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Tag: South Korea

Sogang Partners to Expand Online TOPIK Access

Posted on by Sogang University

On May 20, Sogang University’s Korean Language Education Center and BoinIT signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and operate an online Korean language program under the Sogang TOPIK brand. The partnership responds to growing global demand for structured Korean language education and aims to make systematic TOPIK preparation accessible to learners regardless of location.

The program is designed to serve international students and foreign workers, offering a learning pathway from introductory Korean through to TOPIK examination readiness. Content will be delivered in stages, supplemented by interactive features including topic-based games, practice problem sets, and level assessment tools — elements intended to sustain learner engagement over the course of study.

The collaboration divides responsibilities along each institution’s core strengths. The Korean Language Education Center will draw on its accumulated expertise in Korean language pedagogy to ensure the quality and depth of educational content. BoinIT will provide the online platform infrastructure and operational support to ensure a stable and accessible learning environment.

Director Kim Jinhwa of the Korean Language Education Center and CEO Jongyun Lee of BoinIT formalized the agreement, with both parties indicating plans to accelerate the digital transformation of Korean language education and expand tailored services for global learners.

The Sogang TOPIK online program is expected to contribute to measurable improvements in learners’ TOPIK outcomes while removing the time and geographic barriers that have historically limited access to quality Korean language instruction.

Inha Win Bosch Autonomous Driving Challenge

Posted on by INHA University

▲The ‘SEA:ME’ team takes a commemorative photo after winning BFMC 2026. The third and fourth students from the left are Mechanical Engineering students Choi Min-hyuk and Jang Dong-min.

Mechanical Engineering students Choi Min-hyuk and Jang Dong-min of Inha University recently achieved final victory in the ‘Bosch Future Mobility Challenge 2026’ (hereafter BFMC) hosted by Bosch.

Choi Min-hyuk participated in BFMC as the leader of the ‘SEA:ME’ team together with Jang Dong-min. The SEA:ME team consists of students participating in the ‘SEA:ME’ program supported by Volkswagen Group Korea: two students from Inha University, two from Kookmin University, and one from Ajou University.

BFMC is an international autonomous driving competition hosted annually since 2017 by Bosch, the world’s largest multinational engineering company, for undergraduate and graduate students around the world. Students participate in the competition by developing autonomous driving algorithms for a 1/10-scale model vehicle provided by Bosch, and they are evaluated in the final round.

This year’s competition included 78 teams selected through global preliminary rounds. Based on monthly reports and videos submitted over six months, 20 teams advanced to the semifinals. In the semifinals and finals, the final evaluation comprehensively considered previous project performance, technical presentations, vehicle driving performance, and overall completion quality.

The SEA:ME team assumed unstable network and GPS conditions and developed its own self-localization system that does not rely on GPS to solve this issue. By focusing on reducing algorithm computation load and lightweight design, the team achieved more stable driving at higher speeds compared to other teams while successfully completing all missions, ultimately winning first place.

The SEA:ME program is a global educational program jointly conducted by the German Volkswagen Group and the Advanced Fields Innovation Convergence University Project to foster software talents who will lead the future mobility industry. Currently, three students have been selected for the SEA:ME program and are participating in the program in Germany for one year. Since 2023, the Future Automobile Project Group has supported participation in the SEA:ME program by selecting at least two students every year.

In particular, Choi Min-hyuk and Jang Dong-min are participating in the SEA:ME program with support from Volkswagen Group Korea based on their major in Future Automotive Engineering.

Choi Min-hyuk said, “While preparing for the competition for a long time, we thought we had solved every problem, but unexpected issues discovered at the competition site created many difficulties. However, by analyzing and solving problems day and night with teammates from various fields and diverse perspectives, we were able to achieve a great result.”

Jang Dong-min also shared his thoughts on the award, saying, “We were able to win by considering problems from diverse perspectives and solving them together. Based on this experience, I will contribute to the technological growth of the future mobility field.”

Kim Hak-il, head of the Future Automobile Project Group at Inha University said, “I congratulate the students for making good use of the opportunities they were given and achieving such excellent results. Starting with this victory, I hope they will grow into key talents who will lead the future mobility era.”

Original Article

Rethinking Work in the Age of AI

Posted on by Sogang University

On May 20, Sogang University’s Nam Duck-Woo Economic Research Institute hosted a policy seminar titled “AI and Job Displacement” at the Geppert Nam Duck-Woo Economics Building. The session brought together economists and policy researchers to examine how the spread of AI technologies is affecting labor market structures and to discuss what employment and industrial policy responses are needed.

Two presentations anchored the discussion. Ahram Moon, Group Leader of the AI Economic Policy Group at the Korea Information Society Development Institute, addressed the labor market implications of AI development under the theme of “labor-friendly responses” — arguing that as AI reshapes job structures, policy frameworks must be designed with worker protection as a core objective rather than an afterthought.

Hoon Choi, Professor at Chung-Ang University School of Economics, presented findings from an analysis of Korea’s AI Voucher Program, examining how firm-level AI adoption affects employment outcomes. His research suggested that while AI adoption does not uniformly reduce total employment or wages, it may have a disproportionately negative effect on new hiring — particularly among young workers and those in temporary or daily employment. The paper’s title, “The Erosion of Entry-Level Jobs: AI Adoption and Firm Outcomes from Korea’s AI Voucher Program,” points to a concern that is often underrepresented in aggregate employment statistics.

The discussion session, moderated by a Sogang faculty member, examined whether the employment effects of AI are best understood as a technological shock or as a function of policy design — with participants noting that outcomes are likely to vary significantly depending on the type of AI being adopted, its stage of development, and the institutional context in which it is deployed. Speakers converged on the view that AI diffusion policies should be accompanied by employment impact assessments, job transition support, and reskilling infrastructure.

Director Hyunbae Chun of the Nam Duck-Woo Economic Research Institute described the seminar as an opportunity to examine the effects of AI on labor and industry from multiple angles, and expressed hope that it would contribute to policy thinking that balances technological innovation with employment stability.

Korea’s AI Policy: A Global Media Visit to SKKU

Posted on by SKKU

A delegation of journalists from seven countries visited SKKU on June 4. The delegation included reporters from major media outlets in Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Vietnam, who visited the university to learn about Korea’s AI policies, educational initiatives, and talent development practices. The visit was part of their Korea program conducted from May 31 to June 6.

The delegation attended a meeting with President Ji Beom Yoo, during which they were introduced to SKKU’s educational vision and the current status of its education and research initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence. During the subsequent Q&A session, participants exchanged views on the university’s AI education system and its approach to nurturing future talent.

The delegation then visited the Convergence and Open Sharing System for AI (AICOSS) Project Group, where they received an overview of the project’s operations and key educational programs. They also toured AI learning facilities to observe students’ learning environments and educational activities firsthand.

This visit served as an opportunity to showcase SKKU’s strengths in AI education and research to an international audience and to further expand its global collaboration network.

Inha Team Wins’A1′ AI Driving Race

Posted on by INHA University

▲ The A.I.M. team poses for a commemorative photo after winning the ‘A1 Challenge.’ From left to right: Kim Yong-jun, Moon Seung-jae, Lee Yong-ha, Park Jong-woo, and Park Seo-jin.

The A.I.M. team (Advisor: Professor Won Jong-hoon) of Inha University has won the ‘A1 Challenge’ for the second consecutive year.

The A.I.M. team secured first place in the ‘A1 Challenge,’ hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Intelligent Automotive Parts Promotion Institute. Following its victory in the 2024 University Student Autonomous Driving Competition, the team once again received the Prime Minister’s Award this year.

Unlike the rule-based autonomous driving competition held in 2024, this year’s event was a Formula racing simulation competition that applied End-to-End (E2E) AI autonomous driving technology. E2E AI autonomous driving technology directly outputs steering, acceleration, and braking commands through AI after receiving sensor data such as camera images as input.

After the preliminary round, ten teams were selected. Beginning with the inauguration ceremony in January, the final competition was recently held at the SOOP Colosseum in Sangam.

The top three winning teams will have the opportunity this November to transfer the algorithms verified through simulation into an actual Formula 3 (F3) vehicle at Everland Speedway in Yongin. They will directly validate the autonomous driving technologies they developed and conduct demonstration runs using real vehicles.

The A.I.M. team, which receives support through the Future Mobility Project Group’s club and competition support program, consists of five students: team leader Lee Yong-ha from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Park Jong-woo from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Kim Yong-jun, Park Seo-jin, and Moon Seung-jae from the Department of Smart Mobility Engineering. They served respectively as Captain, System Chief, Driving Manager, Strategist, and AI Operator.

The A.I.M. team shared its thoughts, saying, “We went through many difficult processes and numerous trials and errors, reading research papers every day, collecting data, and training AI models together. However, because we never gave up until the end, we were able to achieve this excellent result. We will continue to work hard to achieve strong results in the upcoming real-vehicle competition as well.”

Kim Hak-il, Director of the Future Mobility Project Group, stated, “Implementing E2E AI autonomous driving in a virtual environment in line with recent technological trends must have been a new challenge for the students. All the autonomous driving technologies they experienced through this competition will serve as valuable experience in establishing their future research directions.”

Meanwhile, the Advanced Fields Innovation Convergence University Project is an undergraduate education initiative supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Since joining the Future Mobility Consortium in May 2021, the Future Mobility Project Group has been operating an interdisciplinary major and minor in Future Mobility Engineering, along with eleven micro-degree programs. Among the members of the A.I.M. team, Kim Yong-jun, Park Seo-jin, and Moon Seung-jae from the Department of Smart Mobility Engineering are enrolled in the interdisciplinary major in Future Mobility Engineering.

Original Article

Kenyan Foreign Minister Visits SKKU

Posted on by SKKU

The Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, the Graduate School of Strategic Studies, and the Center for Good Democracy of SKKU hosted a special lecture by Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, on June 2 (Tuesday) at Sohyang Hall on the 6th floor of the 600th Anniversary Hall.

Prior to the lecture, Minister Mudavadi and Emmy Jerono Kipsoi, Ambassador of Kenya to Korea, met with President Ji Beom Yoo. During the meeting, they introduced the Kenyan government’s policy to expand the ICT sector and requested SKKU’s interest and cooperation. President Yoo expressed his commitment to promoting exchanges and expanding collaboration between SKKU and Kenyan universities.

Under the title “Korea–Kenya Partnership for Future Cooperation,” Minister Mudavadi delivered a one-hour lecture to SKKU students. He noted that the international community is currently facing serious geopolitical crises and economic instability, including the resurgence of unilateralism, the increasing transactional nature of diplomacy, conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. In response to these challenges, he emphasized that Africa is strengthening regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and building diversified global partnerships, thereby moving beyond aid dependency and promoting mutually beneficial development.

He further explained that Kenya and the Republic of Korea have developed a close partnership centered on ICT technologies, highlighting Kenya’s smart city project, Konza Technopolis, in which the Korean government is participating. He also introduced the two countries’ expanding cooperation in healthcare and medicine, including efforts related to attracting a branch of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), as well as in sustainable green economy sectors such as climate change response and renewable energy.

Minister Mudavadi was elected to the Kenyan National Assembly at the age of 29 and has pursued a political career for 35 years. His major public service positions include Vice President (2002–2003) and Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2013). He currently also serves as Prime Cabinet Secretary, a position comparable to the Prime Minister-level role in Korea. In response to students’ questions about career development, he shared his own experiences and advised them that, regardless of their aspirations, they should cultivate the self-discipline necessary to maintain control over themselves.

Following the lecture, Minister Mudavadi toured Bicheondang and Myeongnyundang, where he learned firsthand about the origins of SKKU’s 600-year history. Observing that the main shrine of the Confucian shrine, lecture halls, and student residences were all located within the same area, he remarked that he could understand why Korea places such a strong emphasis on education.

Inha Univ. Opens “I-RISE Open Campus”

Posted on by INHA University

▲President Cho Myeong-Woo and other participants in the Open Campus opening ceremony are taking a commemorative photo.

Inha University recently held an opening ceremony for the Open Campus at “I-RISE Open Campus Baengnyeon Ieum No. 2,” located in Jung-gu, Incheon.

The event was organized to celebrate the launch of a future education cooperation hub in the old downtown area, jointly established by six universities in Incheon: Inha University, JEI University, Incheon National University, Inha Technical College, Kyung-in Women’s University, and Yonsei University. The occasion was particularly meaningful because it marked the beginning of an open innovation platform in which local communities, as well as educational, industrial, and administrative institutions, participate together beyond inter-university cooperation.

“Baengnyeon Ieum” is an open educational platform that connects universities with local communities, industries, and citizens. It has been established as a key hub for implementing a sustainable regional innovation model by integrating the historical significance of Incheon’s old downtown area with future-oriented educational resources. Based on this foundation, it will be operated as a comprehensive innovation space linked to Incheon’s Jemulpo Renaissance Project, encompassing youth talent development, regional industrial innovation, and lifelong education for citizens.

The event was attended by representatives from major administrative, educational, and public institutions in Incheon, including the Incheon Metropolitan Government, the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, Incheon Housing & City Development Corporation, Incheon Tourism Organization, and the Incheon RISE Center, who reaffirmed their commitment to building a regional innovation ecosystem.

The program proceeded in the following order: ▲tape-cutting ceremony ▲introduction to the Baengnyeon Ieum Campus and presentation of the I-RISE Campus CI and BI ▲opening commemorative ceremony ▲special lecture at the I-RISE Leaders Forum.

During the commemorative ceremony, participants declared a shared vision for the future through a performance completing the word “Jemulpo,” a symbolic name associated with Incheon’s old downtown area. This was followed by a special lecture by Kim Woo-Seung, President of the Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea, who presented recommendations on the vision of the Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) initiative and the role of universities, while sharing regional innovation strategies with attendees.

President Cho Myeong-Woo stated, “Baengnyeon Ieum is an innovation hub where the entire region can learn and grow together beyond the boundaries of the university. Based on a cooperative model involving Incheon City, the Office of Education, public institutions, and local universities, we will create new future value for Incheon’s old downtown area.”

▲ An exterior view of Baengnyeon Ieum No. 2

Original Article



Inha Hosts Incheon Biohealth Synergy Seminar

Posted on by INHA University

▲Inha University recently held the “Incheon Biohealth Industry–Academia–Research–Hospital Seminar.

Inha University recently successfully hosted the “Incheon Biohealth Industry–Academia–Research–Hospital Seminar.”

The seminar, organized by the I-RISE Project Group and the College of Nursing, was designed to strengthen cooperation between regional biohealth companies and the university while supporting domestic companies in expanding into overseas markets.

The event was attended by Ahn Young-mi, Dean of the College of Nursing, faculty members from the College of Nursing, representatives and officials from five major biohealth companies in Incheon, and officials from Inha University Hospital’s Open Lab.

The seminar featured a variety of programs designed to connect the university’s research capabilities with industry needs. It consisted of ▲introductions of participating companies and discussions on technical cooperation with nursing faculty ▲sharing strategies for global market expansion by biohealth companies ▲one-on-one on-site consultations tailored to each company’s specific characteristics.

In particular, Hyun Ji-hoon, Vice Director of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation at the University of Utah Asia Campus, attended the seminar and provided a practical strategy briefing for entering the U.S. market, along with customized consulting for individual companies. This offered concrete support measures for regional companies preparing for global expansion.

Dean Ahn Young-mi said, “This seminar will serve as an important foundation for realizing the shared-growth model between the local community and the university envisioned by the I-RISE project. We will continue working to strengthen the global competitiveness of regional companies in the bio and healthcare sectors and advance the system for training future talent.”

Original Article

Inha Univ. Job Fair Draws 1,500 Young Talent

Posted on by INHA University

▲The 2026 first-half job fair was held at the 60th Anniversary Memorial Hall.

Inha University’s University Job Plus Center recently held the “2026 First-Half Job Fair” with great success.

This fair was organized to provide students with practical direction regarding career paths and employment through direct communication with working professionals. Since its inception in 2017, the event has been expanded to twice a year in response to high student demand.

This year’s fair was held under the theme, “My Job Story: Hearing Directly from Alumni.”

A total of 39 professionals participated as mentors, representing fields such as management support, sales/marketing, logistics, production/R&D, semiconductor processes, and AI engineering. These mentors, employed at 30 companies including major domestic and multinational firms, provided practical advice at each booth based on their actual job responsibilities and field experience.

Around 1,500 participants, including enrolled students, graduates, and local youth, attended the event. Through Q&A sessions with alumni, participants improved their understanding of various roles and resolved questions about the recruitment process. The program received high satisfaction ratings for offering concrete insights into actual workplace duties.

Interest was especially strong in semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) roles, reflecting recent industrial growth. The “IPP Zone,” featuring companies from the IPP-type work-and-learn program, was also crowded with students. Additionally, organizations such as the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Incheon Metropolitan Government’s Youth Policy Division provided information on government employment services and policies.

President Cho Myeong-woo said, “The job fair is a key opportunity to turn vague career concerns into a concrete understanding of specific roles,” adding, “Communication with professionals will help students understand the industry and design their own career paths.” He continued, “We will continue to expand field-oriented employment support programs for both our students and local youth.”

▲President Cho Myeong-Woo is talking with graduates participating in the first-half job fair.

▲President Cho Myeong-Woo and distinguished guests are taking a commemorative photo with graduates participating in the first-half job fair.

Original Article

Sogang Expands Arts Reach into Mapo Community

Posted on by Sogang University

Sogang University and the Mapo Foundation for Arts and Culture signed a memorandum of understanding on March 31 at Mapo Art Center, formalizing a partnership aimed at expanding cultural arts access and developing joint programming for students, international scholars, and the broader Mapo community.

The agreement covers five areas of collaboration: industry-academia partnerships linking cultural content with human resources; expanded participation opportunities for both domestic and international students; ongoing joint program development; co-marketing initiatives; and shared infrastructure to strengthen the regional cultural arts ecosystem.

The partnership reflects Sogang’s long-standing engagement with the performing arts. The university’s Merry Hall, which opened in 1970, is the oldest university performance venue in Korea — predating the National Theater by three years — and continues to host over 70 productions annually, including the Seoul World Dance Festival and Seoul International Performing Arts Festival. Uniquely among university theaters in Korea, Mary Hall operates resident companies and functions as an active creative space for students and emerging artists. Its influence on Korean cultural life extends well beyond campus.

The MOU with the Mapo Foundation for Arts and Culture extends this institutional commitment into a formal community partnership. President Shim Jong-hyeok expressed his expectation that the agreement would establish a new model of collaboration linking education, the arts, and local society. Mapo Foundation CEO Ko Young-geun emphasized the joint commitment to creating an environment in which all residents can experience and engage with the arts.

The two institutions plan to pursue ongoing joint projects in support of regional cultural development.