Research Introduction
Prof. Dong Ho Rie (李東浩), Professor Emeritus
(Department of Safety Engineering 安全工學科)
Incheon National University 國立 仁川大學校
2026.05.29
Short Biography
1992 – 2001
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Industrial Safety Engineering, INU
2007 – 2009
Academic Director, Korean Society of Fire Science and Engineering
2008 – 2024
Director, Fire and Disaster Prevention Research Center, INU
2011 – 2018
Director, Korean Society of Safety (2011–12; 2014–18); Director, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Association (2017–18)
2012 – 2024
Director, Safety Science Education Research Institute, INU
2021 – Present
CEO, SERON SEC
Background: The Birth of Safety Engineering
Workplace Accidents
Many serious accidents occurred at work across Korea.
Government Response
The Korean government decided to establish Safety Engineering departments at universities.
INU's Department Founded
Incheon National University's Department of Safety Engineering was one of those established.
A Fortunate Beginning
Prof. Rie was fortunate to begin his career at this pivotal moment in history.
A National Mission
Safety Engineering was not merely an academic pursuit — it was something the entire nation urgently needed.
The Nature of Safety Engineering

Engineering Principles
Applying fundamental scientific and technical knowledge to design robust safety systems.
Human Factors
Considering user behavior, comfort, and psychological aspects to minimize human error.
Societal Impact
Understanding the broader community needs and how safety solutions affect public welfare.
Cultural Context
Acknowledging and adapting to different cultural norms and values in safety implementation.
This multidisciplinary challenge makes the field both demanding and incredibly exciting, requiring continuous learning and innovative thinking.
Our Ultimate Goal: Prevention & AI
Foresee Risks Early
Identify and anticipate future hazards before they occur.
Study the Patterns
Analyze data and trends to understand risk behavior.
Protect People First
Prevent accidents and disasters before they happen.
Safety Engineering
The ultimate goal: preventing accidents and disasters before they happen.
Artificial Intelligence
Sees patterns, predicts risks, and acts before harm occurs.
The future of safety engineering is AI — and we are now beginning this exciting journey together.
Research Journey: From Past to Present
Basic Theory
The foundational stage: building core scientific knowledge and principles.
Engineering Application
Applying theory to real-world fire safety and engineering challenges.
Production & Use
Translating research into practical systems, products, and solutions.
This presentation is not just a look back — it is a bridge to new collaboration with Nanjing University of Science and Technology.
Courses Taught
Heat & Flow
  • Advanced Heat Transfer
  • Computer-aided Heat Flow
  • Industrial Ventilation
Fire Engineering
  • Computer-aided Fire Protection Eng.
  • Smoke Flow Analysis
  • Fire Risk Analysis
Advanced Design
  • Advanced Performance Based Design
  • Egress Performance Assessment
  • Special Research in Visualization
Research Publications by Decade — 1990s to 2020s
A total of 391 papers (journal articles + conference proceedings) were published over Prof. Rie's career. The chart below shows the volume and focus of research output across four decades.
1990s · 17 papers
Key themes: Mechanical systems · Heat & mass transfer · Marangoni convection · Industrial hygiene ventilation · Road tunnel ventilation system design
2000s · 109 papers (#18–126)
Key themes: Subway platform fire & smoke simulation (screen door installation) · Road tunnel fire dynamics · VR-based evacuation performance assessment · Full-scale expansion into fire & disaster prevention engineering
2010s · 215 papers (#127–341)
Key themes: Cone calorimeter combustion gas toxicity analysis · Firefighter occupational safety & health · Deep-seated fire suppression · Building material flame retardancy · Most prolific and diverse research period
2020s · 50 papers (#342–391)
Key themes: Eco-friendly cellulose upcycling building finishing materials · 3D-printed construction material reliability · Quantitative evacuation efficiency for medical facilities & disaster-vulnerable populations · (as of July 2024)
Total: 391 papers | Journal Articles + Conference Proceedings | 1990–2024
Core Research Themes in the Later Years
Flame-Retardant Materials
Developing interior building materials that resist ignition and slow fire spread
Fire Detection & Hazardous Materials
Improving fire detector performance and testing dangerous substances
Safe Evacuation Routes
Designing and evaluating escape routes to protect people during a fire
These three themes are deeply interconnected — all united by one ultimate goal: protecting human life from fire.
Research Output 2020–2024
Over 50 research studies were conducted across four major themes:
Fire & Flame Retardancy
  • Thermal Characteristics of Expandable Graphite–Wood Particle Composites (Materials, 2020)
  • Flame-Retardant Performance of Recycled Paper Building Materials via 3D Printer (Sustainability, 2022)
  • Manufacture and Combustion Characteristics of Cellulose Flame-Retardant Plate via Hot-Press Method (Polymers, 2023)
  • Fire Impact of Cellulose-Based Indoor Building Finishing Materials by Room Aspect Ratio (Applied Sciences, 2024)
  • Fire Risk Assessment Method Considering Warehouse Characteristics (J. Korean Soc. Hazard Mitig., 2020)
Evacuation & Safety
  • Safety Evaluation of Escape Routes for Vulnerable Populations in Residential Facilities (Sustainability, 2022)
  • Improvement of Evacuation Routes via Quantitative Evaluation of Fire Disaster Vulnerable Facilities (J. Korean Soc. Hazard Mitig., 2022)
  • Nursing Personnel Operations for Evacuation Safety during Medical Facility Disasters (Sustainability, 2024)
  • Quantitative Evaluation of Evacuation Efficiency by Medical Facility Staffing Operations (J. Korean Soc. Hazard Mitig., 2024)
Hazardous Substances
  • Exposure Assessment of 1,2-Dichloropropane in Pharmaceutical Environments
  • Toluene and Fine Particle Exposure in Recycling Industry Workers
  • Mercury Exposure Assessment in Industrial Settings
  • Occupational Health Risk Evaluation for Chemical Processing Workers
Smoke & Detection
  • Effect of Air Purifier on Smoke Detector Revealed by Fire Dynamics Simulation (Sustainability, 2022)
  • Sustainable Urban Planning Technique of Fire Disaster Prevention for Subway (Sustainability, 2020)
The Research Center – A Platform for Impact
Daegu Subway Fire Disaster
A tragic accident that shocked the entire nation and changed everything
Government Response: NEMA Founded
The Korean government established the National Emergency Management Agency in response
On-Site Investigation
As representative of the Korean Society of Fire Science and Engineering, Prof. Rie personally entered the dangerous accident site to find out what went wrong
Presidential Report — 10 Years Later
A decade later, Prof. Rie had the great honor of meeting the President of Korea and directly reporting the improvements made to national safety systems
A research center is not just a building — it is a place that creates real change.
2003 Daegu Subway Fire — KBS Joint Investigation
Prof. Rie participated in the KBS joint investigation of the 2003 Daegu Subway Fire Disaster, providing expert analysis on airflow dynamics and the chimney effect that spread high-temperature smoke throughout the station.
Daegu Subway — Scene Documentation
Photographic evidence from the aftermath of the 2003 Daegu Subway fire, including damaged rolling stock, the darkened Jungangno Station platform, ventilation systems, and on-site investigation teams.
Establishment of NEMA — The Institutional Legacy of the Daegu Subway Disaster
The Daegu Subway fire disaster on February 18, 2003 (192 fatalities) triggered a fundamental transformation of South Korea's disaster management system. In response, the government decided to consolidate fragmented emergency response functions into a dedicated central administrative agency.
01
February 2003: Fire breaks out at Jungangno Station on the Daegu Subway. 192 killed, 151 injured. Failure of initial response and absence of a unified command structure were identified as key factors that amplified casualties.
02
May 2003: The government pushes forward with the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management. Full-scale discussions begin on establishing a dedicated disaster management agency.
03
March 2004: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA / 소방방재청) officially launches. Established as a central administrative body integrating firefighting, civil defense, and disaster management functions.
04
November 2014: Following the Sewol Ferry disaster, NEMA is reorganized and expanded into the Ministry of Public Safety and Security. Subsequently restructured in 2017 as the National Fire Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
"The Daegu Subway disaster was not merely an accident — it was a historic turning point that fundamentally redesigned South Korea's entire disaster safety administration system."
INU Fire & Disaster Prevention Research Center
The Research Center was inaugurated in 2006 at the Ramada Songdo Hotel, Incheon, marking a major milestone in institutional fire safety research. A decade later, the 10th Anniversary Ceremony was held at INU Songdo Campus in 2016, celebrating sustained contributions to fire science and disaster prevention.
2006 Opening Ceremony
2016 — 10th Anniversary
International Engagement & Field Research
In 2010, Prof. Rie attended the World Conference on the Safety of Oil & Gas Industry in Beijing, China. In 2013, the team conducted full-scale fire testing for eco-friendly high-expansion foam extinguishing agents at the Korea Fire Institute.
2010 WCOG — Beijing
2013 Eco-Foam Fire Testing
Teaching Excellence & Student Engagement
Prof. Rie was recognized as Best Professor of the Year (English Lecture) in 2018, and established the 이동호 장학금 (Prof. Rie's Scholarship), awarded in 2019 to students Choi Ji-woo, Park Min-ji, and Lee Sang-hoon. He also led a Research Intensive Self-Motivated Education class and a startup lecture series on Safety-Related Entrepreneurship, sponsored by INU's Startup Support Foundation.
Best Professor of the Year (English Lecture) — 2018
Research Intensive Self-Motivated Education Class
2019 Rie's Scholarship Award Ceremony (Choi, Park, Lee)
Retirement Celebration
Prof. Dongho Rie's distinguished career at Incheon National University was celebrated at the Retirement Celebration Dinner held at the Final Jeju Island Conference — a fitting tribute to over three decades of dedication to safety engineering education, fire science research, and the mentorship of future engineers.
A legacy built on fire safety, disaster prevention, and the unwavering pursuit of a safer society.
Looking Ahead — A New Chapter in Fire Safety
This presentation has outlined Prof. Dongho Rie's lifelong contributions as a university professor — spanning research, education, and disaster prevention. As this chapter closes, a new era begins.
Role as a University Professor
Over three decades of dedication to safety engineering education, fire science research, and the mentorship of future engineers at Incheon National University. A legacy of 391 published papers, the INU Fire & Disaster Prevention Research Center, and generations of safety professionals.
A New Era — Collaboration with Prof. Lin, Nanjing Tech University
The meeting with Prof. Lin of Nanjing Tech University (南京工業大學) marks a pivotal new beginning for the advancement of fire safety engineering. This international collaboration signals the opening of a new frontier in fire safety research and global academic exchange.
"The pursuit of a safer world knows no borders. Thank you."
Next Presentations
1
Presenter 1
Dr. Shim — Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Safety Engineering, INU
  • 1st doctoral graduate of the INU Fire & Disaster Prevention Research Center
  • Topic: Tower Crane Safety
  • Korea's leading and most authoritative tower crane inspection agency
  • Key focus: Practical safety solutions for tower crane operations in the field
2
Presenter 2
Dr. Hwang — Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Fire Science, Osan University
  • Final doctoral graduate of the INU Fire & Disaster Prevention Research Center
  • Topic 1: Introduction to University Research & Safety Engineering Department
  • Topic 2: Development of Quasi-Non-Combustible Materials Using Waste Paper — Necessity & Future Prospects
  • Key focus: Eco-friendly fire-resistant building materials from recycled paper
Both presenters are proud alumni of the INU Fire & Disaster Prevention Research Center, carrying forward fire safety and disaster prevention.