From Staff Reports
SHREVEPORT – LSU Shreveport marketing faculty member Dr. Minseong Kim has been named one of the top researchers in the world in sport, leisure and tourism for the fourth consecutive year.
The recognition comes from Stanford University, which compiles the “Top 2% Scientists List” using the citation database Scopus and the Elsevier Data Repository.
Kim ranks No. 34 in the subfield of sport, leisure and tourism out of more than 9,000 researchers and No. 6,065 in his main field of economics and business.
“It’s both humbling and motivating,” said Kim, who teaches courses in marketing, hospitality, and casino marketing as an assistant professor. “The major jump in the main field ranking indicates that my work is resonating not only in niche areas like hospitality and tourism but also in the broader marketing and business research communities.
“For me, the fourth consecutive year represents stability and consistency, while the upward movement is a reminder to keep pushing forward with innovative and relevant research. It also reflects the collaborative spirit of my co-authors and the supportive environment LSUS has created for faculty scholarship.”
Kim’s research often intersects media, social media, marketing, tourism and advertising.
One current project examines how Korean digital media, such as K-dramas and K-pop, shape perceptions of South Korea in the United States and influence hospitality and tourism interest.
The movie KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched film of all time since its June release, and the film’s music has topped charts around the globe.
“These projects explore how global media consumption translates into consumer behaviors like travel intention, Korean restaurant visits, cultural exploration, and even brand engagement,” Kim said. “Given the surge of international popularity in K-content, this line of research is timely and directly connected to broader conversations about the role of media in driving tourism and hospitality growth.”
The citation metrics used to compile the rankings aim to recognize researchers with both career-long and single-year impacts. Metrics include total number of citations and h-index (a measure of research productivity) along with other indicators designed to gauge the quality and impact of research, not just quantity of citations.
“This year’s improvement reflects more of an accumulation of my work rather than a single spike,” Kim said. “Over the past several years, I’ve worked to build a consistent research agenda across multiple streams – digital persuasion, virtual influencer marketing, consumer behavior in hospitality, and meme-based marketing. The citations are beginning to reflect that sustained output.”
Kim joined the LSUS faculty in 2019 and said the institution has been “tremendously supportive.”
“This support comes in multiple forms – research development grants, travel support to present work at international conferences, and endowed professorship funding that provides resources for advanced projects,” Kim said. “Beyond financial support, the encouragement and recognition from college leadership play a key role. Without that support, I could not complete the research projects successfully.”
Photo: Kylie Richter/LSUS Media Relations