[On-Site Reporting] Various Aspects of the ‘2023 Annual Fall Congress of the Ergonomics Society of Korea’

Reporter's name: Dana Kim.

November 22, 2023.

[SafetyFirst.news] The Ergonomics Society of Korea (President Jae-hee Park) held the '2023 Annual Fall Congress of the Ergonomics Society of Korea' from November 15 to 18 at the Jeju International Convention Center, focusing on the theme of 'Smart Safety Health and Ergonomics.'

In line with the increasing interest and demand for 'Smart Safety Health,' the conference featured research posters and sessions on safety health studies incorporating various smart technologies.

President Jae-hee Park of the Ergonomics Society of Korea emphasized the significant impact of Ergonomics Design Award (EDA) and Excellent Work Improvement Case Award (EWA) on both design and safety in ergonomics. He also expressed anticipation for the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) conference, scheduled to take place at the same venue in Jeju International Convention Center next year.

• Diverse Research Presentations on the Theme of 'Smart Safety Health and Ergonomics'

The appearance of Director Kyung-hee Ryu during the keynote lecture/ Photo provided by the Ergonomics Society of Korea

Kyung-hee Ryu, Director of the Industrial Safety and Health Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, delivered the keynote lecture on 'Our Collective Efforts for Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders.'

Director Ryu described ergonomics as a discipline infused with affectionate love for humanity, analyzing the mind and structure of individuals to create the most effective and efficient engineering processes. He then provided an overview of the current status and direction of industrial safety health policies at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, highlighting the role of ergonomics in this context.

The conference featured various research papers aligned with the theme of 'Smart Safety Health and Ergonomics.' The basic sessions covered topics such as ▲Human Engineering, ▲UX Design, ▲AI and Ergonomics, ▲Usability, ▲Automotive Ergonomics, ▲Human Error and Safety, ▲Evaluation Systems and Tools, ▲VR/AR, ▲Biometric Signal Measurement, ▲General Human Factors, ▲Universal Design, ▲Interface Design, among others, all related to smart safety health.

Planning sessions has been established for university students aspiring to enter the field of ergonomics, as well as emerging ergonomists, to exchange a variety of information in the field of ergonomic, ▲Career exploration for Ergonomists, ▲Colloquium for rising scientists, ▲Current status and future prospects of ergonomics education, ▲Analysis of behavioral patterns and situations using biosignals

Special sessions covered a wide range of topics, including ▲3rd VR/AR Intellectual Property Idea Camp 1, ▲Gaze Tracking Technology, ▲Biomass Hot Melt Film, ▲Integration of Smart Safety Health Technology and Policies for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, ▲Research and Development of Assistive Devices for Elderly and Disabled Individuals, ▲2nd Technical Exchange Meeting of the Smart Human Interface Project Team, ▲Ergonomics of Korea Technology Society, ▲Korea Stanford Center, ▲Current Status of Research and Development of Operator Support Systems in the Nuclear Field, ▲Corporate Innovation and Strengthening Competitiveness, ▲Innovative Manufacturing Technology and Automation, ▲High-Efficiency Technology and Innovation, ▲Process Optimization and Data Quality Management.

• Recognition of Research Achievements by Undergraduate and Graduate Students, and Ergonomics Design Awards for Companies

In addition to the conference sessions, events such as the Student Paper Contest, Capstone Design Contest, and Outstanding Poster Contest were held to encourage student participation and share new research findings.

At the 12th Student Paper Contest, the Grand Prize went to the joint research conducted by Ulsan Science and Technology and Samsung Display Research Institute on 'Interaction of Ocular Movement and Duty Ratio for Motion Blur.' The Capstone Design Contest awarded the first prize to Ulsan University for 'Development of a Worker Load Analysis Program Based on REBA Using Artificial Intelligence.' The 13th Outstanding Poster Contest recognized the joint research of Handong University and NOOGI on 'Comparative Analysis of the Usability of Ergonomics Chairs Regarding Correct Posture' with the Best Poster Award.

The 3rd Outstanding Young Ergonomists Award, given to a young ergonomists who has made a significant impact on the development of ergonomics in Korea through outstanding research achievements and active industrial activities, was awarded to Professor Won-sup Lee (Handong University).

Members of the Ergonomics Society of Korea commemorating their attendance by taking a group photo at the conference/ Photo provided by the Ergonomics Society of Korea

The Ergonomics Design Award (EDA), given annually during the fall conference, aims to encourage scientific and rational product evaluation and design processes from a ergonomic perspective. The Grand Prize for the 23rd Ergonomics Design Award went to LG Electronics' to be released humidifier. LG Electronics stated that they are continuously creating design innovations to enhance product convenience through user experience design that considers customer needs. The Best of Best category included LG Electronics' Universal Kiosk and Samsung Electronics' Bespoke Grande AI and Bespoke Jet AI.

• Contract Signing for Hosting the 2024 IEA International Academic Conference

Event agency contract for the successful hosting of the IEA Congress 2024/ Photo provided by the Ergonomics Society of Korea

Concluding his term after the successful completion of the 2023 Fall Academic Conference, President Jae-hee Park (Professor at Hankyong University) expressed his satisfaction, noting the attendance of over 600 participants. He shared his expectations for the upcoming 2024 IEA, stating that it is anticipated to be successfully organized at the same venue.

Sang-ho Kim, Vice President of the Ergonomics Society of Korea and the incoming 22nd president (Professor of Industrial Engineering at Kumoh National Institute of Technology), pledged to do his best to make the society a wakeful and empowering community where members feel a sense of belonging and pride. He also expressed his commitment to successfully host the 2024 IEA International Academic Conference, aiming to elevate the status of the Ergonomics Society and Korea on the global stage.

Established in 1982, the Ergonomics Society Korea, with approximately 1,700 members, is the sole representative society in the field of ergonomics in Korea. Engaging in various academic activities such as spring and fall conferences and journal publications, the society actively promotes technological advancements in the field.

In particular, the upcoming 'IEA 2024 International Academic Conference,' to be held in Jeju Island next year, is a major global academic event in the field of ergonomics, taking place every three years. As only seven countries worldwide have hosted more than two academic conferences in this field, Korea stands out as the only Asian country to have such an opportunity, expecting significant participation from domestic and international safety and health professionals