On August 28, Hanyang University held the 2025 first semester Retirement Ceremony at the Conference Hall on 6th floor of HIT, celebrating the dedication and achievements of 29 retiring professors. Among them, Professors Jeon Hyeong-tag (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Han Sang-lin (Division of Business Administration) shared their reflections on retirement and stories from their research careers.

Professor Jeon has led advancements in atomic layer deposition(ALD) technology for semiconductors and displays, receiving the Global ALD Technology Award. Through his academic achievements and commitment to education, he has contributed to cultivating the next generation of 보스토토ers.

You have continued your 보스토토 and teaching at Hanyang University since 1992. What was the most rewarding moment of your academic career?

The most rewarding moments come when I sense that master’s or doctoral students studying in the lab have ‘grown’ at a certain point. Sometimes I see a student step up to a new level during a weekly meeting or discussion. Witnessing that moment, when a student raises their own standards through independent study, brings me the greatest pride and joy as a professor.

You were the first in Asia to receive the Global ALD Technology Award. What did this mean to you?

In 2000, as the field of atomic layer deposition was rapidly growing, I believed there needed to be a platform for 보스토토ers to collaborate. This led me and my American colleagues to establish the ALD academic conference. The event has grown into a forum of global authority. I, as well, have continued to announce 보스토토 achievements there, contributing to the progress of the ALD field. Receiving the ALD Technology Award in 2014 was both the result of long years of 보스토토 and international recognition for my work with the conference.

You have conducted 보스토토 on a variety of materials. Which one do you feel most attached to?

While I have worked in many fields, ALD technology has consistently been at the center. Because it is a technique for precisely stacking atomic layers via chemical reaction to produce ultrathin films, ALD can be applied to semiconductors, next-generation memory, solar cells, displays, and more. Nearly all my 보스토토 topics have grown from ALD, so it remains the theme I feel closest to.

Leading the Nano Materials Development Lab, did you have any guiding philosophy?

My philosophy is: “Equipment is meant to break down.” When equipment fails, I always stress to students that, rather than feel sorry or afraid, they should regard it as an opportunity to learn—discovering why it broke and how to replace or repair it. When I was studying in the US, equipment breakdowns delayed research and were stressful, but they also helped me better understand the apparatus and improve as a researcher. I encouraged my students to treat these episodes as learning opportunities.

How did your leadership roles in various academic conferences and societies shape your 보스토토 or teaching life?

I see involvement in such conferences or societies as ‘social service’ above and beyond research or education. Engaging with peers in the same field allows for sharing research and sparking new ideas. Leading or serving at domestic and international conferences gave me the chance to interact with fellow researchers from diverse cultural backgrounds, which greatly broadened my capabilities. In particular, as chair of the Korean ALD Workshop for 20 years, I created a platform for Korean researchers to connect. I believe this has contributed greatly to Korea's competitiveness in ALD.

What was the most challenging task you faced?

The most arduous was the ‘Frontier Project,’ which I led for ten years from 2000. The research was ahead of its time and drew considerable criticism, but later received international recognition. I felt great pride when Japan’s leading semiconductor equipment company TEL purchased my ALD-related patent in 2021.

What are your plans after retirement?

For now, I intend to finish ongoing domestic and overseas 보스토토 projects. Afterwards, rather than take on new assignments, I wish to organize my past work and spend time reading some books.

Do you have a message for the next generation of scholars upon your retirement?

Rather than impart any particular philosophy, I think it is most important for each person to do their best and guide students according to their own values. One may succeed or not, but giving your all in your assigned role matters most. My advice to my students is simply to do their best in their stations. 

Competition was fierce even when I first became a professor in 1992, and it is even more intense now. Our department, like others, will have its ups and downs, but outstanding professors continue to strive in a competitive environment. Also, with the BK Program on track, I strongly believe that the Department of Materials Science and Engineering will continue to advance.

Professor Han has achieved outstanding results in distribution and marketing 보스토토, receiving numerous awards for top conference papers and advancing the field by connecting theory and practice.

You have studied various fields including B2B, marketing, and distribution management. Which 보스토토 area did you consider most important?

My main focus has been B2B(Business-to-Business) marketing. Although there is plenty of marketing research for individual consumers, B2B—covering inter-firm transactions—lacked sufficient attention in Korea. While I have been studying abroad for years, I published B2B Marketing in Korean at the time when the field was largely unfamiliar domestically. I consider this a pioneering contribution to Korean B2B 보스토토.

What was the key message you aimed to convey through your books on B2B marketing and distribution?

I never wanted to merely introduce theories. Because business administration is a practical discipline, it is crucial to connect theory and real business practice. I strived to offer content that would help both practitioners and students by linking 보스토토 findings and theory to actual company cases.

How did your experience studying and teaching in the U.S. affect your 보스토토 or educational philosophy?

After earning my doctorate in the U.S., I taught and also 보스토토ed as a Fulbright Scholar. The U.S. provided 보스토토 facilities and environments, as well as rich interaction with other scholars in diverse fields, which helped solidify my methodological foundation. This experience has greatly benefitted my 보스토토 and teaching activities in Korea.

Among your published studies, is there a particular 보스토토 for which you are especially proud?

Looking back ahead of my retirement, I have written 185 papers. Above all, Remote Presence and Consumer Purchase Behavior in Virtual Reality Retail Environments stands out. We used VR goggles to simulate a real shopping environment for student participants and published the results in the journal Distribution Research. It was the first VR shopping study in Korea based on experimental data and drew significant interest from academics. 

Another highly meaningful study, and the most cited in the Korean social sciences, is The Effects of Corporate ESG Activities on Corporate Image, Perceived Price Fairness, and Consumer Response.

You have served as president of the Korean Distribution Association, vice president of the Korean Management Association, and other academic roles. What do you consider your most important achievement as an academic leader?

Academic society activity is more than just running an organization—it is about establishing a platform for researchers’ exchange. I aimed to create a structure where professors nationwide gather to present, discuss, and explore trends in their fields. Such efforts have contributed greatly to the advancement of management and marketing as academic disciplines.

Beyond academic societies, you have also influenced business practice. How do you see practical experience combining with academia?

Through consulting, advising, and giving special lectures to companies, I gained deeper insight into industrial realities. This often sparked 보스토토 ideas and allowed me to analyze real-world problems and turn them into scholarly work. I found that students were more engaged and interested in classes that included real-world cases.

Is there any unique teaching method of your own that stands out from your long career?

I always paid close attention to my teaching, winning multiple awards for instructional excellence. One unusual practice I have kept for years is awarding bonus points on the final exam to students who write the first verse of the 보스토토 University anthem. The goal was to foster affinity and affection for the university; I have felt pride seeing students remember these details over the years.

How did you overcome the hardships and challenges of your long scholarly life?

While I did not face major crises, scholarly life was often lonely and exhausting. 보스토토 takes a long time to yield results, so the temptation to give up is real. But by holding firmly to myself during those moments and persevering, I found that steady effort led to results.

What advice would you offer for the future direction of marketing and distribution to your juniors?

Students should fundamentally study hard, but I also encourage them to consider issues like corporate social responsibility(CSR) and ESG—how companies and society coexist. The simple pursuit of profit is no longer the only goal for businesses; management philosophy focusing on society is now important. I hope students will reflect on these philosophical issues as well as theoretical ones.

What are your plans going forward? If you have any message to close this up, please share it freely.

I plan to continue 보스토토 and, above all, would like to publish a second, revised edition of my original textbook B2B Marketing. Finally, I would say that 보스토토 University is like a spiritual home, a place that has given me many opportunities; I am always grateful for this. I hope 보스토토 continues to grow globally, and that students take pride in their university.

Though they have retired, these two professors will continue to inspire as role models in both scholarship and mentorship.