IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025
Plenary Talks
IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025
Plenary Talks
Plenary Talks
Plenary Speakers
We are pleased to announce the renowned and influential plenary speaker line-up for IEEE WHC 2025. The following visionary speakers will share their experiences and insights on the latest trends and developments in the field of haptics.
Plenary Talk I
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Dr. Sangok SEOK
(Chief Executive Officer of NAVER LABS, Korea)
Title: New Connections: Spatial AI, Digital Twin, Cloud, and Robotics for Future Cities
Biography
Dr. Sangok Seok, CEO of NAVER LABS, is leading NAVER’s next-generation technology platform research through the integration of robotics, AI, autonomous driving, digital twin, etc. Holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Seoul National University and a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his research paper on the MIT Cheetah was selected as the best paper at IEEE/ASME in 2016. After working in National Instruments and Samsung Electronics, Dr. Seok joined NAVER in 2015, spearheading NAVER’s robotics field and filing over 60 robot-related patents. Since becoming the CEO of both NAVER LABS (in 2019) and NAVER LABS Europe (in 2020), he has been leading world-class researchers to prepare for the future of NAVER with advanced technologies that connect people, machines, space, and information. In 2022, Dr. Seok received much attention from international corporations · media · research institutions for the “1784 Project,” under which NAVER’s second headquarters was constructed as the world’s first robot-friendly building. With recognition for the first domestic installation of local 5G networks, he was awarded the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. In 2023, Dr. Seok was appointed as vice chair of the Business Executive Council at the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, and in 2024, he has been awarded the Academic Award, Technology Sector from the Korea Robotics Society(KROS) in recognition of the innovative robot platform’s contribution to the global robot service industry.
Lecture Summary
Career
NAVER LABS (2015-)
Vice Chairman / Business Executive Council / National Academy of Engineering
of Korea (2023-)
Adjunct Professor / Mechanical Engineering / KAIST (2018-) Samsung
Electronics (2014-2015)
National Instruments (2004-2009)
Education
PhD, Mechanical Eng. / MIT (-2014)
MS & BS, Mech. & Aerospace Eng. / Seoul Nat’l Univ.
Awards
Korea Robotics Society (KROS) Academic Award, Technology Sector(2024)
Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit (local 5G networks & smart
building technologies) / Republic of Korea (2022)
Ministerial commendation, KOREA Robot Awards / Ministry of Trade, Industry and
Energy (2019)
KOREA Engineer Awards / Ministry of Science and ICT (2019)
