Soon-Young Park

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Hanyang University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Soon-Young Park is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a core focus on designing emotionally intelligent service robots that feel less like machines and more like trusted companions. Her major contributions lie in developing systems that enable robots to perceive, express, and communicate emotions—bridging the gap between cold technology and warm, intuitive human engagement. In her landmark 2007 paper (46 citations), Park introduced an emotion interaction system that allows service robots to recognize and respond to human emotional cues, fundamentally advancing the field of affective robotics. She further innovated by proposing music as a medium for emotional expression, composing soundtracks based on musical factors to convey robot feelings (16 citations). Her 2009 work (10 citations) refined this approach by synchronizing emotional intensity with robot behavior, creating more dynamic and believable interactions. Park’s research has been instrumental in making home robots more relatable and effective, laying the groundwork for empathetic AI. Her work remains highly influential for students and researchers exploring the intersection of psychology, music, and robotics in human-centered design.