Chonnam National University Professor Jeong Hyun-jung receives food industry academic award

Professor Jeong Hyun-jung of Chonnam National University has been honored with the 7th Korea Food Industry Association Academic Award. The prestigious award was presented during the 2026 International Symposium and General Meeting of the Korean Society of Food Science and Technology, held from July 1-3 at the Daejeon Convention Center.

The symposium's theme was "Food Science as a Translational Hub: Bridging Bioresources, Biotechnology, and Human Health." Professor Jeong's recognition stems from her significant contributions to the food industry's advancement. Her research has focused on crop-based food materials and the development of AI-driven quality control technologies, which have been instrumental in enhancing the industry's sophistication and competitiveness.

In addition to the award ceremony, the event included a dedicated session titled "Sugars and Obesity: Scientific Evidence and Public Health Policy Implications." This session addressed the growing policy discussions surrounding sugar intake, particularly following recent legislative proposals for a sugar tax in South Korea. The discussions aimed to explore the latest research findings on sugar and obesity, derive insights for public health policies, and consider effective obesity prevention strategies and the role of the food industry.

The session, moderated by Professor Song Yoon-ju of Catholic University, featured four presentations. Topics included public health policies for regulating sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar reduction efforts within the food industry, a multidisciplinary approach to obesity pharmacotherapy using digital counseling, and sensory-based food design. The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session, fostering an exchange of ideas on policy directions, industry roles, and consumer acceptance.

“

Recognized for her contributions to the advancement of the food industry through research on food materials derived from crops and AI-based quality control technology development.