March 14, 2026Mar 14, 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

All kinds of disasters caused by global warming

All kinds of disasters caused by global warming

The World Meteorological Organization, in a report issued in January, noted that 2025 was recorded as one of the hottest years

March 13, 2026

The World Meteorological Organization, in a report issued in January, noted that 2025 was recorded as one of the hottest years

Russian President refers to root cause of Ukrainian crisis

Russian President refers to root cause of Ukrainian crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis in an interview with a journalist of the

March 13, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis in an interview with a journalist of the

Pyongyang municipal sci-tech festival opens

Pyongyang municipal sci-tech festival opens

The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under

March 13, 2026

The 39th Pyongyang Municipal Festival of Science and Technology opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex on March 11 under

Coal production goes up in coal-mining industry

Coal production goes up in coal-mining industry

The coal-mining industry sector is waging a vigorous struggle for increased production. Coal production is going up day by day

March 13, 2026

The coal-mining industry sector is waging a vigorous struggle for increased production. Coal production is going up day by day

Russia warns Finland against lifting of ban on nuke deployment

Russia warns Finland against lifting of ban on nuke deployment

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement

March 12, 2026

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitri Peskov at a press conference on March 6 gave Finland a warning as to its announcement

25th Winter Paralympics open

25th Winter Paralympics open

The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the

March 12, 2026

The 25th Winter Paralympics opened in Italy on March 6. At the opening ceremony held on the theme of “Active life”, the

Destroyer Choe Hyon conducts test-fire of strategic cruise missiles

Destroyer Choe Hyon conducts test-fire of strategic cruise missiles

Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic

March 11, 2026

Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic

Russian FM censures West for hostile policy

Russian FM censures West for hostile policy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the

March 11, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the

DPRK team advances to quarterfinals of 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

DPRK team advances to quarterfinals of 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners

March 11, 2026

The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners

China decries Australia's infringement of sovereignty

China decries Australia's infringement of sovereignty

A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national

March 11, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national

Emulation among regional-industry factories intensifies

Emulation among regional-industry factories intensifies

Production is going on at the modern regional-industry factories built as the first outcomes of the regional development policy of

March 11, 2026

Production is going on at the modern regional-industry factories built as the first outcomes of the regional development policy of

Efforts to conserve biodiversity

Efforts to conserve biodiversity

The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the

March 10, 2026

The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the

AFC Women’s Football Day marked in DPRK

AFC Women’s Football Day marked in DPRK

An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there

March 10, 2026

An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there

National meeting commemorates 116th March 8 Int'l Women's Day

National meeting commemorates 116th March 8 Int'l Women's Day

A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.

March 10, 2026

A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.

National inter-provincial riding contest held

National inter-provincial riding contest held

The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, to mark

March 10, 2026

The National Inter-provincial Riding Contest-2026 was held at the Mirim Riding Club in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, to mark

More Articles