The Man Behind the Math

 

At first glance, Professor Soowhan Yoon who prefers to be called Jack, might seem like your typical mathematics professor - the kind who dreams about equations and debates the beauty of prime numbers. But spend five minutes with one of AUBG’s newest math faculty members, and you will realize he is anything but ordinary. He is a globe-trotting, banitsa-loving, philosophy-pondering, former AI researcher who nearly became an artist. In short, he is living proof (pun absolutely intended) that mathematicians are much more than just numbers on a blackboard.

 

From Seoul to Sofia: A Well-Traveled Mind

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, he grew up in a city that, back then, looked more like a village than today’s skyscraper-filled metropolis. After finishing middle school, he moved to the U.S. and discovered an entirely different mindset about success.

“In Korea, success is about getting into the best schools, having perfect grades, and sacrificing your youth to build a resume. In the U.S., it was about finding what actually made you happy,” he recalls.

His journey took him from the state of Georgia to Hawaii, where he pursued graduate studies and, surprisingly, did not take up surfing. “I was too focused on math. But now that I’m not in Hawaii, I regret it. Typical.”

 

Discovering Math as an Art Form

Ironically, math was not his first love.

“I had no interest in it. I liked music, arts, and crafts. Then I took a math course in college and saw it differently - it was creative, almost like an art form.”

He soon made a mathematical breakthrough, discovering an unusual connection between Pascal’s Triangle and the Fibonacci sequence.

“I thought I had found something new,” he laughs. “Then my professor told me, ‘Oh, this was discovered 300 years ago.’ That was my first humbling experience in math.”

But eventually, he did make an original discovery - one so significant that he remains the only person to have proven it. Has he given it a flashy name yet? Not quite.

“People will name it eventually,” he shrugs. “I just present it as it is.”

 

AI Research and a ‘Secret’ Military Job?

Before joining AUBG, he spent time in AI research - in the military sector. While he will not spill top-secret details, he does admit that AI has been evolving for decades.

“AI isn’t new, it’s been researched for over 60 years. People just started paying attention after AlphaGo and ChatGPT,” he explains. “And no, I wasn’t locked in an underground lab, but let’s just say I’ve seen some things.”

Despite his experience, he’s not worried about AI replacing mathematicians - yet.

“If computers can someday prove theorems better than humans, I think that would be fascinating,” he says. “But I’m more worried about AI when it’s put into machines that can actually move around.”

So, basically, we’re safe… until AI gets legs.

 

The Land of Banitsa and Skeptical Friendships

After living in South Korea, Georgia, Hawaii, and a classified government facility (probably), he found himself in Bulgaria, drawn by AUBG’s balance of research and liberal arts education.

“It’s rare to find a place that values both research and teaching equally,” he says. “AUBG has a great balance.”

And how does Bulgaria compare to his past homes?

“Bulgarians are very accepting, but also skeptical at first. Once they open up, though, they’re incredibly friendly.”

As for Bulgarian cuisine? He’s fully converted.

“I eat banitsa for breakfast every day. Better than a croissant!”

And rakia?

“I haven’t tried it yet. I’m not a big drinker, but I’ll sometimes have beer. Rakia, though… people keep telling me about it.”

Teaching Style: Fun, but Do Not Expect an Easy A

In the classroom, he mixes humor with discipline, making math fun while keeping standards high. Some students assume he’s an easy grader - until they see their final grades.

“I think I’ve done a great job convincing them they’re getting good grades when they’re really not,” he jokes.

And as for cheating? Let’s just say mathematicians are very good at spotting patterns.

“I know who’s cheating, even if I don’t always say it. Some students are very creative. But trust me, we know.”

Consider this as your official warning.

 

The Future: Philosophy, Logic, and a Bit of Naivety

If he could design his own course, he would not teach traditional math – he would create a Philosophy of Mathematics class.

“Math is deeply philosophical. It’s not just about numbers - it’s about why things work the way they do.”

And what advice would he give his younger self?

“Stay curious, stay naive. The moment you lose that, you stop discovering.”

As AUBG welcomes its newest math professor, one thing is certain - he’s not just here to teach formulas. He is here to challenge minds, inspire curiosity, and, most importantly, enjoy his daily dose of banitsa.

 

This article has been written by Katrin Andonova, an AUBG student. It is part of the collaboration between AUBG Daily and the Newsroom course led by Prof. Laura Kelly.