Organic Reactions and Synthesis

New Chemical Reactivity via Radical Mechanism

Welcome to the Kim Group!
Kim Research Group members under cherry blossoms on the Yonsei University campus Group photo by the Underwood Statue in autumn Kim group at the 2025 KCS Organic Chemistry Division Summer Workshop

Research Interests: Developing New Organic Methodologies

Photocatalysis, Skeletal Editing, Biomolecule Modification

Publications

Our Research

Our team aims to unveil new sustainable methodologies in organic chemistry, uncovering novel chemical reactivity concepts that enable the synthesis of powerful molecular structures with valuable properties. These advancements open up new opportunities for addressing challenges in small molecules and biomacromolecules.

Organic Synthesis  ·  Radical Chemistry  ·  Photocatalysis

Photocatalysis

Harnessing the energy of light, organic photocatalysis enables sustainable and precise chemical transformations that are otherwise difficult to achieve. This approach redefines efficiency and selectivity in organic synthesis.

Skeletal Editing

Transforming molecular frameworks through targeted bond manipulation, skeletal editing provides a powerful tool for altering the core structure of molecules — addressing critical needs in drug development and materials science.

Bioconjugation

By linking synthetic molecules with biological macromolecules, bioconjugation opens new avenues in precision medicine and diagnostics — creating hybrid systems for targeted therapies and advanced biomedical applications.

Publications

At Yonsei

2026

Direct copper-catalysed deaminative cyanation of aliphatic primary amines

J.-H. Xue, S. Lin, J. Huang, T. Kang, B. Park, M. D. Levin,* M. Kim,* H. Wang*

Nat. Catal. 2026, ASAP.

Prior to Yonsei — postdoctoral work at UChicago

[9]

Accessing sulfonamides via formal SO2 insertion into C–N bonds

M. Kim, C. E. Obertone, C. B. Kelly,* C. A. Reiher,* J. C. Robertson, M. D. Levin*

Nat. Chem. 2025, 17, 1247–1255.

Ph.D. work at KAIST

[8]

Visible light active coumarin- and quinolinone-based photocatalysts and their applications in chemical transformations

M. Kim, S. Hong, J. Jeong, S. Hong*

Chem. Rec. 2023, e202200267 (invited account).
[7]

Unlocking the potential of β-fragmentation of aminophosphoranyl radicals for sulfonyl radical reactions

J. Kim,† M. Kim,† J. Jeong, S. Hong* (†co-first author)

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 14510–14518.
[6]

Site-selective pyridine C–H alkylation with alcohols and thiols via single-electron transfer of frustrated Lewis pairs

C.-Y. Tan, M. Kim, I. Park, Y. Kim, S. Hong*

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e20221385.
[4]

Site-selective pyridylic C–H functionalization by photocatalytic radical cascades

M. Kim, E. You, J. Kim, S. Hong*

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202204217.

Selected as a Hot Paper by the editors · Highlighted as front cover

[3]

Divergent reactivity of sulfinates with pyridinium salts based on one- versus two-electron pathways

M. Kim, E. You, S. Park, S. Hong*

Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 6629–6637.
[2]

Visible-light-induced cysteine-specific bioconjugation: biocompatible thiol-ene click chemistry

H. Choi,† M. Kim,† J. Jang,* S. Hong* (†co-first author)

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 22514–22522.

Selected as a Hot Paper by the editors · Highlighted as frontispiece cover

[1]

Rational computational design of fourth-generation EGFR inhibitors to combat drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer

H. Park,* H.-Y. Jung, K. Kim, M. Kim, S. Hong*

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 12, 6629–6637.

Group Members

The Kim Group welcomes researchers from all backgrounds who are passionate about advancing our work. Undergraduates who have completed the Organic Chemistry sequence and are seeking research experience may reach out to Myojeong by email. Prospective postdoctoral researchers are also encouraged to email Myojeong with their CV and reference contacts.

Graduate students & research fellows

Seungjun Moon

Seungjun Moon

Integrated M.S. & Ph.D. (2025/03–) B.S. 2025 Chonnam Nat. Univ. 2025311250@yonsei.ac.kr
Wooho Jeon

Wooho Jeon

Integrated M.S. & Ph.D. (2025/06–) B.S. 2024 Yonsei University ooho_j24@yonsei.ac.kr
Eunchae Kim

Eunchae Kim

M.S. (2025/09–) B.S. 2025 Kwangwoon Univ. ann2380@yonsei.ac.kr
Yubeen Cho

Yubeen Cho

M.S. (2025/09–) B.S. 2025 Kyungpook Nat. Univ. dbqls0717@yonsei.ac.kr
Dr. Princi Gupta

Dr. Princi Gupta

G-LAMP Fellowship (2025/09–) Ph.D. 2025 IISER Bhopal princigupta@yonsei.ac.kr
Seungmin Baek

Seungmin Baek

M.S. (2026/03–) B.S. 2026 Yonsei University sngmn@yonsei.ac.kr
Minkyung Kim

Minkyung Kim

M.S. (2026/03–) B.S. 2026 Soongsil University kyung03@yonsei.ac.kr
Junha Park

Junha Park

Integrated M.S. & Ph.D. (2026/03–) B.S. 2026 Dankook University junha7065@yonsei.ac.kr

Undergraduate students

Taeseok Kang

Taeseok Kang

Undergraduate Intern (2025/03–) Yonsei Chemistry
Yoonseo Park

Yoonseo Park

Undergraduate Intern (2025/07–) Yonsei Chemistry
Yonsei University seal

Yonsei Kim

Undergraduate Intern

Myojeong

Myojeong Kim

Myojeong Kim, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University

Professional experience

2025 – Present

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Korea.

2023 – 2024

Postdoctoral Scholar

With Prof. Mark D. Levin, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, United States.

2023 – 2023

IBS Research Fellow

With Prof. Sungwoo Hong, Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalization, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Korea.

Education

2018 – 2023

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Advisor: Prof. Sungwoo Hong, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.

2014 – 2018

B.S. in Chemistry

School of Undergraduate Studies, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Korea.

Member of the first graduating class of DGIST.

Fellowships and awards

  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, 2025
  • 1st Prize, UChicago Chemistry's 2024 Post Doc Awards Symposium, United States, 2024
  • Finalist Nomination, UChicago Chemistry's 2024 Post Doc Awards Symposium, United States, 2024
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Nurturing Next-generation Researchers), National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, 2023–2024
  • Poster Award, the 11th Singapore International Chemistry Conference (SICC-11), Singapore, 2022
  • TCI Best Oral Presentation Award, the 18th Pharmaceutical Society of Korea (PSK) Medicinal Chemistry Workshop, Buyeo, Korea, 2022
  • Best Teaching Award, CH352 Chemistry Major Lab II, KAIST, 2020

About Us

Group photo under cherry blossoms

April 8, 2026

Our spring group photo with cherry blossoms.

Group photo by the Underwood Statue in autumn

October 29, 2025

Autumn group photo by the Underwood Statue.

Kim group at the 2025 KCS Organic Chemistry Division Summer Workshop

August 25, 2025

The entire Kim group attended the 2025 Organic Chemistry Division Summer Workshop of the KCS at Seorak.

Kim group at the 2025 KCS spring meeting in Suwon

April 24, 2025

The Kim group participated in the 2025 KCS spring meeting.

Yonsei University emblem

March 1, 2025

The Kim group launched at Yonsei University. Join our team!

Join us