I was born in Korea as the youngest among three brothers. My nickname was "Piggy"... because I was fat when I was a kid. Since I am the youngest among three brothers, I was annoyed by my brothers, but was a brother's pet.
Heavily influenced by my father and brother throughout my life, I naturally followed their career paths in choosing a major in Mechanical Engineering at Han-Yang University. In my junior year, however, I realized that while I enjoyed engineering, I wanted to apply my knowledge to benefit mankind in a more direct way. Watching my brother suffer from hemophilia partly inspired this shift. This disease causes internal bleeding, which led to arthritis that prevented him from walking for many years until undergoing total knee arthroplasty. First-hand exposure to the challenges inherent in hemophilia stimulated my interest in Biomedical Engineering and I determined to learn as much as possible about this field. During my college, I studied hard, but I went through some hard times, due to my doubts about God whom I'd believed in since I was young, and also due to worrying about love. I had to leave my home while these wounds in my heart closed, and I began graduate studies at the Robotics Laboratory in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Pohang University of Science & Technology, conducting research primarily in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Laboratory of the Cooperative Research. After graduation, I couldn't decide my path. I applied for Korean Overseas Volunteers. Working for the next two years as a consultant to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at a state university in the Philippines taught me to base my efforts not on unilateral, but upon mutual relationships, which considers the needs of the concerned over the benefactor’s intentions. After finishing my service term in the Philippines, I returned to Korea and married Soyoung that I'd corresponded with for a long time. Recognizing the advantages to matriculating in a more advanced country, such as the United States, I entered the Bioengineering Department at the University of Utah in 1999.
Ultimately, I hope to help people with disabilities regain their loss of motor functions by developing a prosthetic system or supportive devices. Motivation for this goal lies in my interest in topics that include neural interface technique, prostheses controlled by neural signals, and spinal cord micro-stimulation, which holds the potential to promote understanding the interaction between nervous and musculoskeletal systems and also to restore micturition and bowel control for those who suffer from spinal cord injury. After finishing my studies, I anticipate returning to my country to contribute to advancing the engineering academic field, in an area that specifically addresses disabilities. Although there are still many uncertain things around me, I am blessed with having my wife and two kids with me and I always thank the Lord who begins a good work within me.
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him -Psalms 62:5”