Two laboratories recognized for top-tier laboratory safety management

Outstanding Certified Laboratory selected, followed by a series of ministerial commendations

Continued awards for promoting laboratory safety culture and excellence in best-practice competitions

[December 24, 2025]

<The “Energy Management and Storage Technology Laboratory,” certified as an Outstanding Laboratory Safety Management>

 Yeungnam University (YU, President CHOI Oe-chool) has once again demonstrated its nationally leading competitiveness in laboratory safety management. YU announced on the 26th that two of its laboratories were certified as Outstanding Laboratories for Safety Management, marking 12 consecutive years of government certification since 2014.

<The “Nano Chemistry Laboratory,” certified as an Outstanding Laboratory Safety Management>

 The laboratories certified this year as Outstanding Laboratories for Safety Management are ▲the Nano Chemistry Laboratory (Department of Chemistry, Prof. KIM Young-soo) and ▲the Energy Management and Storage Technology Laboratory (Department of Future Automotive Engineering, Prof. KANG Seok-won). The Outstanding Laboratory Safety Management Certification Program is a government-administered system that grants official certification to science and technology laboratories at universities and research institutions based on a comprehensive evaluation of their safety management standards, operational systems, and safety awareness of researchers. The certification is valid for a period of two years.

 Notably, the Energy Management and Storage Technology Laboratory was additionally selected this year as an Outstanding Certified Laboratory, the highest distinction within the certification system, and received a Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Science and ICT. Including this achievement, YU has produced a total of four Outstanding Certified Laboratories, following previous selections in 2017 (Energy & Advanced Materials Engineering Laboratory), 2018 (Functional Polymer Materials Laboratory), and 2021 (Nano Chemistry Laboratory). In 2025, only nine institutions nationwide—across universities, government-funded research institutes, and corporate research centers—were selected as Outstanding Certified Laboratories, with only three universities, including YU, making the list.

<Prof. HONG Cheol-am of the Department of Chemistry receiving the 2025 Laboratory Safety Merit Award>

 Individual achievements contributing to the spread of laboratory safety culture were also recognized.Prof. HONG Cheol-am (Department of Chemistry) was selected as a 2025 Laboratory Safety Merit Awardee and received a Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Science and ICT.Since 2020, Prof. Hong has operated an Outstanding Laboratory for Safety Management, establishing a systematic safety management framework through initiatives such as the introduction of an Open Lab system, and has been widely recognized for his contributions to fostering a culture of laboratory safety. The award ceremony was held last November at the Inchon Memorial Hall of Korea University.

<Graduate student SO Min-seo, winner of the Excellence Award at the 2025 Laboratory Safety Best Practices Competition>

 Student achievements were equally notable.SO Min-seo, a master’s student, received the Excellence Award at the 8th 2025 Laboratory Safety Best Practices Competition for her outstanding case study on pre-hazard risk analysis in laboratories, earning the Director’s Award of the National Research Safety Management Agency.With this recognition, YU has produced a total of six awardees in this competition, continuing its strong performance in the field of laboratory safety best practices.

 YU plans to further advance its laboratory safety management system and strengthen institutional support to ensure that all members can conduct research in a safe and secure environment.