The Institute for Basic Science has appointed Professor CHUNG Yeonseok of the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University as the new Director of the Center for Viral Immunology at the IBS Korea Virus Research Institute (KVRI). Professor Chung will officially begin his appointment on March 1.

Professor Chung is a globally recognized immunologist whose research centers on the mechanisms regulating immune cell differentiation and function. His work spans a broad spectrum of diseases, including infectious diseases, allergies, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. After earning his Ph.D. from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University, he conducted postdoctoral research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States, where he expanded his expertise in tumor immunology and T cell immune regulation. He later served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and currently holds a professorship at Seoul National University, where he has led major advances in immunology research.

Professor Chung’s research focuses on elucidating, at the molecular and cellular levels, how immune cell interactions and tissue microenvironments regulate immune function. In particular, he has investigated the functional diversity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells—which play central roles in recognizing and eliminating pathogens—as well as regulatory T cells (Treg), which suppress excessive immune responses. His work has contributed significantly to understanding the mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis.

Building on these achievements, Professor Chung has published extensively in leading international journals, addressing key challenges in immunology. His study elucidating the function of follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells in controlling antibody responses (Nature Medicine, 2011) provided an important foundation for understanding immune regulation. His work on immune regulatory mechanisms mediated by interleukin-27 (IL-27) (Nature Immunology, 2018), as well as his research on inflammatory T cell (Th17) differentiation (Immunity, 2014), shed light on the interplay between metabolic and cardiovascular environments and immune responses, offering new perspectives on systemic immune regulation.

Under Professor Chung’s leadership, the Center for Viral Immunology will systematically investigate the regulatory mechanisms of immune cell responses to viral infections and tissue-specific immunity. With a particular emphasis on immune aging, the Center is expected to serve as a research hub for advancing the understanding of viral disease pathogenesis and for developing immune-based therapeutic strategies.

Professor Chung stated, “Immune responses to viral infection are complex and highly coordinated processes directly linked to host survival. By integrating the Korea Virus Research Institute’s strong virology expertise with immunological approaches, we aim to uncover the fundamental principles of antiviral immunity and establish a scientific foundation for responding to future infectious diseases.”

Acting IBS President Kim Yeongduk added, “With the appointment of Director Chung at the Center for Viral Immunology, alongside the Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses and the Center for Virome and Applied Platform, the Korea Virus Research Institute has completed its three-center structure envisioned in its mid- to long-term development plan. Through the completion of the KVRI research building and the establishment of an integrated research system covering the full spectrum of basic virology research, we will further strengthen the foundational research base for national infectious disease preparedness.”

IBS Public Relations Team
William I. Suh