[Power K Women] An Engineer Dreaming of a Safer Society: "The Ultimate Goal of Technology Is People"

“Women's Soft Power Is Gaining Momentum”
Kim Minseon, Head of the Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center,
on Empathy, Opportunity, and Connecting Engineering with Everyday Life

"The time has come for women's soft power to shine."

This is the assessment of Kim Minseon, director of the Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. While engineering may appear rigid and difficult, she believes that the sensitivity women possess can meet a diverse range of needs.

Kim Minseon, director of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, is being interviewed on the 11th at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center, led by Director Kim, aims to go beyond traditional manufacturing activities to create environments that are friendly to both workers and users. The center researches not only materials and products for user safety but also collaborative technologies between humans and robots. Although the fields may differ, they share a common goal: conducting research for people. Director Kim emphasized that no matter how advanced a technology may be, it should exist for and be used by people. The following is a Q&A.

-Were you interested in engineering from a young age?

▲No, I was not. Among my subjects, I was good at and enjoyed mathematics. So in high school, I chose the science track, and I had to pick between natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. I thought that by studying engineering, I could create something tangible.

I began to seriously consider my career path around the time I was planning to go to graduate school. As an undergraduate, I participated in a club called the Broadcasting Research Society. Because of the club's nature, I met many friends majoring in social sciences and humanities. Unlike engineering students, they often thought deeply about society and people. However, at that time, engineering did not focus much on people. This made me question whether I should continue on this path. After gaining various interesting experiences, I ultimately decided to pursue engineering.

-What kind of interesting experiences?

▲Starting in my fourth year of undergraduate studies, I became a science and technology reporter for science programs at KBS and MBC, based on my activities in the Broadcasting Research Society. My job was to introduce the latest scientific technologies and interview people in the field. Through this work, I wanted to connect engineering with our daily lives. My desire to further develop expertise in my field actually came from experiencing other fields.

Kim Minseon, director of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, is being interviewed on the 11th at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-It was uncommon for women to choose engineering in Korean society in the past. Did your parents oppose your decision?

▲My parents strongly opposed my choice from the moment I decided to pursue science in school. They did not try to scare me, but I think they believed there were not many opportunities for women in science. When I wrote "science track" as my desired path at school, my parents even called my teacher to have it changed to the liberal arts track. But I was determined to pursue science. The turning point was my physics teacher when I was young. My physics teacher encouraged me, saying I could become someone like Marie Curie, the French physicist. That encouragement stayed with me and led me to this path.

-Was it difficult after entering university?

▲At that time, there were about 700 students per year in the College of Engineering at Seoul National University, but there were fewer than 10 female students in total. Still, I was never excluded because I was a woman. Everyone studied hard regardless of gender. However, perhaps because there were so few female students, there was no women's restroom in the engineering building. I had to go to another building to use the restroom. Looking back, it is hard to believe.

-Since joining the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in 2003, you have focused on safety research. Why is that?

▲My perspective changed significantly after being seconded to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) in 2011. While working in the Convergence New Industry Strategy Planning Team, I thought a lot about convergence, but ultimately, I focused on who the end users of our technologies are. No matter what technology is developed, it does not end there; there are people who use and apply it. There are many values that people should pursue, but I realized that the most fundamental is safety, which is directly related to life.

The Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center, which I currently lead, was established in this context. The original name was the Convergence Technology Research Center, but when Lee Sangmok became president of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, he tasked us with renaming the organization to reflect changes in production technology. We decided not to focus on the technology itself, but on its final destination. In the end, it is about people. In manufacturing, we can pursue human-centered approaches by automating dangerous tasks and reflecting what the end user wants, rather than focusing solely on productivity in materials or components. While it may seem vague, it becomes clear when combined with engineering.

Kim Minseon, director of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, is being interviewed on the 11th at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-As director, what is a memorable development you have worked on?

▲The floor traffic light. Originally, we planned to embed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in tactile paving blocks for the visually impaired. However, the market was small and the response was limited.

Then, a company representative suggested the idea of a floor traffic light for people who walk while looking at their phones. We worked with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Road Traffic Authority to meet standards and pass safety certification regulations. However, related government departments raised concerns, asking, "What if drivers mistakenly start their vehicles when the floor turns green?"

Our role was to prove that such risks did not exist. We needed concrete data and evidence, not just assumptions. The city of Samcheok wanted to conduct a pilot project, so they provided an intersection where we installed the floor traffic light and observed it for a month. About 2,000 vehicles passed through, and there were no cases of drivers being confused by the floor traffic light. We also demonstrated through simulations that there was no risk of accidents. It was cold in January, and our research team worked hard at the intersection in Samcheok. Still, I feel proud every time I see the floor traffic light.

-Do you have a current role model?

▲When I was younger, my role models were people like Kim Vinnaeri, a distinguished professor at Seoul National University's Department of Biological Sciences, who achieved great results in their fields. But after my secondment in 2011, my perspective changed. At that time, I was in charge of the convergence new industry sector, and experts from various research institutes in materials engineering, electronics, and bio fields were seconded as well. Five of us met daily to discuss convergence new industries and launched the wellness industry (wellness refers to tourism activities for health and healing). It was the first time the concept of industry was applied to wellness. However, I realized that achieving such results requires not only research but also the ability to plan policies and respond to different government departments.

Since then, I have looked up to those who connect administration and specialized fields to deliver results. My current role model is Jung Eunkyung, Minister of Health and Welfare. Minister Jung responded excellently as the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the urgent situation, she remained calm, presented alternatives based on scientific evidence, and implemented those alternatives. There is much to learn from her approach.

Kim Minseon, director of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, is being interviewed on the 11th at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-Despite your impressive career, have you faced difficulties as a woman?

▲Fortunately, I received a lot of support from my husband. I married a senior colleague from my lab, so he understood my concerns well. When I was in graduate school, my son was born, and at that time, I received help from both sets of parents. The very fact that I could not have come this far alone shows the challenges involved. All my female seniors have experienced difficulties related to raising children, though the type and depth of those challenges may differ.

Still, I feel that society is changing. These days, many men at the research center take parental leave. If their wives have taken six months of parental leave, they now apply for their own leave, saying it is their turn. This was unimaginable in my time, but it is the right thing to do. It is difficult for one person to be away from work for two or three years. To create a society where women can work together, this kind of atmosphere is necessary.

-Do you have any advice for women aspiring to become engineers?

▲I also went through many difficult processes to get here. There are times when I feel discouraged. It is hard for us to keep running all the time. But anyone can choose not to stop. You do not have to run; you can just keep walking without stopping.

In particular, I think the current social climate presents opportunities for women. People want more sensitivity, and their needs have become more diverse. Now is the time for women's soft power to make an impact. I believe women are generally better at empathy than men. These strengths will also be advantages for women in the engineering field.

▶About Kim Minseon, Director of the Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology

She received her bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering from Seoul National University. She then earned her master's degree in Textile Engineering and her doctorate in Materials Engineering from Seoul National University. Since 2003, she has conducted research on production technology engineering at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. She has served as a deliberation committee member of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, chairperson of the Mechanical Materials Expert Committee of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, and a member of the Regulatory Innovation Committee. Currently, she is the director of the Human-Centered Production Technology Research Center at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, while also serving as a planning and evaluation committee member of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, a member of the Industrial Standards Deliberation Committee, and an expert member of the Consumer Policy Committee. She is also a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea.