Research Themes

연구 주제 키워드: 딥페이크 정보처리, AI 시대 진정성과 사회적 신뢰, AI 활용 격차 및 리터러시, AI와 양극화, 소셜미디어/온라인 게임 이용과 효과

I study the psychological and interpersonal processes within social media and online games, with a particular focus on how advances in AI reshape mediated interaction. My research also explores how the public makes sense of emerging technologies and their broader societal and political implications. Currently, my AI-related projects investigate AI-Mediated communication (AI-MC) and authenticity, AI and polarization, AI and public opinion formation, and AI divide and literacy. I serve as a Co-I at the AI.POLICI Lab, where I collaborate on research regarding AI and polarization. Additionally, I have a long-standing involvement with the Annenberg Game Lab, where I continue to collaborate on game-based research.

My work has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, such as Communication Research, Computers in Human Behavior, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Mass Communication & Society, Media Psychology, New Media & Society and Science Communication. A list of my publications is available at Google Scholar and ResearchGate.

You can explore a selection of my representative works by clicking the images below.

Deepfake News Exposure

What happens when you can no longer trust your own eyes? This project examines how the cognitive challenges of identifying deepfake news affects our sense of self and our vulnerability to further disinformation.

  • Publication

Social Media Affordance & Identity

How does self-presentation on social media influence the way people view themselves? This project takes a deep dive into self-effects research by exploring the role of social media affordances in identity shift.

  • Publication

Social Media Use & Well-Being

Is social media use beneficial or detrimental to your well-being? What are the underlying mechanisms? Various methodologies (experiment, diary study, large-scale survey) have been used to explore these questions.

  • Publication

Online Games
& Social Interaction

This line of research is conducted in close partnership with game companies to explore how players communicate, interact, and play, and its effects on well-being and social capital.

  • Publication

Gameplay & COVID-19

Does gameplay help us cope with negative moods and social isolation during the pandemic? Do the pattern and effect differ across games? This project utilizes behavioral data and survey data from two games to address this question.

  • in progress

Public Understanding of AI

How does the public make sense of AI?
This project explores how various heuristics (e.g., media framing, emotion) affect support for AI development and regulation.

  • Publication

Selected Awards, Honors, and Fellowships

  • The 1st KFAS Award for Social Innovation Research, Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS), 2026 | 제 1회 한국고등교육재단(KFAS) 신진학자상 (사회혁신연구)
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Yonsei University, 2024-2025 | 연세대 우수강의교수상
  • Herbert S. Dordick Dissertation Award, Communication and Technology Division, International Communication Association (ICA), 2024 | 국제커뮤니케이션학회 커뮤니케이션 & 테크놀로지 분과 박사학위논문상
  • Doctoral Study Abroad Fellow, Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS), 2018-2023 | 한국고등교육재단 해외유학장학생
  • Annenberg Graduate Fellowship & Assistantship, University of Southern California, 2018-2023
  • USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Research and Creative Project Symposium Award, University of Southern California, 2022
  • Top Student Paper Award (First Author), Game Studies Division, National Communication Association (NCA), 2021 | 전미커뮤니케이션학회 게임연구 분과 우수학생논문상
  • Graduate School Travel and Research Award, University of Southern California, 2020
  • Summa Cum Laude, Seoul National University, 2016 | 서울대 최우등졸업
  • SNU Development Fund Scholarship, Seoul National University, 2013 & 2017
  • Merit-Based Scholarship, Seoul National University, 2012-2013

    • Selected Research and Travel Grants

  • Research Grant for Early-Career Scholars (Role: PI), National Research Foundation of Korea, 2026-2029 | 한국연구재단 인문사회분야 신진연구자지원사업
  • Social Science Korea (SSK) Program - Global Agenda Research (International) (Role: Co-I), National Research Foundation of Korea, 2025-2028 | 한국연구재단 사회과학연구지원사업
  • Research Support Program (Role: Co-I), Yonsei Institute for AI and Social Innovation, 2025-2026 | 연세대 AI 혁신연구원 연구과제
  • Special Research Grant Program for Humanities and Social Sciences Field (Role: PI), Yonsei University, 2025-2028 | 연세대 인문사회 학술연구비 지원사업
  • Transdisciplinary Research Union for a Sustainable Tomorrow (Role: Co-I), Yonsei University, 2024-2026 | 연세대 지속가능공동체연구단
  • Signature Research Cluster Initiative (Role: Co-I), Yonsei University, 2024-2026 | 연세대 시그니처 연구클러스터사업
  • Future-Leading Research Initiative Grant (Role: PI), Yonsei University, 2024-2027 | 연세대 미래선도연구사업
  • New Faculty Seed Grant, Yonsei University, 2024
  • Travel Grant, Communication and Technology Division, International Communication Association (ICA), 2024
  • Doctoral Dissertation Grant (Role: PI), Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS), 2023
  • Doctoral Dissertation Grant (Role: PI), Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, 2023
  • Graduate School Summer Research and Writing Grant (Role: PI), University of Southern California, 2022-2023
  • Summer Research Fellowship (Role: PI), Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, 2019-2020, 2022
  • Student Caucus Travel Grant, National Communicaiton Association (NCA), 2021-2022
  • Travel Grant (Runner-Up), Korean American Communication Association (KACA), International Communication Association (ICA), 2019
  • Graduate Students Research Grant (Role: PI), College of Social Sciences, Seoul National University, 2018

    • Skills and Strengths

    Research

    10+ years of research experience involving all phases of research—conceptualization, study design, data collection, data analysis, presentation, and publication

    Interdisciplinary research
    & Industry-academic collaboration(산학협력) with global game developers

    Software | Language

    R, SPSS, Python, LIWC, NVivo,
    HTML, LaTeX,
    Adobe Photoshop

    Korean, English, Japanese

    Public Speaking

    Invited speaker
    @universities, Chey Institute for Advanced Studies(최종현학술원), Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies(한국고등교육재단), etc.

    MC & Moderator
    @university-wide event & international symposium

    Expression

    Drawing | Photography | Pottery

    What I enjoy doing outside of research. Take a sneak peek into my archives!

    Urban Light at LACMA

    2019 | Photo

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    Making Pottery on the Wheel

    2019 | Pottery

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    Hanok Village, Seoul

    Drawing

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    Water Reflection

    2015 | Photo

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    Flower

    Drawing

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    Venice Beach, LA

    2019 | Photo

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