4 June 2026

Members of IBS, fellow researchers and technical professionals and the people of Korea,
It is my great pleasure to greet you as the fourth Preident of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS).

Although I previously had frequent opportunities to meet many of you as Director of the Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations, today I am greeting you for the first time as IBS President. I feel a renewed sense of purpose, along with a deep sense of responsibility.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to distinguished guests who have joined us today to celebrate and mark IBS’s new beginning, as well as to all members of IBS, including principal investigators, researchers, and administrative staff.

My deep gratitude and respect also go to former Presidents OH Se-Jung, KIM Doochul, and NOH Do Young, who have led IBS with distinction through many challenges, including the establishment of IBS Centers, the construction of headquarters and campus center buildings, the development of heavy-ion accelerators, and periods of budgetary difficulty. I also sincerely thank Director KIM Yeongduk for his dedicated service as Acting President since last year.

IBS members,
Fifteen years ago, Korea launched a bold initiative. IBS, established through this initiative, has advanced basic science in our country and reshaped the research landscape.

By granting autonomy and stability in a world-class infrastructure and a collaborative research system, IBS has grown into an institution on par with the world’s leading research organizations. At IBS, we are now witnessing firsthand the emergence of numerous discoveries and scientific insights.
The IBS of today is built upon the dedication and passion of all our researchers and staff, where we can take great pride.

However, we now stand at another major turning point. The past fifteen years have demonstrated that Korea can stand alongside the world’s leading research institutions. Now, the question before us is how IBS will lead and contribute to global science.
Today, the global scientific order is being reshaped at an extraordinary pace, with nations supported by vast capital and human resources building large-scale research systems of unprecedented scale. Quantitative excellence, measured solely by the number of publications in prestigious journals, can no longer determine the direction of global science. At the frontier of knowledge, what matters most is who asks bold new questions and sets new directions.
At this juncture, IBS must take an even bolder step forward. While it has so far demonstrated strong capabilities based on excellence, it is time to act decisively to place new discoveries and new concepts at the core of our mission.
Research that explores uncharted territories, opens new fields, and transforms academic paradigms represents the highest value of IBS.
From this perspective, I would like to outline five action plans for establishing IBS as a global Discovery Hub.

First, IBS will prepare for the future by introducing “Frontier Research Centers.” Historically, many world-changing achievements have originated from innovative researchers in their 30s and 40s. As Chief Talent Officer, I will identify and recruit outstanding early-career researchers. IBS will also provide full support to enable them to grow while pursuing bold and innovative ideas.
Over the next five years, IBS will establish more than ten “Frontier Research Centers” and foster new discoveries and new concepts, thereby significantly strengthening the dynamism and diversity of the research ecosystem.

Second, IBS will implement an open and collaborative research system. IBS researchers will conduct collaborative research in an open and integrated manner with leading partners, including universities, research institutes, industry, and hospitals in Korea and abroad.
IBS will actively expand collaboration with industry to respond to the rapidly evolving technological landscape. At the same time, we will provide greater flexibility tailored to the characteristics and needs of each research group, enhancing the impact of research outcomes.

Third, IBS will strengthen the competitiveness of HQ Centers and further expand research infrastructure. While all IBS Centers are important, the HQ Centers Daejeon is the core of IBS. Building on the newly completed second headquarters building, IBS will emerge as a global Discovery Hub. The new HQ facilities will be further expanded and effectively utilized to ensure IBS’s momentum in producing world-class research outcomes. In addition, IBS will proceed with the phased establishment of Centers at UNIST, GIST, and DGIST campuses, so that IBS Centers become regional Discovery Hubs.
The appointment of a new Director of the Institute for Rare Isotope Science (IRIS) will be made early on to ensure its stable operations. Full support from IBS will enable IRIS to serve as a globally competitive user facility, actively utilized by researchers in Korea and abroad, while generating original scientific achievements.

Fourth, IBS will shape future-oriented research directions. It is an enduring mission of basic science to address fundamental questions about the universe and celestial bodies, the Earth and ecosystems, human life, and matter and energy. Global leadership requires IBS to broaden its strategic research scope in line with the changing scientific landscape.
This explains why single-level biological research must be extended beyond to systems life science, seeking to understand life as an integrated whole. IBS must also be the pioneer in emerging fields such as quantum science, synthetic biology, advanced materials, gene therapy, and brain–computer interfaces.
Research on carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles—once studied separately across chemistry, atmospheric science, geology, and plant physiology—is now integrated within the broader framework of the Anthropocene, which examines human impact on the Earth system as a whole.
At the same time, research methodologies are rapidly evolving with advances in computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, moving beyond traditional laboratory-based approaches.
Adapting to this rapidly changing environment and setting new directions cannot be achieved alone. It requires the collective efforts of all members of IBS – from directors, principal investigators, and research group leaders at the forefront of research, as well as administrative and technical staff – working together as partners.

Fifth, IBS will earn the trust of the public and foster a healthy, people-centered organizational culture. IBS is a research institution sustained by the trust and support of the people. The basic science we pursue today lays the foundation for the world in which future generations will live. Therefore, we must engage continuously with the public and society so that they can understand and appreciate the fundamental questions we seek to answer and their importance for the future of humanity and Korea. IBS will also work to promote a culture of science that inspires future generations to pursue their scientific aspirations.

An outstanding IBS can exist only through the combined efforts of researchers who persevere in tackling long-standing challenges, a culture that embraces the possibility of failure, and exceptional administrative and technical support.

As IBS President, I will regard listening to and supporting every member as equal to nurturing outstanding talent. Through open and inclusive communication, IBS will foster an organizational culture in which we respect one another and grow together.

Having been with IBS since its early days as an IBS Director, I have come to appreciate the tremendous potential and strengths of IBS. Nevertheless, I will remain vigilant and reflective, ensuring that familiarity never allow me to overlook what requires attention. Share your honest feedback at any time—whether regarding challenges and frustrations in your work, institutional issues that require improvement, or candid criticisms of IBS. Bringing together world-leading researchers and dedicated administrative professionals, IBS is the place where the power of collective intelligence can flourish.

The beginning of IBS fifteen years ago marked a new chapter for basic science in Korea. Now, as pioneers at the forefront of discovery, we at IBS must lead the next era. IBS must become a driving force that charts new directions and shapes the future. Together, let us open that future.

Thank you.