Hankook R&D Head Receives University Honour

Polymer science expert Dr. Hwi Joong Kim’s work for Hankook Tire has attracted the attention and admiration of his former university – On October 2 the University of Akron M.D. and Ph.D. graduate received the 2009 Outstanding Alumnus award from the seat of learning.

Hankook explains that the Outstanding Alumnus award is given to graduates who show remarkable achievement in academics or technology. As the company’s chief technology and production officer, Dr. Kim is responsible for all R&D activities at Hankook Tire, and the University of Akron announced his selection in recognition of this contribution to the tyre maker’s technological innovation.

A total of five Hankook Tire employees, including Dr. Kim, have received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Akron through its executive study abroad programme, and one employee is currently participating in the programme. Hankook Tire intends to “cultivate more outstanding research team members” by strengthening its ties with the Ohio, US based university. 

The University of Akron was the first tertiary institution in the world to establish rubber science as a major, and the university is home to the first ever Department of Polymer Science. Currently, notes Hankook, the university is ranked second in the field of polymer science and fifth as an engineering college in the US. The institute performs ongoing research on polymer science in cooperation with renown  tyre manufacturers.