Kwan Min Lee

University of Southern California, Sungkyunkwan University

Papers

Total Citations

764

H-Index

About

Kwan Min Lee is a pioneering researcher in human–robot interaction (HCI) and social robotics, best known for demonstrating that people respond to robots as social beings. His landmark 2006 study, “Can Robots Manifest Personality?” (586 citations), used Sony’s AIBO to show that robots can exhibit recognizable personalities, triggering genuine social responses and a sense of social presence in users. This work fundamentally shaped how we design socially interactive robots. Lee further explored the impact of perceived robot development in “Can a Robot Be Perceived as a Developing Creature?” (145 citations), revealing that robots seen as maturing over time elicit stronger social bonds and emotional engagement. He also contributed foundational frameworks to the field, including the Media Equation Theory, which posits that individuals treat computers and media as real social actors. As a leading voice in HCI, Lee’s research bridges psychology, communication, and computer science, offering essential insights for creating more natural, empathetic human–robot interactions. His work continues to influence designers and researchers aiming to build robots that feel less like machines and more like companions.