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Seongjun Kang

Hello! My name is Seongjun Kang, and I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at the HCIS Lab of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST).

My research primarily focuses on haptic technology within Virtual Reality. I am dedicated to developing hardware and software that seamlessly integrate various human senses. This involves designing innovative interfaces and exploring the potential of human somatosensory perception to create more immersive and intuitive interactions. By bridging the gap between the virtual and physical worlds, my goal is to contribute to a more nuanced and engaging user experience.

For more about my background and research, see my CV and Google Scholar profile.

Education

  1. 2023–Present

    Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence

    GIST

    Ph.D. candidate

  2. 2022–2023

    M.S. in Robotics

    GIST

  3. 2018–2022

    B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

    GIST

Advisor: Prof. SeungJun Kim

Research Experience

  1. Present

    HCIS Lab · GIST

    Doctoral Research

    Advisor: Prof. SeungJun Kim

    Haptic interfaces and multisensory interaction in virtual reality.

  2. May 2 – June 2, 2026

    MIT CSAIL

    Research Visit · Distributed Robotics Laboratory

    Host: Prof. Daniela Rus

  3. May 6 – June 1, 2025

    MIT CSAIL

    Research Visit · Distributed Robotics Laboratory

    Host: Prof. Daniela Rus

Publications

Full Papers — First Author

Inertia in Your Hand: Rendering Virtual Tool Dynamics via In-Hand Cutaneous Deformation

Kang, S., Kim, G., Shin, S., Park, J., Um, J., Rus, D., Kim, S.

UIST 2026 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

When Fingers Become Tools: Rendering Virtual Tool Inertia with a Finger-Mounted Extending Rod

Kang, S., Kim, G., Gim, B., Park, J., Um, J., Shin, S., Park, C., Kim, S.

CHI 2026 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

EarPressure VR: Ear Canal Pressure Feedback for Enhancing Environmental Presence in Virtual Reality

Kang, S., Kim, G., Gim, B., Park, J., Shin, S., Kim, S.

UIST 2025 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

TelePulse: Enhancing the Teleoperation Experience through Biomechanical Simulation-Based Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Virtual Reality

Hwang, S.*, Kang, S.*, Oh, J.*, Park, J., Shin, S., Luo, Y., DelPreto, J., Lee, S., Lee, K., Matusik, W., Rus, D., Kim, S. (* equal contribution)

CHI 2025 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Award: Best Paper Award (Top 1%)

Flip-Pelt: Motor-Driven Peltier Elements for Rapid Thermal Stimulation and Congruent Pressure Feedback in Virtual Reality

Kang, S., Kim, G., Hwang, S., Park, J., Elsharkawy, A., Kim, S.

UIST 2024 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

Giant Finger: A Novel Visuo-Somatosensory Approach to Simulating Lower Body Movements in Virtual Reality

Kang, S., Kim, G., Kim, S. (2023)

ISMAR 2023 : IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality

Full Papers — Co-author

MagToTheFuture: Transforming Passive Objects into Circuit-Free Haptic Devices via Magnetic Fields

MagToTheFuture: Transforming Passive Objects into Circuit-Free Haptic Devices via Magnetic Fields

Park, J., Kang, S., Ko, K., Kim, G., Shin, S., Kang, Y., Matusik, W., Rus, D., Kim, S.

UIST 2026 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

Contextual Blocking Entities: Transformation of Guardian Boundaries in Virtual Reality

Contextual Blocking Entities: Transformation of Guardian Boundaries in Virtual Reality

Jang, S., Kang, S., Um, J., Park, J., Kim, S.

IEEE TVCG 2026 : IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics

EMSWalker: Integrating Gait-Synchronized Electrical Muscle Stimulation for Seated Walking-in-Place in Virtual Reality

EMSWalker: Integrating Gait-Synchronized Electrical Muscle Stimulation for Seated Walking-in-Place in Virtual Reality

Um, J., Kang, S., Gim, B., Kang, Y., Kim, G., Shin, S., DelPreto, J., Rus, D., Kim, S.

ISMAR 2026 : IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality

From Disruption to Immersion: Reimagining Vehicle Motion as Environmental Feedback through Force Mappings in In-Car VR

From Disruption to Immersion: Reimagining Vehicle Motion as Environmental Feedback through Force Mappings in In-Car VR

Gim, B., Kang, S., Kim, G., Yeo, D., Kang, Y., Elsharkawy, A., Kim, S.

CHI 2026 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Defying Gravity: Towards Gravitoinertial Retargeting of Acceleration for Virtual Vertical Motion in In-Car VR

Defying Gravity: Towards Gravitoinertial Retargeting of Acceleration for Virtual Vertical Motion in In-Car VR

Gim, B., Kang, S., Yeo, D., Kim, G., Um, J., Park, J., Kim, S.

ISMAR 2025 : IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality

AttraCar: Multisensory In-Car VR with Thermal, Airflow, and Motion Feedback through Built-In Vehicle Systems

AttraCar: Multisensory In-Car VR with Thermal, Airflow, and Motion Feedback through Built-In Vehicle Systems

Yeo, D., Kim, G., Oh, M., Park, J., Gim, B., Kang, S., Elsharkawy, A., Kim, S.

UIST 2025 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

Award: People's Choice Best Demo, Demo Honorable Mention

I Want to Break Free: Enabling User-Applied Active Locomotion in In-Car VR through Contextual Cues

I Want to Break Free: Enabling User-Applied Active Locomotion in In-Car VR through Contextual Cues

Gim, B., Hwang, S., Kang, S., Kim, G., Yeo, D., Kim, S.

CHI 2025 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

ErgoPulse: Electrifying Your Lower Body With Biomechanical Simulation-based Electrical Muscle Stimulation Haptic System in Virtual Reality

ErgoPulse: Electrifying Your Lower Body With Biomechanical Simulation-based Electrical Muscle Stimulation Haptic System in Virtual Reality

Hwang, S., Oh, J., Kang, S., Seong, M., Elsharkawy, A., Kim, S.

CHI 2024 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Award: Honorable Mention Award (Top 5%)

Posters, Demos, and Workshop Papers

Surf-Roll: Modulating Perceived Slipperiness and Stickiness through Finger–Surface Relative Motion

Surf-Roll: Modulating Perceived Slipperiness and Stickiness through Finger–Surface Relative Motion

Kim, E., Shin, S., Kang, S., Jang, S., Park, J., Um, J., Kim, S.

UIST-Adjunct 2026 : The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology Adjunct

Six Gains RDW: Reinforcement Learning Based Redirected Walking Using Translation, Rotation, Curvature, Strafing, Saccadic, and Eye Blink Gains

Six Gains RDW: Reinforcement Learning Based Redirected Walking Using Translation, Rotation, Curvature, Strafing, Saccadic, and Eye Blink Gains

Oh, J.*, Kang, S.*, Um, J.*, Kim, S. (* equal contribution)

ISMAR-Adjunct 2026 : IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct

Magneto: Enabling Multimodal Haptic Feedback on Paper through Magnetic Fields

Magneto: Enabling Multimodal Haptic Feedback on Paper through Magnetic Fields

Park, J., Shin, S., Kang, S., Kim, G., Kim, S.

CHI LBW 2025 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Late-Breaking Work

TeleHopper: Simulating a Jumping Sensation as Proprioceptive Feedback for Teleportation in Virtual Reality via Electrical Muscle Stimulation

TeleHopper: Simulating a Jumping Sensation as Proprioceptive Feedback for Teleportation in Virtual Reality via Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Um, J., Gim, B., Kang, S., Kang, Y., Jeon, E., Kim, S.

CHI LBW 2025 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Late-Breaking Work

LegSense: Inducing Walking Sensation in Seated VR by Providing Movement Illusion via Electrical Muscle Stimulation

LegSense: Inducing Walking Sensation in Seated VR by Providing Movement Illusion via Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Um, J., Jeon, E., Kang, Y., Kang, S., Elsharkawy, A., Joseph DelPreto, Wojciech Matusik, Daniela Rus, Kim, S.

UbiComp Companion 2024 : Companion of the 2024 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing

Proposal of a Framework for Enhancing Teleoperation Experience with Biomechanical Simulation-Based Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Virtual Reality

Proposal of a Framework for Enhancing Teleoperation Experience with Biomechanical Simulation-Based Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Virtual Reality

Hwang, S., Kang, S., Oh, J., Park, J., Shin, S., Yiyue Luo, Joseph DelPreto, Wojciech Matusik, Daniela Rus, Kim, S.

UbiComp Companion 2024 : Companion of the 2024 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing

Dual-sided Peltier Elements for Rapid Thermal Feedback in Wearables

Dual-sided Peltier Elements for Rapid Thermal Feedback in Wearables

Kang, S., Kim, G., Hwang, S., Park, J., Elsharkawy, A., Kim, S.

2024 IEEE ICRA Workshop : on Wearable

Curving the Virtual Route: Applying Redirected Steering Gains for Active Locomotion in In-Car VR

Curving the Virtual Route: Applying Redirected Steering Gains for Active Locomotion in In-Car VR

Gim, B., Kang, S., Kim, G., Yeo, D., Hwang, S., Kim, S.

CHI LBW 2024 : ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Late-Breaking Work

Giant Finger: Visuo-Proprioceptive Congruent Virtual Legs for Flying Actions in Virtual Reality

Giant Finger: Visuo-Proprioceptive Congruent Virtual Legs for Flying Actions in Virtual Reality

Kang, S., Kim, G., Lee, K.T., Kim, S. (2023)

IEEE VRW 2023 : Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops

More Publications

TS2Vec-based Time-Series Representation Learning for Badminton Swing Skill Level Assessment

Park, C., Seong, M., Um, J., Kang, S., Park, J., Kim, S.

HCI Korea 2026

TherMusic: A Valence-Arousal-Based Music Emotion Classifier and Thermal Feedback Headset System

Kang, S., Gim, B., Um, J., Kim, S.

KIISE Korea Computer Congress 2025 : Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference

Award: Best Paper Award

Utilizing Real-Time Video Matting to create a Scalable System for Real Hand Visualization and Interaction within Augmented Virtuality

Gim, B., Kang, S., Um, J., Kim, S.

KIISE Korea Computer Congress 2025 : Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference

How Do Background and Remote User Representations Affect Social Telepresence in Remote Collaboration?: A Study with Portal Display, a Head Pose-Responsive Video Teleconferencing System

Kang, S., Kim, G., Lee, K-T., Kim S.

Electronics. 2023; 12(20):4339

Portal Display: Screen-based 3D Stereoscopic Conferencing System for Immersive Social Telepresence

Kang, S., Kim, G., Lee, K., Kim, S. (2022)

KSII the 14th international conference on internet (ICONI) 2022 symposium

Award: Best Paper Award (1st)

Fun Projects