Welcome to the Rock Mechanics & Underground Energy Laboratory (ROMUE) at National Korea Maritime & Ocean University. We deeply appreciate your interest in our vision and academic achievements. Our laboratory is located on the Yeongdo main campus in Busan, offering an optimal environment for immersive research amidst breathtaking open ocean views.

Today, the importance of rock mechanics and geomechanics is emphasized more than ever. With the active pursuit of large-scale national infrastructure initiatives and next-generation energy projects, ensuring structural stability and safety—not only during construction but also throughout long-term operation—has become an imperative requirement. Furthermore, the advancement of measurement technologies and the exponential growth of computing power provide new opportunities to precisely characterize and predict the behavior of rock masses and underground spaces.

ROMUE is an academic community of dedicated researchers and students driven by a passion for continuous inquiry and excellence. Our current research portfolio integrates advanced AI technologies, ranging from AI-based rock assessment to the prediction of drilling Rate of Penetration (ROP) and TBM advance rates. We also conduct extensive material characterization using X-ray CT. In addition, we analyze and simulate stress states in deep subsurface environments under Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) coupled conditions, with a focus on the stability assessment of radioactive waste repositories. We are committed to pursuing a broad spectrum of research that fuses cutting-edge technology with traditional engineering principles.

Once again, we extend our warmest welcome to the ROMUE Laboratory at KMOU, and we ask for your continued interest as we pave the way for the future of rock mechanics.