Professor

Research interests

I'm a theorist working on particle physics and cosmology.  I'm interested in physics beyond the Standard Model(SM), mainly motivated by the solution to the hierarchy problem in the SM.  Supersymmetric models (including supergravity) and scale invariant models are such examples. I'm also working on the early universe and cosmology. Inflation models and their consistency are such examples, in particular, Higgs inflation, unitarity problem and new physics. Dark matter models are a recent addition to the topic. I have suggested collider searches for dark matter in the mediator models and have also led model building and dynamics of a new species of dark matter, so called Strongly Interacting Massive Particles (SIMPs). I'm open-minded to new ideas for theoretical particle physics and cosmology.  I'm expecting to develop lots of new ideas in light of new data in the LHC and Planck era.

News interviews & talks

New research at Department of Physics, CAU (29/5/25): Pole inflation (published in PRL).

Cover Story in Donga Science magazine (1/4/22): Dark Matter. Korean version.

Interview with CAU researcher (2/12/21): Study the Universe by Particle Physics.

Plenary talk at SUSY 2021, Beijing, China: Four-form relaxation of Higgs mass and its cosmological implications. Recorded video.

Cover Story in Skeptic Magazine (8/6/21): Fundamental forces in Nature and new physics; Korean version.

News article in KIAS Horizon (16/12/19): Supergravity on the occasion of 2019 Fundamental Prize; English version

Interview with Weekly Chosun (14/3/19): WIMP? Axion? or SIMP?  English version.

Interview with CAU newsletter (14/05/18): Freeman Dyson's Birds and Frogs.  English version.

Interview with Monthly People (21/12/17): From Higgs boson to dark matter. 

Interview with CAU newsletter (05/12/16): Time in Science.  English version.

Lectures

First figure out why you want the student to learn the subject and what you want them to know, and the method will result more or less by common sense. -- R. Feynman

2024, 2025 fall - The Understanding of the Universe for general undergraduates

2023, 2024, 2025 spring - Particle Physics for undergraduates (based on S. Martin & J. Wells)

2021, 2024 fall - Standard Model and Dark Matter for graduates

2019 summer - Supersymmetry and new physics for graduates

2018 fall, 2022 fall - Advanced Quantum Field Theory for graduates (based on Alvarez-Gaume et al)

2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 fall - Mathematical Physics II for undergraduates (based on Arfken et al)

2018 spring, 2023 fall - Introduction to Cosmology for graduates (based on Kolb and Turner)

2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 spring - Relativity and Universe for undergraduates (based on B. Schutz)

2020, 2025 fall - Quantum Field Theory I for graduates

2017 fall - Classical Mechanics II for undergraduates

2017 spring - General Relativity for graduates

2017 spring - Classical Mechanics I for undergraduates

2013-2016  general physics, classical mechanics I,II (undergraduates), QFT I, quantum mechanics II, particle physics (graduates) taught.

Grants (valid)

2022 - 2027  Basic Science Research Program,

                        "Cosmological Approaches to Higgs and Dark Matter Physics (힉스 입자와 암흑 물질에 대한 우주론적인 접근)"(2022R1A2C2003567),

                        National Research Foundation of Korea,

                        Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Korea. 

2020 - 2027   BK21 Four,  Team of "Educational Program for Quasi-particles and Fundamental Particles in Physics (준입자 및 기본입자 물리연구팀)", 

                        Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Korea.