Kyung-Sook Park

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Institute of Robot and Convergence

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Kyung-Sook Park is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on developing emotionally intelligent service robots that can function as trusted home companions. Her work centers on designing emotion interaction systems and cognitive models that enable robots to recognize, express, and exchange emotions, bridging the gap between machines and human social expectations. Park’s most cited paper, “Emotion Interaction System for a Service Robot” (2007, 46 citations), introduces a system that allows robots to perceive and respond to human emotions, making them appear more reliable and less mechanical. She further advances this field by proposing mental models for cognitive robots, drawing on psychoanalysis, emotion theories, neural networks, and fuzzy Petri nets to mimic human cognitive processes. Her research on emotional exchange in socially interactive robots (2008) explores how robots can engage in reciprocal emotional interactions, enhancing their social presence. Park’s contributions are foundational for creating robots that are not just functional but empathetic, with her work cited by researchers aiming to build more natural, trustworthy human-robot relationships. Her interdisciplinary approach—merging psychology, artificial intelligence, and robotics—positions her as a key figure in the evolution of socially aware service robots.