Prof Hankyu Kim ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Obituary: Remembering Prof Hankyu Kim (1987–2026)

Prof Chang-Yong Choi, Seoul National University
& EAAFP Technical Sub-committee for 2023-2025

It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Professor Hankyu Kim of Kyung Hee University—my dearest junior colleague, collaborator, and friend.

Professor Kim passed away suddenly in the early morning of April 21, 2026, at the age of 39. He had recently returned from demanding field research dedicated to the capture and tracking of shorebirds. After reporting feeling unwell, he was hospitalized for treatment, but tragically, he did not recover. His sudden departure has left his family, the Korean ornithological community, conservation activists, and citizen scientists in deep shock and grief. Surrounded by the love and tears of his family, friends, and colleagues, his funeral services were completed on April 23. He is survived by his parents, his sister, his beloved wife, and his 17-month-old daughter.

Raptor banding in Marado Island ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Professor Hankyu Kim was a rising scholar in ornithology and wildlife ecology, driven by an inexhaustible passion for nature and birds in Korea and elsewhere. He earned his B.S. and M.S. from the Department of Forest Sciences at Seoul National University and received his Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 2021. From 2021 to 2023, he served as a post-doctoral associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In September 2023, he returned to Korea to join the Department of Biology at Kyung Hee University as an Assistant Professor. There, he led the Wildlife Conservation and Ecology Lab (https://wildlifeconservationecology.khu.ac.kr), inspiring numerous students with his dedication. He was on the cusp of a well-deserved promotion to Associate Professor, a testament to his brilliant academic contributions.

Birdwatching activity with students ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Throughout his career, Professor Kim was deeply committed to understanding how wild bird populations respond to environmental conditions and climate change. He focused particularly on the Biodiversity Insurance Hypothesis, exploring how biodiversity in forest and marine ecosystems can buffer the impacts of ecological disturbances like climate change on avian populations. His recent research extended to the migration connectivity and strategies of diverse migratory birds under threats, including forest birds, shorebirds, raptors, and even penguins. His findings served as the critical evidence for designating three rapidly declining forest bird species as legally protected or candidate species for protection in the Republic of Korea.

In the Yubudo tidal flat [EAAF101] during shorebird research ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Beyond his research, Professor Kim served as the Executive Director of the Ornithological Society of Korea for the past two years, where he modernized the society’s administrative foundation and played a pivotal role in advancing Korean ornithology. He was also a passionate advocate for the practical conservation of habitats, actively participating in the efforts to designate the Gebol, Korean Tidal Flats as a UNESCO World Heritage site. His work bridged the gap between academia and field conservation, reaching local NGOs, municipal governments, and central administrative agencies.

Winter shorebird survey in Muan Tidal Flat ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

As many of you know, he was a researcher who never stopped challenging himself, armed with a warm heart, fiery passion, deep curiosity, a keen sense of humor, and an open mind. The sudden loss of Professor Kim, who was preparing for the future of his research, is a devastating blow to the small but dedicated ornithological community in Korea.

We have lost a gifted scientist, but more importantly, a true friend. It has been the greatest honor of my life to stand by his side from his undergraduate years through his journeys to Antarctica and the United States, until he finally reached his position today. I witnessed his growth through countless days in the field and in our daily lives. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who supported and helped Hankyu throughout his journey. We will remember him as a scholar who dared to ask big questions and a friend who always had an open heart.

Bird survey in King George Island_Antarctica ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Thank you.

Chang-Yong Choi

prof Hankyu Kim with prof Chang-Yong Choi (right) at Muan Tidal Flat, April 2024 ⓒ Chang-Yong Choi

Memorial: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/4MbVZDbE/in-memory-hankyu