AI Researcher · HCI · Educator

Sehyun
Lee

I study how people talk to AI—and why it matters.
Bridging HCI research, AI engineering, and enterprise education to design intelligence that understands human relationships, not just queries.

SL
6
Publications
2
Active Projects
10+
Enterprise Clients
3yr
AI Education
ACM CHI 2026 · Samsung Electronics · SK Hynix · HCI Korea 2026 · Hyundai Motor Group · University of Sussex · Human Agency · Ambivalence Visualization · Hanyang University MOT · Agentic AI · Social-Cognitive Interoperability · LG Electronics · RAG · GenAI · HCI · IEEE RO-MAN 2026 · ACM CHI 2026 · Samsung Electronics · SK Hynix · HCI Korea 2026 · Hyundai Motor Group · University of Sussex · Human Agency · Ambivalence Visualization · Hanyang University MOT · Agentic AI · Social-Cognitive Interoperability · LG Electronics · RAG · GenAI · HCI ·

How do people
speak to AI?

"Don't work on the surface. Say 'Why'."

I started with a question: when someone picks up their phone and types a prompt into an AI, what are they really doing? What emotions, relationships, and social cues are embedded in those words?

My research lives at the intersection of AI engineering and Human-Computer Interaction. I study how emotional and relational context shapes the way people formulate AI queries—and what that means for next-generation agent design.

Currently pursuing an MS in Management of Technology at Hanyang University's Graduate School of Technology (MOT), where I published at ACM CHI SRC 2026.

HCI RAG GenAI Construal Level Theory Machine Learning UX Research Prompt Engineering AI Agents Human Agency Agentic AI DX / AX Strategy PostgreSQL

Currently Open To

Collaboration & Opportunities

  • PhD Programs in HCI / AI / CSCW
  • Visiting Research Positions (overseas)
  • Research Collaboration in AI × HCI
  • AI Engineering / Product Roles
  • International Conference Presentations

// Research

Published & Active Work

Active Research Projects — Currently Investigating

In Progress

Intelligent Interface for Ambivalence Visualization and Orchestration to Strengthen Designer's Human Agency in Generative AI-based Service Processes

This project develops an intelligent interface that makes ambivalent cognitive states visible and orchestrable during AI-assisted design workflows. By surfacing moments of tension between human intent and AI suggestion, it aims to strengthen designer agency—ensuring AI remains a tool, not a replacement, for creative judgment.

Period Apr 2026 — Mar 2027
Focus Human Agency · GenAI Service Design · Ambivalence UX
Human Agency GenAI Ambivalence Intelligent Interface HCI Service Design

In Progress

Agentic AI Collaborative Operating System Based on Social-Cognitive Interoperability for Human-Robot and Human-Organization Collaboration

A long-term research initiative designing an Agentic AI operating framework that enables fluid collaboration between human teams, robotic systems, and organizational units. Grounded in social-cognitive theory, the system addresses interoperability challenges that arise when AI agents must navigate human norms, roles, and relational dynamics at scale.

Period Apr 2026 — Dec 2029
Focus Agentic AI · Human-Robot Collaboration · CSCW
Agentic AI Social-Cognitive Interoperability Human-Robot CSCW AI OS

Published Work

ACM CHI SRC 2026 · Accepted

Meaning over Quantity: How Relationship Intimacy Shapes Giver Query Formulation in LLM-based Gift Recommendation

Drawing on Construal Level Theory, we demonstrated that givers in close relationships produce contextually rich, emotionally loaded prompts, while distant-relationship givers construct sparse, norm-centered queries—with design implications for Relational Adaptive UX.

View Paper →

IEEE RO-MAN 2026 (Kitakyushu) · Late-Breaking Work

When and How to Mediate: Mapping Information Asymmetry in Self-Service Technology via Multi-Agent Synthetic Data Generation

Proposed a multi-agent synthetic data generation pipeline to map information asymmetry in self-service technology interactions, informing when and how AI mediation should intervene to support user decision-making.

HCI Korea 2026 · Oral Presentation

Explaining Intent: How LLM Explanation Style Shapes Giver Perception in Gift Recommendation

Compared three LLM explanation modes (intent-based, profile-based, feature-based) across givers' product-situation fit perception and preference. Intent-centered explanations outperformed on relational congruence; feature-based excelled on comprehension depth.

KOSIME 2026 Summer Conference · Korea Technology Management Economics Society

Behavioral Intent and Relationship Intimacy Between Givers and Recipients in Agentic AI-based Gift Recommendation Services

An exploratory study extending the Relational Adaptive UX framework to Agentic AI gift recommendation, examining how relationship intimacy shapes both giver and recipient behavioral intent within autonomous agent-mediated services.

Korean Ergonomics Society 2025 · Student Paper Award

Cognitive Load vs. Comprehension: GPT-based Mobile Gift Recommendation Explanations

Exploratory study examining how gift-intention-based AI explanations minimized information overload while feature-focused explanations maximized product comprehension—revealing an efficiency–effectiveness trade-off for adaptive interface design.

🏅 Encouragement Award

KTEM 2025 · Hanyang MOT Special Session

Beyond DX: Toward AI-nization — An Evidence-based Analysis of Generative AI Adoption Effects

A case-based integrated analysis examining the conditions under which organizations transition from digital transformation to genuine AI-nization, with strategic implications for enterprise AI deployment.

// Experience

What I've Built

Aug 2022 — Present

Junior AI Researcher & Educator

COBSLAB

Designed and delivered practical AI/DX curricula for Korea's largest enterprises—covering RAG pipelines, GenAI applications, machine learning, and data visualization. Led the KT G-level RAG + AI Agent project and co-authored the KT AICE Basic textbook.

RAGGenAIMLCurriculum DesignEnterprise Training
2026 — Present

AI Ambassador

National AI Competition

Appointed as national public ambassador for Korea's premier AI competition, promoting AI literacy and participation across the country.

AI AdvocacyPublic Outreach
Sep 2025

Visiting Researcher

University of Sussex — SPRU

Participated in the Global Innovation Leadership program at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex Business School. Focused on Science, Technology, and Innovation — Advanced Policy and Management.

STI PolicyInnovation ManagementOverseas Research
Ongoing

Teaching Assistant (TA)

Hanyang University MOT

TA for multiple graduate courses: AI+X (Prof. Ho-Kyung Ryu), AI-Driven NPD Process for HD Hyundai (Prof. Jieun Han), and Data Visualization with Tableau (Prof. Jieun Han).

AI+XTableauNPD Process
Apr 2022 — Jan 2024

Researcher

MODULAB TSJ LAB

Investigated the gap between legal and social justice through ChatGPT-based sentiment analysis of YouTube comments (published, Korea Contents Association). Co-authored a machine-learning sentiment approach to the legal–social justice gap on social media, currently under review for SCI-indexed publication.

Sentiment AnalysisNLPChatGPTSocial Justice Research

// Enterprise Clients

Trusted by Industry Leaders

Samsung Electronics
SK Hynix
Hyundai Motor Group
LG Electronics
LG Innotek
LG H&H
CLIO
HMM
KT
KETI
Seoul CGEF
Seoul EDU

Academic
Foundation

M.S. — Management of Technology

Hanyang University Graduate School of Technology (MOT)

Feb 2025 — Mar 2027 (Expected)

Research focus: AI × HCI. Published at ACM CHI SRC 2026. TA for graduate AI courses. Active researcher on two funded projects in Human Agency and Agentic AI. Participant in Global Innovation Leadership program at University of Sussex.

Visiting Research

University of Sussex Business School — SPRU

September 2025

Engaged with cutting-edge STI (Science, Technology & Innovation) policy research in the UK. Broadening international academic network for future PhD and collaborative opportunities.

Credentials
& Awards

ADSP — Advanced Data Analytics Semi-Professional

Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency

November 2025

Adding Knowledge to LLMs

NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute

October 2025 · ID: Bg2Zpz1-QYm4_oz7rheibw

Claude Code in Action

Anthropic

April 2026 · ID: quiv7yusrxff

Introduction to Model Context Protocol

Anthropic

April 2026 · ID: snc3yh8pd9m7

Introduction to Agent Skills · Building with the Claude API

Anthropic

2026

🏅 Korean Ergonomics Society — Student Paper Award

2025 Fall Conference — Encouragement Award

November 2025

🏆 KIHASA D-MoneyCare Competition

Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs — Director's Award

July 2025 · Fullstack AI anomaly-detection system for dementia financial protection

Let's
Connect

Open to Research & Opportunities

I'm actively exploring PhD programs and visiting research positions in HCI, CSCW, and AI—particularly in North America, Europe, and East Asia.

If you work in AI × human behavior research, or you're building products where relationships matter as much as algorithms, I'd love to hear from you.

Also happy to connect on enterprise AI education, curriculum design, or co-authorship opportunities.

🇰🇷 Korean — Native
🇺🇸 English — Advanced (Near-Native)
🇯🇵 Japanese — Elementary

// Advisor

Research Mentor

Jieun Han

Associate Professor

Graduate School of Technology & Innovation Management
Hanyang University, Seoul

My Thesis Advisor
603+
Citations
h-11
h-Index
Ph.D
Hanyang Univ.

Prof. Han specializes in human-centered design, service development, and evaluation, with a focus on robotics, VR/AR, digital healthcare, and big data visualization. Her work bridges design theory and emerging technology—spanning intelligent healthscape design, smart servicescape innovation, and AI-driven UX assessment frameworks. She brings a distinctly empirical, systems-level perspective to how people experience technology in everyday and clinical environments.

Smart Servicescape Immersive Experience Service Design Innovation Digital Healthcare HCI VR / AR Biz Data Visualization AI-Driven UX NPD
2021IF Design Award — UX Design, Coralis Shoulder System
2020Best of Best — Ergonomic Design Award
2020Best Paper Award — The Ergonomics Society of Korea
2010Government-funded Scholarship — Bourse KIM Joong-Up, French Embassy
2009Excellence Award — International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI)