Researcher Bio
WooJin Shim has a doctorate in Geography, specializing in using GIS to carry out his research. His skills and expertise mean he can use data to visualize the profiles of each region in Asia. Between April and November 2017 he developed an algorithm for GIS software that modelled terrestrial routes of cultural exchange between Turkey and Gyeongju, South Korea. This work used features of the natural environment to reconstruct and compare past terrestrial exchange routes that were not described in historical texts. Presentation of this research at The 3rd Annual International Conference of International Association for Silk Road Studies received positive evaluations for its use of GIS technology to link the past and present.
In addition, he participates in the project “Consolidating Asian Identity and Interchange – Developing a Consolidation Index for East Asia”, collecting and analyzing multiple types of data from Korea, China, and Japan. Through this work he has a quantitative understanding of current conditions within the region and has experience developing a consolidation index covering these three nations. This experience allows him to explore the differences and commonalties of regions within Asia and Mega-Asia through quantitative indicators and indexes, thus shedding light on these issues within a data-telling agenda. Within this process, numerous recognized international agencies and governments are providing information related to multiple regions, but organizations and agencies that combine and arrange this data to offer one meaningful outcome are lacking. The Mega-Asia Research Group’s Data-Telling Cluster is working to solve this problem and outline a plan of action by building a platform for regional information in Asia.
His paper published in October 2018, entitled “A Method for Predicting Soil Types in North Korea: Importance of North Korea Soil Properties and Prediction Soil Types”, was awarded the 29th Prize for Excellence in Science and Technology (on 4th July, 2019). In addition, his doctoral thesis was awarded Seoul National University’s 2020 Prize for Outstanding Dissertation within the Social Sciences.
Key Publications
2020. Development and Evaluation of Hillslope Position Classification using Catena Concept, Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 55(3); 231-251
2019. 「Multi-decadal Shoreline Change Interpreted from Aerial Photographs in Ilgwang Beach, South Korea」『Journal of Coastal Research』 91; 316-320
2018. A Method for Predicting Soil Types in North Korea: Importance of North Korea Soil Properties and Prediction Soil Types, Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 53(5); 649-668
2018. A Study on the Development of Topographical Variables and Algorithm for Mountain Classification, Journal of the Korean Geomorphological Association, 25(3); 1-18
2018. 「The Necessity of Coastal Management in Busan considering Human and Natural Conditions: The Case of the Barrier Islands in the Nakdong River Estuary」『Journal of Coastal Research』 85 1501-1505
Other Experience