Current Members
Ph.D. Course
Ahyeong Im (임아영)
E-mail: ggp05442@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Land-Atmosphere Interactions, Climate Impacts
Education
Ph.D. Candidate, Climate-Social Science Convergence, Kyung Hee University (2024-Current)
M.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (2022-2024)
Thesis: Detecting land cover and land use transitions and the associated temperature changes in the East Asian monsoon region
B.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (2017-2022)
Articles
Im, A., Kim, S., Choi, H., He, Y., & Lee., E. (In press). Changes in Environmental and Economic Benefits Caused by Land Use Policies in China: A Case Study of the Grain for Green Program. Journal of The Korean Geographical Society. [in Korean]
Choi, H. J., Park, J., Lee, E., Kim, D.-Y., Seo, J., Kim, S., & Im, A. (2025). Who Benefits from Costa Rica’s Climate Change Response Policies?. Journal of International Area Studies, 29(1). [in Korean]
Yum, N., Kim, Y., Im, A., & Lee, E. (2024). Spatiotemporal Patterns and Climatological Processes of Large Spring Wildfire in Yeongdong, Gangwon-do, Korea. Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 59(3). [in Korean]
Im, A., Lee, E., & He, Y. (2024). Detecting land cover and land use transitions and the associated temperature changes in the East Asian monsoon region. The Geographical Journal, e12590.
Lee, E., Im, A.*, Oh, J., Song, M., Choi, Y., & Choi, D. (2022). Improved seasonal definition and projected future seasons in South Korea. Meteorological Applications, 29(6), e2110. * Co-first author
Awards
Excellent Paper Award, The Korean Geographical Society (Jun 2025)
Excellent Poster Award, Annual Meeting of the Korean Society of Climate Change Research (Jun 2025)
Excellent Presentation Award, Annual Meeting of the Association of Korean Geographers (May 2024)
Excellent Thesis Award in Natural Sciences, Kyung Hee University (Feb 2024)
Excellent Poster Award, Annual Meeting of the Korean Society of Climate Change Research (Jun 2023)
Excellent Award in Student-Customized Course Support Program, Kyung Hee University (Jan 2022)
Excellent Award in Climate Change Analysis Contest, Korea Meteorological Administration (Sep 2021)
Scholarships
NRF Doctoral Student Research Support Grant, National Research Foundation of Korea, Sep 2025-Aug 2027.
KHYSS Doctoral Research Fellowship, Kyung Hee University (Brain Korea 21 Program), Mar 2025-Feb 2026.
Hello😊 I have completed the Ph.D. coursework at the Department of Climate-Social Science Convergence at Kyung Hee University. I am currently working as a research assistant in the ICP (Integrated Climate Process) laboratory. My research focuses on the impacts of human-induced land cover and land use changes on the climate at regional as well as global scales. It is differentiated in that it examines the impacts of climate change geographically, considering specific regions and their unique challenges. My research will not only provide insight into possible changes to climate due to land cover and land use changes but will also yield practical information for implementing LCLU policies while considering the geographical characteristics of the region.
Minjoo Kim (김민주)
E-mail: jginni12@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Thunderstorm Dynamics, Arctic Climate
Education
M.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (2022-2024)
Thesis: Potential Biophysical Processes Associated with Increasing Lightning Strikes in the Arctic Region
B.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (2017-2022)
Articles
Lee, E., Im, A., Kim, M., Kim, Y., He, Y., Kim, K., & Hyun, Y. (In review). Biophysical processes of the vegetation activity in central China with monsoon variability in East Asia. Scientific Reports.
Kim, M., & Lee, E. (2025). Potential biophysical processes associated with increasing lightning strikes in the Arctic region. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 156(10), 555.
Kim, Y., Kim, M., & Lee, E. (2025). Land–atmosphere interactions amplify wildfires in southeastern Australia. Earth Interactions.
Kim, M., and Lee, E. (2024), Spatio-temporal Variability of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall Associated with the Southern Indian Ocean Dipole. Journal of Climate Research, 19(4), 167-180.
Kim, S., Lee, S., Kim, M., Lee, C., & Kang, J. Y. (2024). Vulnerability Assessment for Pediatric Healthcare Services Using Agent-based Modeling: A Case Study of Four Districts in Southwest Seoul. Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 59(2), 196-209.
Awards
Kim, M., & Lee, E. Spatio-temporal patterns and biophysical processes associated with increasing lightning stroke in the Arctic region. Oral Presentation, 2023 Annual Conference of the Korean Geographical Society. Chuncheon, South Korea (Jun 2023).
Scholarships
Kim, M. & Kim, M. BK21 FOUR Khreative U+ SDGs RA/GCR Research Project: High-Resolution Climate Data Downscaling for Urban Extreme Climate Events Adaptation (Feb 2025–Aug 2026)
Im, A., Kim, M., & Lee, E. Improved Climate Modeling by Utilizing Remotely-Sensed Land Cover Data. Kyung Hee University Khreative U+ SDGs RA. (Mar 2024).
Hello! I joined the ICP lab to study the impacts of climate change, with a particular interest in extreme climate and weather events. My current research focuses on lightning activity and its impact in the Arctic-Boreal region.
M.S. Course
Hyungjoon Yoon (윤형준)
E-mail: hjyoon9216@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Extreme Climate, Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction, ENSO
Education
B.S., Oceanography, Pukyong National University (2017-2019)
Climate change is causing more severe extreme weather events, such as typhoons, heavy rains, and droughts. Through research on extreme climates like intense rainfall, tropical cyclones, El Niño and La Niña, and the interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and land surface, I would like to accurately predict changes in the climate system. Additionally, I want to study the damage to the ecosystem, including humans, that occurs during this process. My goal is to become a geoclimatologist to help humanity.
Changok Han (한창옥)
E-mail: rondo27@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Climate Change, Fine Dust
Education
B.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (2018-2024)
Articles
Han, C., Im, A., Lee, E. (In revision). Identification of atmospheric pattern and processes affecting springtime PM10 interannual variability in South Korea. Journal of Climate Change Research. [In Korean]
Hi! I’ve been studying geography for 6 years, and now I’m working on my master’s degree in climatology with Professor Lee. My major subject is extreme climate disasters and polar regions’ weather. The reason I joined the ICP lab is to figure out solutions to humanity’s biggest challenge, climate change. One of the most memorable line from the movie Interstellar is “We will find a way. We always have.” I will keep this quote close to my heart as I continue my study.
Jinyoung Kim (김진영)
E-mail: kjy4010@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Land-Atmosphere Interactions
Education
B.S., Geography Education, Chungbuk National University (2016-2022)
I joined the ICP Lab to investigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable regions, with a particular focus on land-atmosphere interactions. My research explores how Land Cover and Land Use (LCLU) changes influence climate processes, focusing on Africa. Moving forward, I aim to expand my expertise by integrating observation-based analysis with climate modeling to unravel the complex processes of climate change across Africa and beyond.
Minseok Kim (김민석)
E-mail: at6824@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Compound Climate Events, Climate Attribution, Tropical Climate, Teleconnections
Education
B.S., Geography, Kyung Hee University (Specialized Track in Climate and Environment, 2019–2025)
Articles
Kim, M., and Lee, E. (2022), Validation and Comparison of Climate Reanalysis Data in the East Asian Monsoon Region, Atmosphere, 13(10), 1589.
Scholarships
Kim, M. & Kim, M. BK21 FOUR Khreative U+ SDGs RA/GCR Research Project: High-Resolution Climate Data Downscaling for Urban Extreme Climate Events Adaptation (2025.09–2026.08)
I am drawn to understanding how large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns propagate remote climate signals through teleconnections, and how these signals interact with local land-atmosphere processes and anthropogenic factors to produce compound extremes. I seek to bridge the gap between large-scale dynamics and regional climate impacts.
Undergraduate
Hyeonae Kim (김현애)
E-mail: hyunae4497@khu.ac.kr
Research Keywords:
Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Vulnerability
Education
B.A. & B.S., International Studies & Geography, Kyung Hee University (2022–Present)
Internship
Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Department of Strategy, Results, and Global Initiatives
Hello! My academic background in international studies and geography has led me to develop a strong interest in understanding climate change from both environmental and socio-spatial perspectives. In particular, I am interested in analyzing how climate change affects different regions and identifying climate-vulnerable areas using climate and environmental data. Through my work in the ICP Lab, I hope to contribute to research that provides data-driven insights for climate adaptation and environmental policy.