1. Reducing Mental-health Stigma and Improving Accessibility
Research on communication strategies, digital interventions, and psychoeducation
2. Developing Self-care Models Grounded in Happiness and Resilience
Research related to well-being, resilience, and personalized approaches
3. Producing Sustainable and Practically Impactful Research
Research on evidence-based interventions, real-world applicability, and translational research
4. Enhancing the Quality of Life for Older Adults, Individuals with MCI/Dementia, and Their Caregivers
Research on aging, dementia care, caregiver burden, and cognitive health
Background
I spent half of my life in environments far removed from academia. I graduated from an arts middle school and high school as a fine arts major, and later studied multimedia at an art university, working as a VR content director, screenwriter, and technical artist. In those settings, I rarely encountered people from fields that typically lead to research careers, nor did I have many opportunities to interact with them.
Why Mental Health Accessibility Matters to Me
During my fourth year of undergraduate studies, I developed depression, panic disorder, and anxiety disorder. The reasons were complex: Overly concerned with others’ opinions, the pressure to constantly perform well, my lack of kindness toward myself, relationships that did not suit me, and the scrutiny, competition, and jealousy that came from taking unconventional paths. In Korea, visiting a psychiatrist still carries a heavy stigma, and even my parents did not want me to seek professional help. I wasn’t even aware that I could go to a psychiatrist; the option itself felt nonexistent to me.
Throughout my life, I’ve had very few regrets. Regardless of how much time and effort I had invested into something, I was always good at letting go when needed, and I achieved whatever I set my mind to. But failing to take care of myself during the time I needed it the most—and leaving myself unattended for two years—remains the biggest mistake I have ever made. I sincerely hope others do not experience the same. For that reason, I believe I must pursue (1) research that reduces mental-health stigma, improves accessibility, and develops effective communication strategies for mental-health interventions.
Why I Pursue Practical and Sustainable Research
Through this experience, I realized something important: trying to contribute to others’ happiness and well-being when I am not stable or happy myself feels inherently self-deceptive and hypocritical. This led me to believe that (2) I must be healthy, stable, and happy first in order for the people around me—and even those I may never meet—to live healthier and happier lives, and for me to truly discover ways to support them.
I also came to understand that, as an artist with an arts-based academic background, it would be difficult for me to help people in a tangible, practical way through artistic practice alone. This realization is what led me to pursue a PhD. For me, research should not be conducted simply to publish a paper that fills a line on my CV. Rather, I aim to conduct (3) practical and sustainable research—work that can genuinely help people, inspire future researchers, and provide a foundation for further development through their own methods.
Why Aging and Dementia Research
Lastly, my primary research population—older adults, individuals with MCI or dementia, and dementia caregivers—is closely tied to my family background. I grew up in a household with four generations living together. Even after moving out for college, witnessing my grandparents’ final thirty years remained a part of my everyday life. They both deeply wished to see me enter a PhD program, but, sadly, they passed away in the same year I began applying. My grandfather had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years, and my grandmother served as his caregiver. Both spent their final years almost entirely at home. These experiences led me to reflect on my own aging. No one can avoid growing older. I do not know whether I will one day develop dementia, or whether I will become a caregiver to a partner with dementia. What I do know is that traveling becomes difficult with age, leaving the house becomes challenging, and one begins to require more help in daily life. This is why I believe I must pursue (4) research that helps prepare for my own aging as well as the lives of future older adults.