Kyung Soo Kim, Retired Division of Agriculture Researcher, Dies at 89

REMEMBERED — Kyung Soo Kim, a long-time scientist for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, died Feb. 8, 2023. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

MEDIA CONTACT

Fred Miller

U of A System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
479-575-4732 |   fmiller@uark.edu
@AgNews479

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kyung Soo Kim, a retired professor of plant pathology for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, died Feb. 8.

Kim was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1933 and raised in North Korea until fleeing to South Korea during the Korean conflict in 1950. After earning his bachelor’s degree in biology from Kyung Puk National University in Korea, he earned a master’s degree in zoology and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Arkansas.

He became assistant professor in what was then the department of plant pathology in 1974, was appointed University Professor in 1993 and retired in 2002.

Ken Korth, head of the department of entomology and plant pathology, said, ”Dr. Kim was an inspiration and role model to countless colleagues and students over the years. He was an established researcher and teacher when I first arrived at the University of Arkansas, and he was especially good to me when I had so much to learn as a new assistant professor.

“I remember being very impressed because he was so engaged in his research and knowledgeable about contemporary science,” Korth said. “In more recent years it was always a true pleasure to see him and his wife, and his enthusiasm had not waned at all. His scientific contributions were internationally renowned and respected.”

Rick Cartwright, retired director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and a plant pathology colleague of Kim’s, said, “I have known Dr. Kim since 1974, when I worked as an undergraduate for Dr. James Dale on electron microscopy of certain microbial organisms found in plants. Dr. Kim spent hours personally showing me how to do things correctly and had me sit beside him to view the results. I shall never forget his kindness and inspiration for science and quality of research. He was a model of excellence and has a truly enviable legacy.”

Kim was responsible for administration of the university-wide electron microscope facility, and each spring taught a course in the use of electron microscopy in biology. His research, primarily directed toward plant cell ultrastructure with particular regard to the reactions of plant cells to virus infection, was recognized in national and international circles.

In collaboration with others, Kim pioneered research on the responses of host plants to whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses, one of the most important and destructive families of plant viruses worldwide. The viruses’ infectious substance had been unknown for almost a century. Studies led to discovery of unique characteristics of cells infected with bean golden mosaic virus, an economically important whitefly-transmitted geminivirus. Referred to as “Kim’s bodies” by some investigators, they have been instrumental in diagnosing the diseases caused by whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses occurring throughout the world.

Kim worked closely with colleagues in Arkansas and collaborated with others at institutions in the U.S., and conducted cooperative research with scientists from Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and Israel. He also collaborated with scientists in areas of entomology, agronomy, animal science, botany and zoology.

After retiring, he was involved in teaching and research programs in an advisory capacity at Seoul National University and the Rural Development Administration in the Republic of Korea.

Kim was named a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in 1996. He was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and he received the University of Arkansas Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Research in 1989. Kim was a member of the American Society for Cell Biology and Gamma Sigma Delta and served as associate editor of the academic journal “Virology.”

Kim and his wife, Sung Boon Kim, established the Dr. Kyung Soo and Sung Boon Kim Endowed Graduate Fellowship with a gift of $150,000 in 2022. The scholarship is awarded to a graduate student in the department of entomology and plant pathology who is pursuing a master’s degree or Ph.D. and demonstrates dedication to the enhancement of the science and field of plant virology.

“Dr. Kim and his family were generous donors to our department,” Korth said. “In keeping with his reputation as an outstanding mentor and supporter of students, their substantial gifts were directly responsible for establishing an annual student award and a research fellowship for graduate students. I’m so glad that our current students can learn about Dr. Kim because his accomplishments and character are a tremendous legacy.”

​To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at @ArkAgResearch.

To learn about Extension Programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit https://uaex.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.