Han Woong Yeom of IBS Appointed Editor of World-Renowned Physics Journal PRL

First Korean-Based Physicist to Serve as PRL Editor

Three-Year Term Reviewing and Editing Manuscripts Starting in October

Han Woong Yeom, head of the Center for Atom Control and Low-Dimensional Electron Systems at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and a professor of physics at POSTECH (photo), has been appointed as an editor of the world-renowned physics journal Physical Review Letters (PRL). This is the first time that a physicist affiliated with a domestic university or research institute in Korea has taken on the role of editor for PRL.

IBS announced on September 30 that Dr. Yeom will serve as a Divisional Associate Editor of PRL for three years, starting in October 2026.

Provided by IBS

PRL is a journal published by the American Physical Society (APS) since 1958, covering significant research achievements across all fields of physics. Editors are selected from among researchers who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and expertise in their field, following reviews by the PRL editorial board and the relevant divisions of the American Physical Society. Currently, about 100 researchers from the United States, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and other countries are serving as editors.

Among scientists of Korean descent, professors such as Sang-Wook Cheong at Rutgers University and Kwang-je Kim at Argonne National Laboratory have served as editors representing the United States, but Dr. Yeom is the first from a domestic university or research institute in Korea to hold this position.

Dr. Yeom will participate in the evaluation and review of manuscripts submitted by researchers from around the world in the field of condensed matter physics. His responsibilities will include selecting referees, reviewing the review process, deliberating appeals from authors, and offering opinions on editorial policies and major papers.

Dr. Yeom has conducted research on atomic-scale low-dimensional electron systems, topological electronic states, and exciton condensate properties in the fields of nanophysics and surface physics. In 2010, he was named an Outstanding Referee by the American Physical Society, and in 2024–2025, he served as a director of the Physical Society of Japan (JPS).

Dr. Yeom commented, "This is not only a personal honor but also a testament to the research capabilities and international standing of Korean physics. I will do my best to ensure that important research achievements in world physics are evaluated fairly and rigorously."

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