Curriculum Vitae (2026 Oct.).pdf

Byeongwoong Min is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Science Studies at Seoul National University, specializing in the history of science, technology, and medicine in contemporary South Korea. His research investigates how science and technology have influenced the bodily practices and physical bodies of Koreans—and how, in turn, these bodies have shaped scientific and technological developments.

As a dissertation project, he explores the emergence of a hygienic, healthy, and aesthetic body in South Korea, focusing on the skin. By tracing both scientific and everyday practices related to skincare, he addresses the following questions: How did skin experiences alter bodily norms and scientific knowledge? By examining these issues, his project highlights that bodily experiences expand the understanding of socio-technical knowledge entangled with beauty, health, medicine, and the body. His work also seeks to recover the stories of often-overlooked actors—such as sales representatives, local makers, and consumers—who played a crucial role in shaping South Korea’s modern beauty culture.