Expedition. Since 2018, he has continuously participated in building Korea's HT innovation system as a research committee member for the Health and Medical Technology Policy Deliberation Committee.

• AXBased System Innovation
• Preparing For Ultra Aged Society
• Sustainable Care And Welfare
• Healthy Longevity Improvement
• Healthcare And Care Linkage

• Development of a personalized service to prevent and slow cognitive decline for a super-aged society, based on a brain cognitive reserve foundation modelMore

• Development of an AI-based preventive care service for frailty in a super-aged societyMore

Chang-Hyun Lee PM is currently a professor in the Department of Medical Device Industry at Seoul National University College of Medicine and has been a professor in the Department of Radiology at Seoul National University Hospital since 2004. He has served in various roles, including the head of the Department of Radiology at Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, and held several directorships within the Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology. Since 2017, he has been appointed as a board member of the IWPFI, and since 2015, he has been a Fellow of the Society of Advanced Body Imaging (SABI, formerly SCBTMR, Society of Computer Body Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging), engaging in academic activities both domestically and internationally. In 2018, he developed the radiation dose management software (Dose M) for medical institutions, contributing to the domestic healthcare industry by exporting it abroad. He received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for his contributions to the healthcare industry, including his expertise in diagnostic radiation dose measurement and management, which led him to represent Korea at the IAEA on multiple occasions.

His major recent research achievement was successfully leading a multi-institutional study from 2018 to 2022 as the Principal Investigator for the research project, "Structural and Functional Evaluation of Environmentally Induced Lung Diseases through CT Image Matching Technology Development," which received substantial research funding. This study aimed to evaluate the structure and function of lung diseases using CT-based imaging technology and computational fluid dynamics. It involved a multi-layered approach, including exposure experiments on lung organoids, cells, and animals, as well as CT imaging, to assess the occurrence and adverse effects of lung diseases due to exposure to environmental harmful factors like humidifier disinfectants and fine dust. Notably, the inspiratory-expiratory CT image-based lung disease cohort established by his research team is unparalleled globally, and expanded international collaborative research is currently underway, linking with disease-specific cohorts in other countries, including the United States.

Recently, he was appointed as a PM for the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, taking charge of the Essential Health Service sector. His primary research areas include the diagnosis and evaluation of various environmental lung diseases using functional lung imaging, as well as imaging diagnostics utilizing computational fluid simulation, digital twin, and AI in chronic lung diseases.

• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Lung Cancer
• Essential Healthcare
• Imaging Diagnostics
• AI
• Digital Twin

• Development of a Multimodal AI-Based Regionally Integrated Smart Emergency Patient Triage and Optimal Transport SystemMore

• AI Development of an AI-Based Real-Time Multi Institutional ICU Management and Transport SystemMore

• Development of a humanoid Physical AI surgical assistant robot system for creating an efficient surgical environmentMore

Misun Park PM is a convergence expert with over 25 years of accumulated domestic and international experience in advanced biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and regulatory science, organically connecting science, policy, and industry. Currently, as the PM for the 'Overcoming Unmet Medical Needs' sector at the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, she is planning national strategic R&D focused on developing patient-specific treatments for rare and intractable diseases and conducting advanced bio-based translational research.

After earning her Ph.D. in Pharmacy from Pusan National University, she spent over 10 years building the foundation for regulatory science at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, where she led projects such as genotoxicity assessment, gene therapy evaluation technology, and the national toxicogenomics project. Subsequently, in 2007, she worked for six years as a postdoctoral researcher, instructor, and assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ, now Rutgers Medical School), followed by four years as an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University Medical Center. During this time, she conducted research on cardiovascular disease mechanisms and therapeutic development, accumulating academic achievements including numerous SCI papers and the American Physiological Society's Distinguished Investigator Award. Since returning to Korea in 2018, she has served as a research professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine, conducting non-clinical research on iPSC-derived cell therapies and biomaterials. She later held positions such as Head of Advanced Bio-Convergence Research Division at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Planning Director at the Korea Regulatory Science Center, actively working to build a policy framework that organically connects academia, regulatory bodies, and industry.

She has overseen national research projects focused on establishing quality standards and evaluation technologies for novel therapies, including cell and gene therapies, as well as exosomes, organoids, microbiomes, and gene-editing technologies. She possesses extensive practical experience in multi-agency project planning and public-private partnerships. Furthermore, she has contributed to global regulatory harmonization and the expansion of collaborative ecosystems through her international network with organizations such as the U.S. FDA, NIH, Japan's PMDA, and USP.

Misun Park PM aims to contribute to public health and future medical innovation by planning and promoting science-based R&D with strong execution capabilities and practical experience. Her goal is to provide tangible treatment opportunities for patients with rare and intractable diseases.

• Rare And Intractable Diseases
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Advanced Biopharmaceuticals
• Regenerative Medicine
• Regulatory Science

• Development of a patient-customized innovative treatment platform for pediatric rare diseases and N-of-1 clinical trialsMore

• Patient-customized gene therapy to overcome vision loss from hereditary eye diseasesMore

Chang-Bog Lee PM is currently responsible for Disruptive Biohealth as part of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, aiming to solve national public health challenges.

With over 30 years of experience at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, he began his career in the electronics research lab, contributing to the development of DVDR and digital printers. He also spearheaded efficiency improvements in research operations by implementing groupware. In HR planning, he was instrumental in introducing the matrix organizational structure to secure core competencies and established the Fellow and Master systems for nurturing researchers, both of which are still in operation today.

In 2013, to foster change and innovation in Korea's scientific and technological community, he designed the Samsung Future Technology Incubation Program as a public interest project. He launched three major programs: Basic Science, Materials Technology, and ICT Creativity, and as the head of the ICT team, he oversaw the selection of over 250 projects and managed the allocation of more than 260 billion won in research funds. This program has since become recognized as the most sought-after R&D fund among young researchers.

Based on this wealth of experience and network, the K-Health MIRAE Initiative aims to gather innovative and challenging ideas to secure ultra-gap technologies in the biohealth sector. This initiative seeks to tackle complex public health challenges by fostering R&D that embraces creativity and isn't afraid of failure.

• Digital Biohealth
• Medical Twin
• Systems Biology
• Quantum Bio

• Development of an All-in-one 3D Vital Node for DLCMore

• Innovation in new drug technology development using quantum technologyMore

Jae-Wook Lee PM earned both his Bachelor's and Ph.D. in Microbiology with a focus on Molecular Biology from Kyungpook National University. He then pursued postdoctoral research in immunology at UCSF and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S., where he developed world-class research capabilities studying the molecular mechanisms of immune responses.

After returning to Korea, Jae-Wook Lee PM served as a Senior Researcher at biotech companies like Mediscove Co., Ltd. and EnsolBiosciences Inc. In these roles, he was involved in various R&D activities, including developing drug target identification platforms, researching treatments for degenerative and infectious diseases, and facilitating technology commercialization. His hands-on experience in addressing real-world industrial challenges has given him a deep understanding of how to translate research findings into practical applications and successful businesses.

For over a decade, as a Principal Researcher and Center Director at the New Drug Development Support Center of the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, he oversaw project planning, evaluation, and commercialization strategies for the development of biopharmaceuticals, including vaccines, antibody therapies, and cell and gene therapies. He possesses extensive experience in planning and securing core platform technologies, particularly those related to AI-based immunogenicity assessment and immune response prediction.

Most recently, Jae-Wook Lee PM served as the Head of the Immunology Business Unit at Preclina Inc., where he spearheaded the advancement of their AI-based immune analysis and evaluation platform. He has also contributed to national R&D strategy formulation and the establishment of multi-agency cooperation systems in public health security, acting as an advisory committee member for policy and research planning for government ministries, including the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Since May 2025, he has been appointed as a PM for the Public Health Security sector of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative. In this role, he's leading high-risk, high-impact projects such as developing universal vaccine platform technologies for pandemic response, establishing early infectious disease prediction and rapid response systems, and developing treatments for intractable infectious diseases. Through these efforts, he aims to contribute to achieving national goals of securing vaccine sovereignty, resolving healthcare inequality, establishing a robust public health security system, and strengthening global competitiveness.

• Early Infectious Disease Prediction And Rapid Response
• Universal Vaccine Technology Development
• Achieving Medical Equality
• Strengthening Health Security System

• Development of Vaccine Technology for Ultra-Long-Term Stockpile (Development of Ultra-Long-Term Vaccine Stockpiling Technologies)More

• Development of a modular production system capable of ultra-rapid production of vaccines for pandemic response (Development of a decentralized vaccine production system)More

• Development of therapeutics to suppress severe cases for responding to infectious disease pandemicsMore

Hee-Chul Han PM was appointed as the PM for the Welfare and Care sector of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, starting in May 2025. In this role, he is tasked with leading the Future Welfare and Care Revolution, aimed at enhancing the quality of life and healthy life expectancy in a super-aged society. With a background in medicine, particularly in physiological research, he possesses a deep understanding of the human body's operational mechanisms. He seeks to pursue innovation in welfare and care systems through the application of science and technology from a balanced and integrated perspective.

Prior to joining the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, he conducted medical research at Korea University College of Medicine for over 40 years, giving him a profound understanding of the research landscape. He has also contributed to setting the direction for medical research and fostering medical researchers through his roles with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Health and Medical R&D Strategy Planning단 and as the Chairman of the Convergence Physician-Scientist Steering Committee. Based on this experience, he is committed to creatively and proactively addressing the various challenges that diminish the quality of life in an aging society, thereby innovating welfare and care services.

• Preparing For Ultra Aged Society
• Sustainable Care And Welfare
• Quality Of Life Improvement
• Healthy Longevity Improvement
• Healthcare And Care Linkage

• Development of multi-modal sarcopenia treatment technology (for comprehensive improvement of muscle mass and function)More

• Development of an integrated Digital Care (CareOn) Solution to ensure basic living standards for frail older adults and improve the quality of medical care servicesMore

PM Jaeuk Kim is currently responsible for the Biohealth Innovation sector as part of the K-Health MIRAE Initiative, aiming to solve national public health challenges. After majoring in quantum and nano physics at POSTECH, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and KAIST, he spent approximately 16 years at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), a national research institute. During this time, he consistently conducted research on integrating physics, ICT, and AI technologies into the fields of medicine and Korean medicine.

Recently, aiming to address dementia—a core challenge of an ultra-aged society—he independently developed a low-cost, non-invasive "band-type EEG and eye-tracking convergence technology" that can replace existing high-cost, hospital-centered screening systems. This technology is significant as it presents the possibility of expanding dementia risk assessment beyond specialized medical institutions to proactive management systems based on local communities and daily life.

Furthermore, to more effectively prevent and manage major mental disorders such as depression and degenerative brain diseases including dementia, he has led the development of Digital Therapeutics (DTx) applicable in daily environments and Korean medicine-based convergence electroceutical technology using acupoint stimulation. Through these efforts, he sought to establish a new treatment and management paradigm that organically connects technology, clinical practice, and daily living environments.

In addition to his research experience in the field, he has accumulated expertise throughout the entire cycle of national health R&D policy, planning, and evaluation. This was achieved through participation in numerous government committees, including preliminary feasibility studies and large-scale project planning for national R&D projects of the Ministry of Science and ICT, medical device technical and clinical evaluations for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the establishment of basic health technology plans.

Based on this field-oriented research experience and networks in policy, regulation, and investment, PM Jaeuk Kim aims to discover and secure ultra-gap technologies in the bio and medical device sectors to solve the public health challenges pursued by the K-Health MIRAE Initiative. He intends to promote biohealth innovation that the public can truly experience through bold challenges that do not fear failure and multidisciplinary convergence.

• Extending Healthy Life Expectancy
• AI-AX Based Intelligent Healthcare Systems
• Digital Therapeutics & Electroceuticals
• Next-Generation Bio-Convergence Based on Quantum Biology