Professor Hoi-Jun Yoo, a faculty member in the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST and an ICT Endowed Chair Professor, has been elected as a new member of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea (NAS) for the year 2025. His official appointment was confirmed at the NAS general assembly held on July 11, in recognition of his continued research excellence and academic contributions in the field of electronic engineering. He received his membership certificate during the induction ceremony held on July 18 at the NAS headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Established in 1954 under the Ministry of Education, the NAS is a national academic institution that annually selects a very limited number of new members through a rigorous screening process, honoring distinguished scholars who have significantly contributed to academic advancement in Korea. This year, only eight scholars nationwide were selected, with Professor Yoo being the sole appointee in Division 3 (Engineering) of the Natural Sciences category.
The NAS selects scholars with exceptional academic achievements and contributions to the development of their fields to support their research, provide academic policy advisory, promote international academic exchange, designate outstanding academic books, and present the NAS Awards. Membership is granted based not only on research accomplishments but also on long-term contributions to academia, representing the highest level of academic prestige in Korea. As of 2025, the total membership is limited to approximately 150 scholars across both natural and social sciences, with around 70 members in the natural sciences division nationwide.
NAS members are regarded as “nationally recognized representatives of academia,” tasked with serving the country and society through scholarly work. The NAS also acts as a hub for international academic collaboration by cooperating with major academies around the world.
Professor Yoo is a globally recognized researcher in the fields of semiconductor design and convergent systems, including AI semiconductors, neuromorphic chips, ultra-low power SoCs (System on Chip), and wearable semiconductors. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at KAIST, ICT Endowed Chair Professor, Director of the Graduate School of AI Semiconductors, Director of the Institute for IT Convergence, and Head of the Research Center for PIM Semiconductor Design.
Notably, Professor Yoo developed the world’s first 256M SDRAM in 1995 and published a related paper, marking the beginning of a prolific research career. Between 2000 and 2023, he published 62 key academic papers, covering a wide range of topics such as semiconductor design, AI semiconductors, wearable AR chips, low-power wireless communication chips, and biomedical ICs. In 2014, he announced the world’s first deep neural network (DNN) accelerator chip, and by 2025, he had published 18 research papers on AI semiconductors.
He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was named one of the “Top 5 Most Prolific Authors” at the 70th anniversary of the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC)?the only Asian scholar to be included in this list, affirming his international research prominence.
Earlier in his career, Professor Yoo led the development of surface-emitting lasers at Bell Labs and directed the development of 256M DRAM at Hyundai Electronics (now SK hynix). In 2005, he also contributed to national policy as an advisor to the Ministry of Information and Communication, helping shape SoC and next-generation computing technology strategies.
To date, he has authored or edited over 250 papers and five technical books. He has served as a committee member and TPC chair for leading international conferences such as ISSCC, A-SSCC, and ISWC, and has been active as an IEEE SSCS Distinguished Lecturer.
The KAIST School of Electrical Engineering described Professor Yoo’s appointment as a recognition of his continued academic contributions and growing international stature in the fields of semiconductors and electronic engineering. The school expressed expectations for his continued research achievements and mentorship of the next generation.
His election to the NAS stands as a nationally recognized testament to Professor Yoo’s long-standing research accomplishments and academic impact in the field of electronic and system semiconductor design, marking a meaningful milestone in the acknowledgment of his expertise and sustained scholarly activity.
