As Professor Park describes in the following section, many of his early research experiences in microbiology were shaped in the dynamic laboratories of universities in both Korea and Japan, where his curiosity was nurtured and his passion for scientific discovery began to flourish.
“WHEN I FIRST GLIMPSED THE HUMAN MICROFLORA UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, I WAS UTTERLY OVERWHELMED.”
The sample, taken from human breast milk and compared with formula milk for babies, left him shaken to his core.
“The sight was as mysterious and breathtaking as gazing up at a vast night sky,” he said.
“There were countless colors, sizes, and shapes, all swirling together in a hidden universe I had never fully imagined existed.”
It made him desperately want to understand how human breast milk and formula truly differ, especially in the ways they each shape an infant’s health and overall well-being.
When we consider the nature of passion, we see it everywhere: the poet’s passion lives in his poetry, the musician’s passion shapes each melody, and the actor’s passion speaks through every line performed.
In the same way, his passion for microbiology did more than guide his career—it became the very heartbeat of his life.
But it is his heart, after all, that truly recognizes and cherishes the beauty of this mysterious world.
“I SPENT EVERY SINGLE DAY IN MY PROFESSOR’S LABORATORY, WITHOUT HOLIDAYS OR BREAKS. I EVEN SLEPT THERE, LIVING ALMOST LIKE A MONK.”
Professor Park threw himself wholeheartedly into studying numerous papers on the microbiome and microflora.
What amazed him most was realizing how underdeveloped bacterial research still was in the 1980s.
He explained, “Inside our bodies, especially in our gut, lives an astonishing variety of bacteria. Yet our understanding of their role in human biology remained very limited then.”
Given the immense number of bacterial cells in our gut, it became clear to him that we couldn’t just overlook them or assume they didn’t matter.
“That sense of mystery made it irresistibly compelling to me,” he added, a spark in his eyes. “I fell in love with the hidden universe with my entire mind and body.”
Professor Park reveals his inner landscape with an exquisite balance of passion and self-discipline.
Every expression of passion somehow projects something sacred—the living fire of love.
It is no overstatement to say that passion is the crowning moment of love, for in passion the purpose of love is brought to completion.
And yet, the unshakable discipline remains. Rock-solid discipline, I should say.
“DURING MY PHD, I HAD THE LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IN JAPAN.”
Deeply respected in the field of microbiology, his supervisor there, Professor Kazuo Komagata, his charisma, kindness, and integrity left a lasting impression on him.
“His example showed me what it means to unite scientific excellence with genuine humanity, and it continues to guide the way I think about research and mentorship,” he shared.
Also, he had the privilege of getting to know a British scientist, Professor Peter H. A. Sneath, a true pioneer in applying computing to microbiology, who later became his mentor.
Professor Sneath published an influential book on genomics titled “The Numerical Taxonomy of Microbiology” many years ago.
In this work, he introduced numerical methods that went on to shape not only microbiology, but many other disciplines, including the social sciences.
His ideas helped lay the foundations for technologies that now support artificial intelligence, human decision-making, and many other fields.
Professor Park shared, “I often look back with deep admiration and gratitude on how he was able to develop such profound ways of thinking and use them to solve complex scientific problems.”
“His intellectual courage and creativity remind me that one person’s vision can transform entire fields and inspire future generations.”
“Remembering his work encourages me to keep asking bold questions, to think rigorously, and to believe that thoughtful science can truly change the world.”
