MPI-SP Success Story: Jeasurk Yang becomes assistant professor at Chonnam National University
Jeasurk Yang is a postdoctoral researcher in the Data Science for Humanity Group at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy. In March, he will begin the next chapter of his academic career as an assistant professor in the Department of Geography of Chonnam National University in the Republic of Korea. Jeasurk shared his thoughts on his time at the institute and life in Germany.
From slum field researcher to AI scientist
Jeasurk earned his PhD in Geography from the National University of Singapore, studying slum areas (urban areas which lack basic amenities such as durable housing, access to clean water and sanitation, etc.). His research documented how disproportionate waste management policies in Jakarta, Indonesia, forced residents of slum areas to live in highly unsanitary living conditions. To understand the daily lives of slum residents, Jeasurk lived inside these slums for four months, conducting in-depth interviews with the locals. During his fieldwork, one question emerged to him: “With over a billion people living in slums worldwide, how can I possibly document their lives through interviews alone?”
To answer this question, Jeasurk transitioned to using AI and satellite imagery in his research. The Data Science for Humanity Group at MPI-SP was a great fit for the postdoctoral stage of his career, where he began to explore innovative ways to monitor the evolving living conditions in global slums. He started using computer vision algorithms to examine high-resolution satellite imagery, which allowed him to understand these informal settlements without the physical limitations of traditional site visits. “Transitioning from a field researcher to an AI scientist was no easy challenge,” Jeasurk reflects. “However, I was driven by a firm conviction: by weaving together the qualitative insights gained on the ground with the power of AI, we can develop a formidable tool for humanity to address global urban poverty.”
His approach recently reached a new milestone when he received the Outstanding Paper Award at AAAI-26. Jeasurk together with his co-authors achieved a breakthrough in generalizable slum detection—a task that has historically been difficult due to the diverse architectural styles of slum settlements across different regions. The team has developed a computer model that captures region-specific slum characteristics while learning universal features of slum morphologies, which allows the model to generalize effectively to other cities without label datasets. His slum work was also accepted and under publication by Communications Sustainability, a new nature-family journal.
Living in Bochum and the Korean Community
For Jeasurk, moving to Germany was more than a professional relocation. “I was born in Germany and moved back to Korea when I was just one year old,” he shared. “Although I had no memories of Germany, I grew up in German culture through my parents, who lived in Germany for around 10 years. When I settled down here, I felt like I had come back to my hometown. Things like Brötchen [small, freshly baked breads], Drehkippfenster [tilt and turn windows], and Weihnachtspyramide [Christmas wooden decoration], were all part of my family life back in Korea.” By attending the Bochum Korean Church, he found a sense of belonging. “I was so lucky to have been part of the Korean church here. I met mentors I deeply respect and friends who became like family.”
Working at MPI-SP
“I really loved the interdisciplinary culture of MPI-SP,” he adds. “MPI-SP does not just stick to computer science, but mixes it with philosophy, law, psychology, economics, and so on.” Thus, he felt like his interest in geography was a welcome addition that provided a fresh perspective to security research.
Jeasurk carries with him not only great research networks but also the warmth of a community that made Bochum feel like home. “Looking back two years in Bochum, it was like a dream.” says Jeasurk, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone at MPI-SP, Ruhr University Bochum, and Bochum for gifting me such an unforgettable chapter of my life.”
Now, Jeasurk prepares to join the Department of Geography at Chonnam National University as an Assistant Professor, where he will lead the GeoAI group, continuing his work at the intersection of geography and machine learning. His journey from the muddy alleys of Jakarta to the cutting edge of AI research in Germany “serves as a powerful reminder of how the integrative approach can lead to world-changing technological solutions.”