Young Dok Kim, a professor and Doctoral supervisor at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in South Korea. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Sungkyunkwan University and earned his doctorate from Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, where he conducted research under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Professor G. Erl. From 2001 to 2002, he pursued postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University, followed by an appointment as an independent junior research group leader at the University of Konstanz from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, he joined Ewha Womans University as an assistant professor before moving to Sungkyunkwan University in 2007, where he established his independent research career, advancing through the ranks from assistant professor to associate professor and finally to full professor. His research interests are primarily focused on the removal of atmospheric pollutants using adsorbents and heterogeneous catalysts, as well as the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products. By employing in-situ surface analysis techniques, he investigates structure-activity relationships and collaborates with industrial partners to develop advanced functional materials for environmental remediation. With nearly 300 SCI publications to his name, his work has been cited over 11,000 times, achieving an H-index of 56. In recognition of his contributions to industrial development in South Korea, he was honored with the “Pride Korea Award” in 2019.