February 28, 2026Feb 28, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Doctor in his 30s challenges protein mapping competition

Date: 12/05/2019 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

There, Han Kun Sop (pictured) was highly appreciated.

Foreign scholars posted on the internet that the research findings of the Korean researcher at the University of Sciences are very interesting, his essays showing the DPRK’s level of biological development are best and the DPRK that entered the CASP for the first time emerged as winner.

Han Kun Sop in his thirties was born to a farmer’s family in Kumho district of South Hamgyong Province.

“My son as a child helped me with feeding pigs, ducks and rabbits as he was very fond of animals,” said Han’s mother.

Therefore, he majored in biology after enrolling at the University of Sciences.

He was especially interested in genetic and cell engineering.

He set himself the goal of blazing a trail in the new study of computational biology as a postgraduate student and later thrust himself into research into protein structure prediction that draws world attention.

A major component of all cells, protein is said to play a primary role in the manifestation of life phenomena and therefore elucidating its structure constitutes a key research project of life science.

Experts say that the experimental demonstration of the structure of one protein requires hundreds of thousands of euros and enormous labour.

So far, the structures of a very few number of proteins have been clarified experimentally and it is regarded as almost impossible to clear up the solid structures of so many proteins by the experimental method alone.

Han racked his brains with an ambition to become world champion in the field of protein structure prediction. And his painstaking effort was worthwhile.

He succeeded in establishing a new method of predicting local and regional characters of protein structure models, which marks one of the main stages in protein structure prediction. For the discovery he was awarded a doctorate in biology.

Last year he took part in the 13th CASP which was held online. During some 90-day long contest he predicted in an original way the exactitude of 14 640 protein structure models presented by the competition organizing committee and submitted the result within the set time. He also added two essays to the collection of essays of the 13th international event.

The organizing committee that examined the results sent an email to Han to invite him to a round-table talk of five persons who were appreciated as best.

More From Pyongyang Times

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

February 27, 2026

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

Top ten players of DPRK for 2025

Top ten players of DPRK for 2025

With sustained efforts toward victory Pang Chol Mi, a boxer and People’s Athlete of the Kumgangsan Sports Team, was born into a

February 27, 2026

With sustained efforts toward victory Pang Chol Mi, a boxer and People’s Athlete of the Kumgangsan Sports Team, was born into a

Russian president’s press secretary mentions Russia-Japan relations

Russian president’s press secretary mentions Russia-Japan relations

Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, referred to Russia-Japan relations at a press conference on February 20.He

February 27, 2026

Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, referred to Russia-Japan relations at a press conference on February 20.He

Chinese representative to UN decries Israel’s expansionist moves

Chinese representative to UN decries Israel’s expansionist moves

The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations denounced Israel for its moves for territorial expansion at a recent op

February 27, 2026

The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations denounced Israel for its moves for territorial expansion at a recent op

Working people’s holiday camp opens

Working people’s holiday camp opens

The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has facilities for ho

February 27, 2026

The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has facilities for ho

Grand art performance held to commemorate Ninth Congress of WPK

Grand art performance held to commemorate Ninth Congress of WPK

A grand art performance was given at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 in commemoration of the Ninth Congress of the

February 27, 2026

A grand art performance was given at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 in commemoration of the Ninth Congress of the

New residents in Central Zoo

New residents in Central Zoo

The number of residents in the Central Zoo is on the increase in the new year. According to an official of the zoo, five species

February 27, 2026

The number of residents in the Central Zoo is on the increase in the new year. According to an official of the zoo, five species

First Politburo meeting of Ninth Central Committee of WPK held

First Politburo meeting of Ninth Central Committee of WPK held

The first meeting of the Political Bureau of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the

February 26, 2026

The first meeting of the Political Bureau of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the

Closing address at the Ninth Congress of the WPK

Closing address at the Ninth Congress of the WPK

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un delivered a closing address at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Dear comrade

February 26, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un delivered a closing address at the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Dear comrade

Iran rejects US’ threat of war

Iran rejects US’ threat of war

The Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations condemned the US for its threat of war of aggression in a letter sent t

February 26, 2026

The Iranian permanent representative to the United Nations condemned the US for its threat of war of aggression in a letter sent t

Belarus defence ministry censures West for deploying armed forces

Belarus defence ministry censures West for deploying armed forces

The Belarus defence ministry on February 19 clarified to the military attachés of the embassies of 20-odd countries in its

February 26, 2026

The Belarus defence ministry on February 19 clarified to the military attachés of the embassies of 20-odd countries in its

Sci-tech festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opens

Sci-tech festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opens

The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival's theme is "Steady

February 26, 2026

The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened in the DPRK. The festival's theme is "Steady

Flower baskets come to Ninth Congress of WPK

Flower baskets come to Ninth Congress of WPK

The Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, the General Association of Koreans in

February 25, 2026

The Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, the General Association of Koreans in

Russian diplomats give reception on Day of Defenders of Motherland

Russian diplomats give reception on Day of Defenders of Motherland

Charge d'Affaires ad Interim Vladimir Topeha and Defence Attaché Alexei Bartusov of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang gave a

February 25, 2026

Charge d'Affaires ad Interim Vladimir Topeha and Defence Attaché Alexei Bartusov of the Russian embassy in Pyongyang gave a

Online joint seminar held in Brazil

Online joint seminar held in Brazil

An online joint seminar of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on February 15 to mark the 84th birth

February 24, 2026

An online joint seminar of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on February 15 to mark the 84th birth

More Articles