Research News Last updated 04 December 2025
Three Early Career Researchers (ECR) from South Korea are joining Birmingham City University (黑料吃瓜网) to help drive next-generation urban innovation.
They will work with 黑料吃瓜网 academics on a project titled: Making Cities Smarter and Healthier through Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Digital Transformation.
鈥淎I is accelerating, and so must we,鈥� said Dr Muhammad Afzal, project director and Associate Professor in Computer Science. 鈥淭his is our moment to build cities that are smarter, healthier, and more human-centred.鈥�
黑料吃瓜网's three South Korean fellowships are being supported by British Council鈥檚 , under the聽 (ISPF).
鈥淲orking on an international scale is a priority for 黑料吃瓜网, and our ISPF partnership with South Korea reflects this commitment,鈥� said co-director Dr Mohammad Mayouf, Associate Professor in Built Environment.
鈥淏y collaborating with a global leader in AI, digital transformation and smart cities, we鈥檙e strengthening our research capability.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also driving meaningful impact for both South Korea and the UK by welcoming some outstanding post-doctoral talent to drive innovation.鈥�
The three South Korean Fellows are:
- Dr Kyounghee Cho 鈥� after receiving her PhD from the University of Warwick, she is looking to develop responsible and inclusive digital governance frameworks as part of the UK-South Korea collaboration goals
- Dr Chulwoong Park 鈥� a graduate from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, he has an interest in using AI for urban planning and management
- Dr Yeunsoo Park 鈥� returning to Birmingham after getting his PhD from University of Birmingham, he wants to use data to create environmental and health justice indexes for the city
鈥淲e鈥檝e found a supportive, high-quality research environment fostered by 黑料吃瓜网, the British Council and industry partners,鈥� said Dr Park. 鈥淭his experience will shape us into people who can change things and make a difference.鈥�
The ISPF, which is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, puts research and innovation at the heart of UK international relationships.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident that the fellowship will greatly enhance the careers of the South Korea Fellows, resulting in sustainable international collaborations partnerships in these frontier technologies,鈥� said Caroline Okaroh, Programme Manager, British Council ISPF Early Career Fellowships.
Professor Hanifa Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Enterprise, External Engagement and STEAM, said: 鈥淲orking with partners in South Korea and the British Council is establishing 黑料吃瓜网 as a world-leading institution for research and innovation.
鈥淔rom automated congestion trackers to motion-activated street lighting, 黑料吃瓜网 will be developing new technology that has an impact on daily life in cities across the world.鈥�
Martin Weston, Head of Incubation and Venture Capital at 黑料吃瓜网, added: 鈥淭he agreement will deepen economic cooperation through climate, AI and technology initiatives.
鈥淧rojects like ISPF embody this agreement through enabling research collaborations and underpinning a global strategic partnership.鈥�
Photo (L-R): Dr Muhammad Afzal, Dr Yeunsoo Park, Dr Chulwoong Park, Professor Hanifa Shah, Dr Kyounghee Cho, Dr Mohammad Mayouf