Tag: Sungkyunkwan University

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) announced that it successfully held its first SKKU Chinese International Alumni Association gathering in Shanghai, China, on September 5. The event was organized to bring together Chinese alumni who graduated from SKKU and are now active in various fields across China, while promoting friendship between Korea and China and building a sustainable global network.

President Jibeom Yoo and other senior university officials attended the event, along with approximately 170 Chinese international alumni of SKKU from across China. In particular, the alumni collectively donated RMB 66,000 to the university’s Global Development Fund, expressing their deep affection for their alma mater.

During the event, Minhyo Cho, Vice President of International Affairs, reviewed SKKU’s major achievements in education and research over the past two decades and shared the university’s future development plans with the alumni. The alumni responded with enthusiastic applause, expressing a strong sense of pride in SKKU’s progress.

The event also marked the election of Wang Qi (Department of Law, Class of 2010), who earned his master’s degree at SKKU and currently serves as the head of a company in Shanghai, as the association’s first president.

In his inaugural remarks, Wang said, “I am deeply grateful that my alma mater, which gave me such valuable learning experiences and memories in Korea, has become a strong source of support for its alumni in China. I hope the development fund contributed by our alumni will make even a small contribution to the university’s globalization, and I will do my best to serve as a bridge connecting Korea and China.”

President Jibeom Yoo said in his remarks, “It is deeply moving to see our alumni gathered here today, having grown and achieved so much while continuing to cherish their affection for their alma mater even across the vast landscape of China. I am especially grateful for the heartfelt contributions our alumni have made to SKKU. I hope this alumni association will serve as a starting point for members of the SKKU community to build closer connections with one another across national and regional boundaries.”

Building on the launch of the Chinese alumni association, SKKU plans to further expand its international alumni networks in key regions around the world. The university will also continue to support international students who return to their home countries after graduation so that they can successfully establish themselves and thrive in their local communities.

The College of Art at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), led by Dean Byun Daniel H, and the University of Brasília (UnB), a leading national university in Brazil, successfully concluded an international collaborative creative residency held at UnB for approximately two weeks from August 1 to 15.

Supported by SKKU’s Anchor Project, the international collaborative project was first initiated in 2023 by Professor Yoon Yong Ah of the Department of Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television at SKKU and Professor Nitza Tenenblat of the Department of Theatre at UnB. The collaboration between the two universities in 2024 was also selected as an outstanding project under the LINC program.

At the time, Professor Yoon Yong Ah, former Dean of the College of Art Chung Ji Sook, and Professor Lee Junhee of the Department of Film, Television and Multimedia visited UnB and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two universities. Building on this foundation and continued exchanges and cooperation, the second international collaborative creative project was launched in 2026.

This year, 15 SKKU students from the Department of Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television, Department of Film, Television and Multimedia, Department of Fashion Design, and Department of Fine Arts participated in the program. Professor Lee Kyungsung of the Department of Acting for Theatre, Film, and Television also joined the project as a new mentor, leading creative workshops and other activities.

Over the course of 15 days, the participants engaged in intensive creative collaboration with young Brazilian artists and completed a total of five short films. The completed works are scheduled to be screened on UnB TV, the University of Brasília’s public broadcasting channel, and will also be submitted to various film festivals.

SKKU’s International Affairs Division (Vice President of International Affairs, Professor Minhyo Cho) successfully concluded the 2026 International Summer Semester (ISS), which ran for four weeks from June 26 to July 24. Celebrating its 18th anniversary, this year’s program welcomed 1,021 students from 126 universities across 39 countries, representing a 26.4% increase from the previous year and reaffirming SKKU’s growing global presence. Among international participants (excluding SKKU students), the largest groups came from universities in the United States (116 students), the United Kingdom (100), and Australia (80).

The program offered 42 courses spanning business and economics, humanities and social sciences, AI and data science, Korean language, and Korean studies. Classes were taught by 17 visiting international professors and 10 SKKU faculty members. Through regular classes held Monday through Thursday and collaborative team projects, students strengthened both their academic expertise and cross-cultural communication skills.

Beyond the classroom, a wide range of cultural activities was offered on Fridays and weekday evenings. More than 500 students participated in each program, including visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, cultural performances, Everland, Caribbean Bay, and the DMZ, providing opportunities to experience Korean history and culture firsthand. Students also enjoyed Korea’s vibrant sports culture through group outings to KBO League baseball and K League football games.

A new highlight this year was the introduction of small-group activities organized in collaboration with SKKU student clubs, covering football, taekwondo, tea ceremony, baseball, magic, photography, and more. These activities encouraged meaningful friendships between international participants and SKKU students. In addition, with the FIFA World Cup taking place during the program, students gathered to watch matches together and participated in special World Cup-themed events, creating friendships that transcended national boundaries.

Following its successful debut last year, the two-night, three-day Jeju Cultural Experience Program returned, giving participants the opportunity to explore Jeju Island’s unique culture and natural environment. The program once again received highly positive feedback from students.

The Laboratory-Based Research Internship Program also expanded this year, with 26 students participating, up from 15 in the previous year. Participants are engaged in full-time research projects, creating a valuable pathway to graduate study at SKKU while strengthening the foundation for future international research collaboration.

The closing ceremony featured student reflections, a farewell session with faculty members, and a highlight video capturing memorable moments from the summer. Awards were also presented for the Digital Content Contest and the World Cup Prediction Event. The celebration concluded with a special taekwondo performance by a professional demonstration team and a photo session with SKKU’s official mascots, Myeongnyuni and Yuljeoni, leaving participants with lasting memories.

Professor Minhyo Cho, Vice President of International Affairs, remarked, “ISS has evolved beyond a traditional summer school into SKKU’s distinctive international education model that seamlessly integrates learning, culture, and research. We hope this program has provided every participant with an unforgettable summer experience.”

Sungkyunkwan University successfully hosted the “4th Sungkyunkwan University AI Autonomous Driving Competition” at the Semiconductor Building lounge on the Natural Science Campus on Thursday, July 30. Held with the goal of nurturing core talent in the future mobility sector, the competition was divided into an AI Chip division and a Software (SW) division, with the entire event livestreamed on YouTube so that members of the university community and beyond could follow the competition in real time. In a particularly meaningful development, students from Gyeonggi Automobile Science High School took part as a special team, creating a stage where high school and university students competed and exchanged ideas in autonomous driving technology.

Participating students designed and implemented their own AI-based autonomous driving systems on small electric vehicles roughly one-fifth the size of an actual car, equipped with cameras, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors. The competition consisted of a “driving race,” in which teams completed a designated track in the shortest time possible, and a “mission race,” in which teams carried out a range of assigned tasks. Ahead of the competition, students strengthened their practical response capabilities by learning autonomous driving technology through preliminary training and mentoring programs.

A total of 51 teams (228 participants) — 24 teams in the AI Chip division and 27 teams in the SW division — competed fiercely in the preliminary round, with 15 teams from each division, 30 teams (128 participants) in total, advancing to the final round. On the day of the competition, in addition to the finalists and organizing staff, around 50 attendees including President Jibeom Yoo, industry experts, and professors were on hand to encourage the students and provide guidance on technology and career paths.

After a fierce competition, the Grand Prize (SKKU President’s Award) went to Team “Eunjeya Hyundai Gaja” in the SW division and Team “425” in the AI Chip division. Team “Eunjeya Hyundai Gaja” was composed of Kim Sookyung, Kang Mincheol, Moon Seonbin, and Jeong Eunje from the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Kim Myeonggyun from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Team “425” was composed of Kwon Kihyeok from the Department of Mathematics, Kim Taegeon from the Department of Data Science convergence major, Kim Yuchan from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Park Hyeonseo from the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Kim Hoyong from the Department of Business Administration.

The competition served as a hands-on educational platform where students developed autonomous driving systems spanning both hardware and software on their own and verified their performance on an actual driving track. The combination of mentoring by participating professors and industry experts, the participation of the special high school team, and the live YouTube broadcast was recognized as an effort in which the university, high schools, and industry came together to broaden the base for nurturing future mobility talent.

Jae Wook Jeon, Director of the Future Mobility Bootcamp Project Group, stated, “I applaud the students who persevered through countless trial and error while preparing for this competition,” adding, “I hope the valuable experience they gained here becomes a solid stepping stone toward taking on even bigger challenges.”

President Jibeom Yoo said, “Autonomous driving technology for future mobility is a field that represents the convergence of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, software, and semiconductors, and it serves as a core driving force for realizing a safer, more convenient future society.” He added, “I wholeheartedly support the participating students as they grow into the key talent who will innovate Korea’s future mobility industry.”

Meanwhile, the competition was hosted by SKKU’s Future Mobility Bootcamp Project Group (Director: Professor Jae Wook Jeon), which was selected for the Ministry of Education’s “Advanced Industry Talent Bootcamp Project (Future Mobility Sector),” and sponsored by Hyundai Mobis.

A research team headed by Professor Jungrae Kim of the Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering has won the Best Paper Award at the IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA) 2026.

ISCA is the world’s most prestigious conference in computer architecture and AI semiconductor systems. With a history spanning more than half a century, the conference is often described as the “Olympics of AI semiconductor architecture,” and even having a paper accepted is considered a major academic achievement.

The award marks the first time in ISCA’s history that a Korean university has received the Best Paper Award. No Korean institution had previously received the award or even had a paper selected as a Best Paper candidate. This achievement further strengthens the global standing of Sungkyunkwan University and Korea’s semiconductor research community.

ISCA 2026 was held from June 27 to July 1 in Raleigh, North Carolina, bringing together approximately 1,000 researchers and industry experts from around the world. Leading global technology giants, including NVIDIA, Meta, Google, and Microsoft, as well as prominent universities worldwide, participated in the conference.

A total of 845 state-of-the-art research papers were submitted. Following a rigorous review process, 161 papers were accepted, and Professor Kim’s research was selected as the conference’s Best Paper.

The award-winning paper, titled “Cerberus: Cross-Layer ECC Co-Design for Robust and Efficient Memory Protection,” presents an innovative technology that improves the reliability and efficiency of High Bandwidth Memory, or HBM.

HBM is a critical high-performance memory technology for artificial intelligence systems and has become a major focus of global technological competition amid the rapid expansion of AI. At its core, Cerberus detects and addresses the small data errors that occur while computers store and transfer information more quickly and intelligently than conventional approaches.

As HBM is pushed toward its physical performance limits, errors occurring during data storage and transmission are becoming more frequent. These errors can reduce manufacturing yield and cause serious reliability and efficiency problems in large-scale AI infrastructure. Hardware failures already interrupt a substantial proportion of large-scale AI training workloads, significantly reducing the likelihood that long-running training jobs will be completed successfully.

Conventional systems protect data through several independent error-correction mechanisms: within the memory device, across the data interface, and at the overall system level. Because these mechanisms were developed and operated separately, they require duplicated redundancy and may introduce unnecessary delays and protection holes.

Cerberus, developed by Professor Kim’s research team, unifies these separate protection mechanisms and enables them to share error-correction information. Based on an HBM4-class memory configuration, the proposed technology reduces the storage space dedicated to error-correction redundancy by approximately 33% while simultaneously improving data reliability and system efficiency.

Professor Kim’s research team has established a strong international track record in memory reliability and security. Its previous research has repeatedly been selected as a Best Paper Award finalist at leading international computer architecture conferences, including ASPLOS, HPCA, SC, and DATE.

The ISCA 2026 Best Paper Award further demonstrates the technical excellence, originality, and academic impact that the research team has built over the years.

Professor Jungrae Kim said: “As international competition for technological leadership in artificial intelligence continues to intensify, it is deeply meaningful that our research team has become the first in Korea to receive the Best Paper Award at ISCA, the world’s most prestigious computer architecture conference.”

He added: “I hope this research will make a meaningful contribution to improving the reliability of HBM, an essential technology in the AI era. I also hope it will provide a strong technological foundation for Korea’s memory semiconductor industry, a key pillar of the national economy, to maintain its leadership in the global market.”

This research was supported by the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation under programs funded by the Korean government.

The 2026 KINGO WALKATHON took place across Jeju Island over 6 nights and 7 days, from Wednesday, July 8 to Tuesday, July 14. This year’s event brought together 107 SKKU students, who walked approximately 140km along the coast of Jeju, building a spirit of challenge and a sense of community.

 * The name “Kingo” is the university’s school title (校號); the most widely accepted theory traces its origin to the historical fact that during the Joseon Dynasty, the King (King) frequently visited (Go) Sungkyunkwan, the royal educational institution. Another theory holds that it derives from a modification of the English name of the gingko tree, our university’s symbolic tree.

The 2026 KINGO WALKATHON began in the area of Iho Tewoo Beach and centered on a coastal course through Jeju’s western and southern regions, passing through Aewol, Hallim, Hangyeong, Daejeong, Andeok, Jungmun, Seogwipo, and Namwon. Participants walked the daily courses in sequence, experiencing Jeju’s natural and cultural resources.

The event was hosted by the university and organized by the Student Council as a student-led program. It began with an opening ceremony on the first day and included a range of programs, including a coastal cleanup around Geumneung Beach, a campfire, an exchange with a visiting delegation led by the President offering encouragement to participants, and team talent shows.

This year in particular, the event went beyond a simple long-distance walk to add meaning as a program for learning shared responsibility toward the environment and local communities. Participants carried out coastal cleanup activities around Geumneung Beach and directly experienced Jeju’s ecological and coastal landscapes—including the Jeju Geological Trail course, Hayeong Olle, Bomok Port, and Haehyo Port—reflecting on the value of community-based action.

To ensure the safe operation of the event, the university divided responsibilities among a field team and an operations team, and managed participants in nine groups. The walking procession moved together with a lead vehicle, group members, and an ambulance, and a response system was established so that in the event of an injury, participants could be immediately transported by ambulance or university vehicle based on the field team’s judgment.

Lee Jun-sang, Vice President of Student Affairs, said, “The KINGO WALKATHON is a journey in which students carry forward our university’s spirit of innovation, which has continually taken on new paths throughout Sungkyunkwan’s 600-year tradition.” He added, “We will work closely with the Student Council to actively support students so that they can learn, step by step, the joy of surpassing themselves and building something together, and complete the walk safely.”

Lee Jae-hong and Lee Sang-su, Co-Presidents of the Student Council of SKKU, said, “Even in the sweltering heat, we carefully prepared the course, rest stops, safety management, and evening programs so that students could support one another as they walked.” They added, “We hope the KINGO WALKATHON becomes a moment of youth that all participants will remember for a long time.”

Students who took part in the 2026 KINGO WALKATHON concluded their 6-night, 7-day journey with a closing ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, at the Kumho Jeju Resort. Based on the experience of walking and learning together along the coast of Jeju, participants are expected to grow into stronger, more responsible members of the Sungkyunkwan community.

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) hosted a luncheon meeting with the Executive Committee of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club (SFCC) at the R&E Lounge of the International Hall on July 3. Building on the partnership established through the first meeting held on August 14 last year, the event was organized to further strengthen cooperation and expand exchanges with the newly appointed SFCC Executive Committee.

Founded in 1956, the SFCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaboration and networking among foreign correspondents based in Seoul. Its membership includes journalists from approximately 100 media organizations representing around 100 countries. Through press briefings, meetings with key institutions and public figures, and on-site reporting, the SFCC plays a central role in international news coverage related to Korea.

The SFCC delegation included President Nakagawa Takashi of The Yomiuri Shimbun(Japan); First Vice President Kang, Hyung Bin of People’s Daily Online(China); Second Vice President Raphael Rashid of The Guardian(United Kingdom); Director-at-Large Choi, Moon Seon of The Yomiuri Shimbun(Japan); Secretary General Ku, Yuna of BBC World Service(United Kingdom); and Auditor Huang, Xinxin of Xinhua News Agency(China). Representing SKKU were President Yoo Ji-Beom, Vice President for the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus Choi Hoon-Seok, Vice President for Planning and Coordination Yoo Piljin, Vice President for External Affairs Ji Seong Woo, and other university officials.

The program began with a welcome reception, followed by opening remarks from President Yoo, a congratulatory address by an SFCC vice president, and a screening of the university’s promotional video. During the luncheon, participants shared updates on SKKU’s internationalization initiatives and major achievements while exchanging ideas on future areas of cooperation.

President Yoo Ji-Beom remarked, “International media play a vital role in connecting universities with the world and promoting research achievements to the global community. I hope that SKKU and the SFCC will continue to build a strong global partnership based on close collaboration.”

Kang, Hyung Bin, First Vice President of the SFCC, stated, “I hope this visit will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen exchanges between SKKU and the SFCC. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation in promoting the university’s outstanding achievements in education and research to the international community.”

In the afternoon, the delegation toured major campus facilities, including the Sungkyunkwan University Museum, where they showed great interest in the university’s rich history and traditions as well as its educational and research environment.

Through this meeting, SKKU plans to further strengthen its cooperative network with the international press and continue communicating with global media to promote the university’s excellence in education, research, and international competitiveness worldwide.

Sungkyunkwan University (President Ji-beom Yoo) announced that its Institute of Confucian Philosophy and Culture (Director, Professor Doil Kim) has published Buddhist-Confucian Dialogue: A Contribution to the Comparative Philosophy of Religion through Springer Nature, one of the world’s leading academic publishers. The volume offers a fresh examination of the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism, two of the most influential intellectual traditions in East Asia.

Released as the seventh volume in Springer’s renowned Comparative Philosophy of Religion series, the book was co-edited by Professor Doil Kim and Professor Leah Kalmanson of the University of North Texas. Bringing together leading scholars from Korea and abroad, the volume highlights the growing contribution of East Asian philosophy to international discussions in comparative philosophy and philosophy of religion.

Contributors examine a wide range of topics, including life and death, emotion and morality, self-cultivation, political order, meditation, music, and humility. Through these studies, the volume illustrates how Confucian and Buddhist thinkers often engaged one another through critique, adaptation, and creative reinterpretation, thereby enriching both traditions. The book further suggests that these intellectual resources remain relevant for contemporary discussions of moral development, human flourishing, and the search for meaningful ways of life.

Contributors include prominent researchers such as Steven Heine, Jea Sophia Oh and Albert Welter, together with distinguished Korean scholars including Professor Youngho Lee of Sungkyunkwan University and Professor Yongbin You of the University of Seoul, longtime collaborators of the Institute. Their participation reflects the Institute’s growing role as an international hub for research on East Asian philosophy and religion.

This publication represents the culmination of more than four years of sustained scholarly collaboration. Since 2021, the Institute has fostered a series of conversations on Confucian–Buddhist dialogue, with earlier research outcomes collected in the Korean volume Confucian-Buddhist Dialogue: Communication and Harmony between Buddhist and Confucian Thought (Janggyeonggak, 2024). The new Springer volume brings these discussions into a global scholarly forum, demonstrating how Korean humanities research is not merely participating in international academic conversations but helping to shape and advance them.

Beyond its research achievements, the Institute has also emerged as a leading center for training the next generation of humanities scholars. Seven early-career researchers affiliated with the Institute’s Center for the Contemporary Study of East Asian Classics and Critical Confucianism (CCECC) have secured faculty appointments at major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University, and Pusan National University.

Professor Doil Kim has also continued to expand Sungkyunkwan University’s global academic presence through his own research. In December 2025, he published The Art of Seeing Beyond Oneself: A Confucian Perspective on Humility with Oxford University Press, further contributing to international scholarship on Confucian ethics and comparative philosophy.

SKKU conducted its annual Rural Outreach Program from June 23 to 28 in eleven villages across Moseo-myeon, Modong-myeon, and Hwadong-myeon in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, with the participation of approximately 160 students.

As one of SKKU’s flagship social contribution initiatives, the Rural Outreach Program has been held annually to provide students with meaningful educational experiences that go beyond volunteer activities. The program strengthens social solidarity between urban and rural communities while fostering a sense of social responsibility through collaboration and shared engagement.

This year’s Rural Outreach Program was designed to cultivate students’ character and promote the spirit of urban-rural coexistence by supporting farming communities facing labor shortages. Participating students worked closely with local residents and engaged in a variety of activities, including weeding, organizing grape vines, and maintaining farmland. More than 30 student teams applied to participate, demonstrating strong interest and enthusiasm for rural communities among SKKU students.

On June 27, President Ji-Beom Yoo and Dean of Student Affairs Junsang Lee visited a village hall in Modong-myeon to encourage students participating in the program. SKKU plans to continue expanding its social contribution initiatives based on mutual growth and cooperation with rural communities, further contributing to sustainable regional development and community well-being.