Jihoon Kim, Korea’s Only "Water Bear Doctor," Becomes First Institute Researcher Selected for "Deep-Dive" Project [Reading Science]

First Case for Korea Polar Research Institute
Dissecting 1mm Micro-Animals to Unveil the Secrets of 500 Million Years of Animal Evolution

A young scientist who has been the only researcher in Korea dedicated to the study of tardigrades (water bears) has been selected for the government's ultra-long-term basic research support program. This marks the first time a researcher from a government-funded institute under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been chosen. The challenging research, which involves the precise dissection of the internal structure of these microscopic organisms—less than 1mm in size—and tracing their connections to Cambrian fossils from 500 million years ago, will now begin in earnest.

The Korea Polar Research Institute announced on April 10 that Jihoon Kim, a research fellow, has been selected for the “Dedicated Pursuit Basic Research” program organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. This program is an unprecedented long-term support system that selects promising young researchers—within 15 years of obtaining their Ph.D.—and provides up to 2 billion won in research funding for up to ten years. Only about 30 researchers are selected each year across all fields of science and technology.

Jihoon Kim, a research fellow at the Korea Polar Research Institute, is conducting activities in Antarctica. Photo by Korea Polar Research Institute

This selection is especially significant as it is the first time a researcher from an institute under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been chosen. Notably, Kim received his doctorate from the Korea Polar Research Institute School at the University of Science and Technology, which demonstrates the success of a national research institute model that integrates on-site research with graduate education.

Kim is the only expert on tardigrades in Korea. Through his research on water bears—organisms renowned for surviving in extreme environments—he discovered a new species of tardigrade in Greenland moss and also identified a previously unreported sensory organ, accumulating unique research achievements.

The core focus of this project is “Establishing a research foundation for meiofauna and studying early evolution through comparisons with fossil animals.” Meiofauna, including tardigrades, are less than 1mm in size, making it difficult to analyze their internal structures precisely using conventional microscopy methods. Kim plans to systematize dissection techniques and structural data for these organisms, then directly compare them with fossil data from the Cambrian period approximately 500 million years ago, aiming to clarify the origins and evolutionary pathways of early animals.

A new species of tardigrade (water bear), Dactylobiotus ovimutans, discovered near the Jang Bogo Station in Antarctica and successfully bred in the laboratory. Courtesy of the Korea Polar Research Institute

In simpler terms, the approach involves reading the internal structures of modern, living microscopic animals as if they were “living evolutionary records,” filling in the gaps of early animal evolution that previously relied solely on fossil evidence. Since traditional paleontology has depended on fossil morphology, this new methodology—which precisely links modern anatomical data with evolutionary history—is drawing significant attention in academia.

Jihoon Kim, research fellow at the Korea Polar Research Institute, stated, “A vast evolutionary history of 500 million years is hidden within these tiny lifeforms less than 1mm in size. With stable support, I intend to surpass the limitations of conventional paleontology and uncover the secrets of early animal evolution that will attract global attention.”

Shin Hyungcheol, Director of the Korea Polar Research Institute, commented, “Selection for the Dedicated Pursuit Basic Research program is a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the institute’s capabilities in basic science are opening new academic horizons. We will continue to support young researchers so they can immerse themselves in creative and challenging work that breaks existing boundaries.”

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