STEMWOMEN MGL FOREIN MENTOR INTERVIEW

FULL NAME: JUNG SUN KIM

EMAIL:  jungsun.kim@inwes.net

WEB SITE: www.inwes.org 

BIO: Prof. Jung Sun Kim is currently the Executive Vice President of Dongseo University in Busan, Korea, a position she has held since 2019. She has a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry and has published over 50 papers in internationally peer-reviewed journals. She is a leader in academia, having held various leadership positions in government committees and non-governmental organizations. Prof. Kim is also the Past President of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES), an international organization of women in STEM, of which WSTEM is a member. She served as President during the term 2021-2023.

Prof. Kim is the first woman to be appointed Vice President at her university and one of the few female leaders in higher educational institutions in her region. Her current work focuses on academic administration and policy research on women in STEM. From 2009 to 2011, she was the Director of the Busan, Ulsan Gyeongnam Institute for Supporting Women in Science and Technology (BIS-WIST), a Ministry of Science commissioned center. During her time there, she developed the ‘small group support’ program which encouraged the formation of small-size networks among women in STEM.

Prof. Kim has been involved with INWES activities since 2003, starting as a volunteer and later being elected to the Board of Directors in 2011, 2017, and again in 2020. She played a leading role in the formation of APNN, the first regional network of INWES in 2011. Since 2014, she and her colleagues have initiated an international collaborative survey among APNN members. They have published an annual report on the perception of gender barriers, together with global gender indices, from 2014 to 2018. 

In April 2019, Prof. Kim was conferred the Order of Science and Technology (Woongbi Medal) by the Korean government for her contribution to international activities for women in STEM and to the national advancement of women in STEM. Her achievements and contributions are a testament to her dedication and tireless work in promoting gender equality in STEM fields.

STEMWOMEN QUESTIONS SECTION

STEMWOMEN MGL: What was the reason for choosing your profession? Who influenced you the most in your career?
JUNG SUN KIM: I liked Math and Chemistry as a student. My father was a big influence in my decision to become a scientist.

STEMWOMEN MGL: How does your family perceive your profession?
JUNG SUN KIM: I am fortunate that my husband is very supportive of my work. However, some of my distant family members were not happy that I continued to pursue my studies and work after graduation from college.

STEMWOMEN MGL: What are you proud of in your profession?
JUNG SUN KIM: I am proud to be a chemist and also as a faculty member of my university.

STEMWOMEN TIPS SECTION

STEMWOMEN MGL: What are the special advantages of the profession you have completed?
JUNG SUN KIM: No responses yet for this question.

STEMWOMEN MGL: What advantages do girls and women consider of STEM majors?
JUNG SUN KIM: STEM is important in raising your competitiveness your self as a professional but also in uplifting the national prestige. But more importantly, STEM brings solutions to the many global agendas including climate actions and regenerative energy development, which is important in making the world more sustainable. STEM majors need a balance of men and women in order to bring outcomes that will bring a bright future for mankind.

STEMWOMEN MGL: Are there any things you would like to share with girls and women who are interested in professional engineering, technology, and science professions? 
JUNG SUN KIM: I think girls and women should not shy away because they think STEM fields are a men's world. There are many many different fields and diverse areas that need both men and women. Try to find the area of work that you enjoy the most and be yourself. You do not need to be like a man to succeed in STEM. Also, there are women in STEM organizations like WSTEM or INWES where you can find people who can be of support in fulfilling your dream as a scientist or engineer.