KU Insights

The Communications Systems Lab (the Comsys Lab), led by Professor Ko Young-chai, is now preparing 6th generation communications.

Professor Ko The College of Engineering at KU has been selected as the 'Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Communication System Research Center' for 2021 to 2028, and I am serving as the director of the Center and conducting research to prepare for the next generation of communications, together with other professors and researchers."

I hope the time that our lab members are spending in their 20s will be remembered as the ‘belle époque’ of their life.

Professor Ko ""The pride of our lab? Well, I may look like a lovesick fool, but I think that my students have the ideal beauty that one can have in their mid-20s. They are adventurous, industrious, and at the same time, considerate of one another. I hope that the time they spend in my lab in their 20s will be remembered as the ‘belle époque’ of their life; this is the major goal that I have in leading the lab. For that, it is necessary that they are happy despite the anxieties of being in their 20s. How important the lab members are, as you spend most of the time of your day with them! I think that my students can say, "It was fun and rewarding to spend my time with you."

Do you have your own roles in the lab?

Byeong-Heon I’m the lab head, and so I share notifications with the lab members and try to help them solve problems.

Sung Uk I make the schedule and reserve accommodation and transportation when we travel to conferences together. Since I am the only one who can drive, I am also in charge of that.

Min-Ji I’m taking care of the accounting and documentation when we attend conferences.

Jeong Yeop I newly joined the lab this year, and so I am focusing on my own studies and learning about my roles in the lab.

What is your daily routine in the lab?

Byeong-Heon There are no specific working hours, but since I am doing my military service as a technical research personnel member, I come to the lab at 9 a.m. As soon as I arrive, I first let some fresh air in. (Laughs) There are not many rules in the lab. Everyone is free to research and study, and if there is something they don't know, they discuss it together. Sometimes they come late and do research until late at night, so it varies.

Sung Uk I start my day by grabbing a gimbap roll and coffee and go to work and eating it. While eating, I look over the research I will do on that day, and afterwards I start my research in earnest. When I get stuck or discover something I don't know, I ask my colleagues or solve the issue through ChatGPT.

Jeong Yeop I take graduate school classes and conduct my own research. I check on the progress of my research and receive guidance through weekly seminars with the professor and lab members. I also have opportunities to attend various domestic and international conferences and to audit various lectures.

Su-Hong The work schedule is flexible and we are all free to work anytime we want, but everyone is passionate about the research.

Could you share why you chose this lab?

Byeong-Heon When I was an undergraduate, I took the professor's class and became interested in the field of communications, and at the same time, I thought that if I had someone like him as my advisor, I would be able to spend my ‘difficult’ graduate school life in a rewarding way. That's why I wrote my undergraduate thesis in this lab, and because I sensed good chemistry between the professor and my seniors during that time, I was able to choose this lab with more confidence.

Sung Uk I was interested in the lab because it is specialized in wireless communications, and I decided to apply after hearing that the professor had a great personality. I had taken his lectures on the internet, and I was particularly impressed by the way he taught the difficult things in an easy-to-understand manner.

What is the advantage of your lab?

Byeong-Heon The biggest advantage of our lab is definitely our professor! (Laughs) If you have taken his undergraduate classes, you will know that the he cares about his students more than anyone else.

Sung Uk I like the free and horizontal relationships. Also, when there's a difficult assignment or exam period, we help each other. There are a lot of smart (?) senior members, so I can get help in my studies, which is a big advantage. (Laughs)

Su-Hong Most of us are introverts, so there is little interference. However, when I ask them questions about things I don't know, they are really kind people who will try their best to answer them.

Do you have any special moments from your time in the lab?

Byeong-Heon I worked hard to complete a manuscript, submitted it, and did my best to respond to the reviewers' feedback. After a long time without any news, I was so happy when I eventually got the news that my paper had been accepted and published in a journal.

Sung Uk We have a quarterly cleaning day in the lab, and after that, we go to an ice cream shop together and chat, which is nice. I think it's more memorable because it's a sweet snack after work.

Min-Ji When we attend a conference out of town, after we finish all our tasks, we spend the night together playing board games. Does that sound a bit nerdy? But, actually, it's a really fun and friendly time.

To whom do you like to recommend your lab?

Sung Uk I think it would be good for those who are interested in wireless communications, especially air technology, to apply to the lab. It would be helpful to study subjects such as linear algebra, convex optimization, and random process in advance. If you have a clear idea of the research you want to conduct and are passionate about it, I am confident that our lab provides the best environment.

Min-Ji Graduate school life is perceived as being tough enough that there are memes about it, but after actually coming here, I think this has been a little bit exaggerated. It's not always easy, but you don't feel too pressured or intimidated.

Su-Hong If you like math and are dreaming about exploring your own strengths rather than following what everyone else is doing, come to our lab!

A place for young people who will make take the lead in world communications

Graduates of the Comsys Lab play important roles in universities or in the business divisions of major telecommunications companies such as Samsung Electronics. Many have also been employed by global enterprises or become professors at universities in other countries such as the United States. “I think 6G communications are fascinating because our research will directly affect the daily lives of people worldwide. There is also a sense of duty to continue to maintain Korea’s position as a ‘telecommunications powerhouse.’”

The Comsys Lab in the New Engineering Building is where students study autonomously but intensely, working in horizontal relationships but with a sense of responsibility, and enjoy hilarious jokes together in combination with cool-headed discussion. We look forward to seeing the new pages of the history of global communications that will be written by the young students of the lab.