Global Eminence
-
Global Eminence
Establishing a Data-Driven Decision-Making System
Kyung Hee unveiled the “K-DX Bidg Data Analysis System”—an integrated platform that consolidates education, research, and administration data to support systematic data-driven decision-making. Official Launch of the K-DX Big Data Analysis System Establishment of 143 Data Marts (DM) across faculty, research, and administration Support for customized decision-making by administrative units and comparative analysis of university indicators Kyung Hee recently unveiled the “K-DX Big Data Analysis System” (hereafter “K-DX System”) to the university community. Designed to unify fragmented data across education, research, and administration, the system facilitates a shift from intuition-based operations toward a data-driven, “smart” decision-making framework. This initiative aims to elevate traditional Management Information Systems (MIS) to the level of sophisticated Executive Information Systems (EIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS). A defining feature of the K-DX System is the establishment of 143 specialized Data Marts (DM), which aggregate critical institutional data spanning faculty affairs, academics, industry-academic cooperation, and research. This structure provides top-level management, including the President and Vice Presidents, with the insights needed for macro-strategic planning, while offering deans and department heads precise support for thematic, working-level decision-making. ‘The K-DX Big Data Analysis System offers visualized data to support administrative assessments and foster informed strategic decisions across the university. Visualizing Public Disclosure Data for Immediate Assessments of Competitiveness The system’s key functions include: · Visualized reports on core university indicators (students/education, research performance, finance, internationalization, etc.). · External competitiveness analysis benchmarking against rival institutions based on official university disclosures. · Comprehensive monitoring of full-time faculty research performance (domestic/international papers, FWCI, JCR quartiles, etc.). A standout feature is the visualization of 20 major university disclosure items, including employment rates, student-to-faculty ratios, and research grant performance. By providing objective comparisons with other universities, the system allows for an immediate diagnosis of competitiveness at both the department and university levels. The K-DX System is available to all Kyung Hee faculty and staff. For ease of access, it is integrated with existing university portal accounts. To ensure robust data security, the system is designed in strict compliance with institutional document security guidelines, requiring users to state their purpose of use whenever downloading files. Hail Park, Head of the Center for Strategic Planning, stated, “The K-DX Big Data Analysis System is the cornerstone of our Digital Transformation (DX) infrastructure, aimed at maximizing Kyung Hee’s core drivers through objective metrics. We plan to expand the data marts related to key performances and gradually roll out additional analysis reports through continuous system maintenance and upgrades.”
2026.04.20 -
Global Eminence
Kyung Hee Officially Launches Generative AI Platform “ChatKHU”
“ChatKHU” is a generative AI platform designed to enhance the AI competencies of the Kyung Hee community Latest LLM Models Available to All Kyung Hee Members From Test to Images and Videos “Further Accelerating the University’s Digital Transformation” Kyung Hee has officially launched ChatKHU, a generative AI platform designed to strengthen the AI competencies of the university community. ChatKHU is a dedicated university platform that provides integrated access to various cutting-edge LLM models from global AI leaders such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. All members of the Kyung Hee community can now leverage text generation, image and video creation models, and data analysis functions within a single, unified environment. Reducing Repetitive Tasks with Custom Document-based Chatbots The program is organized into three main areas: “Studio,” where users can build chatbots without coding; “Store,” for sharing useful chatbots; and “Chat,” for interacting with the latest LLM models and custom bots. By utilizing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, even non-developers can easily create their own chatbots. This allows for the creation of bots based on internal university documents—such as administrative manuals, regulations, and lecture materials—to streamline repetitive administrative tasks and support both teaching and learning. To facilitate AI adoption, university members are provided with a standard amount of monthly usage credits. Users can access various AI models and features within this credit limit, with the option to purchase additional credits if they exceed the limit. Additionally, free LLM models are available to ensure that basic AI utilization remains unrestricted. This system allows users to strategically allocate their credits for specific needs, such as high-performance language models or specialized image and video generation tools. Starting with the rollout of ChatKHU, Kyung Hee University is planning a variety of programs to bolster the AI competencies of its community members. Minimizing Data Leakage Concerns and Strengthening AI Competency The university has established the “ChatKHU Ethics and Usage Guidelines” to ensure the responsible use of generative AI. These guidelines encompass five core principles: Human-Centricity, Accountability, Fairness & Transparency, Safety & Security, and Academic Value & Public Interest. These principles clearly define the scope of AI application while setting standards for responsible use, specifically instructing members to avoid inputting confidential or sensitive internal data. Furthermore, the system is designed to protect personal information and research data by storing all data on a private cloud allocated to the university. This architecture minimizes concerns regarding data leakage often associated with public generative AI and establishes a secure foundation for AI utilization tailored to the university environment. Moving forward, Kyung Hee plans to build an environment where its community members can use generative AI safely and efficiently, expanding its application across education, research, and administration. Various programs, including special lectures by AI experts and competitions, are in development to further enhance the AI literacy of the university community. Sung-Won Lee, Director of the DX (Digital Transformation) Promotion Team, stated: “ChatKHU is an integrated platform designed to allow our members to utilize the latest AI technologies both safely and effectively. By expanding AI use across all sectors—education, research, and administration—we will further accelerate the university’s digital transformation.”
2026.04.13 -
Global Eminence
Two Decades of Partnership: Growing into a Global Model for Youth NGO Internships
Dean Hyuk Sang Sohn of the Graduate School of Public Policy and Civic Engagement expresses his gratitude for the hard work of the participants, stating that the Citi-Kyung Hee University NGO Internship Program “has become an unrivaled and symbolic model for civil society in Korea.” The 20th-anniversary ceremony of the “Citi-Kyung Hee University NGO Internship Program,” which launched in 2006, was held on Friday, February 6, in Room 151 of Orbis Hall. The event served as a platform to share the achievements of the program over the past two decades and to celebrate the significance of the partnership established between the university, corporations, and civil society. A Practical Program for Students to Tackle Social Issues In his welcoming remarks, Dean Hyuk Sang Sohn of the Graduate School of Public Policy and Civic Engagement remarked, “When we first launched this program, we likely did not foresee it continuing for 20 years. It has since become an unrivaled and symbolic model for civil society in Korea, serving as a representative global public interest model for youth NGO internships.” Myung-Soon Yoo, CEO of Citibank Korea, responded in her congratulatory address, “A 20-year footprint represents a very long time built upon the collective meaning of each day. This program provides an essential opportunity for university students to confront and contemplate social issues, enriching both their own lives and the lives of those around them. It is also a deeply rewarding activity for the employees of Citibank Korea through their involvement in mentoring. We look forward to continuing this journey together as partners.” Professor Emeritus Unho Kim, who helped launch the program, delivers a commemorative lecture titled “The 20-Year Journey of Sharing: Citi, Kyung Hee, and Civil Society.” He remarked that the program’s greatest legacy is having planted “the seeds of public interest in the hearts of more than 1,600 young people” over the past two decades. “A Continued Investment in Nurturing the Youth Who Will Carry Our Future” Following the welcoming and congratulatory remarks, Professor Emeritus Unho Kim delivered a commemorative lecture. Professor Kim, who laid the program’s foundation and has overseen its evolution for 20 years, presented on the theme: “The 20-Year Journey of Sharing: Citi, Kyung Hee, and Civil Society.” Professor Kim emphasized, “What began as a chance encounter became a destiny beyond necessity as we worked to realize our shared values. The greatest legacy of the past 20 years is having planted the seeds of public interest in the hearts of more than 1,600 young people.” He added, “As the saying goes, ‘To look ahead a generation, you must cultivate people.’ I hope this investment in nurturing the youth who will carry our future continues for the next 30, or even 100 years.” Following the ceremony, approximately 90 participants assembled dignity kits for vulnerable elderly residents living alone in Seoul as part of the “Day of Sharing” event. “Day of Sharing” Event Follows the Anniversary Ceremony The event ended with a screening of a retrospective video featuring highlights from the program’s 20-year history. The video was a collaborative effort, with 2025 interns and former program coordinators selecting archival materials and drafting the script. The College of Music added to the celebratory atmosphere with performances of “Il Libro Dell’amore (The Book of Love)” and “Champions.” The final event was the “Day of Sharing” volunteer activity in which approximately 90 participants—including Kyung Hee faculty, the 20th cohort of interns, and Citibank Korea employees—assembled dignity kits for vulnerable elderly citizens living alone in Seoul. Participants packaged hygiene supplies and wrote New Year’s letters wishing the recipients health and well-being. These kits were delivered to the elderly through the Sadang Senior Welfare Center in Dongjak-gu. The dignity kits assembled during the event were delivered to local seniors through the Sadang Senior Welfare Center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.
2026.03.16- SDG 4 - Quality Education
- SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
-
Global Eminence
“A Journey of Great Transformation: Kyung Hee’s Aspirations Never Cease”
Kyung Hee University System celebrates 2026 with the New Year’s Ceremony and Greeting Reflecting on the history of the Kyung Hee spirit born from the ruins of war and re-examining the institution’s management philosophy Chairman Inwon Choue: “The Kyung Hee tradition is a holistic horizon of excellence that bridges history, the present, and the hope of our future.” The 2026 Kyung Hee University System New Year’s Ceremony and Greeting was held on Monday, January 5, in the lobby of the Grand Peace Hall. Each year, the Kyung Hee University System—including the corporation, university, cyber university, medical centers, and affiliated schools—comes together to reflect on the past year and strengthen their resolve for the year ahead. Heads of various institutions and key administrative members attended the event in person, while faculty and staff participated in real-time via webcast. The event revisited the moment the founding spirit of the Kyung Hee University System was born, reflecting on today’s reality amidst a turning point in civilizational history. It served as a platform to share the responsibilities and aspirations for the new year through a perspective that looks back at the present from the future. The History of Kyung Hee’s Beginnings: Trials and Resolve The ceremony featured the screening of a newly produced video titled A Narrative of Hope: The Path of Kyung Hee Carved from the Ruins. Based on the first chapter, “The Birth of Kohwang,” from the 1969 book 20 Years of Kyung Hee, the video reconstructs the journey of the university’s early years. It begins with the acquisition of the foundation in May 1951 during a period of severe financial hardship and traces the subsequent opening of classes in Busan during the Korean War. It also details the construction of the Donggwang-dong school building using 18 million won of personal funds, its tragic loss to fire, the era of the rebuilt Dongdasin-dong campus, and the acquisition of new grounds in 1954 to secure the future of “Kohwang” after the armistice. Drawing on the history of its founding, the video captures the creative resolve of Kyung Hee to rise from the ruins and its spiritual legacy of persevering through adversity. In the subsequent New Year’s address, Chairman Inwon Choue of the Kyung Hee University System explored the theme, “A Journey of Great Transformation: Kyung Hee’s Aspirations Never Cease.” Overlapping the narrative of the video with today’s reality, he revisited the philosophical roots of the university’s founding spirit and shared his thoughts on Kyung Hee’s role in the “Era of Great Transformation” we face today. Chairman Choue began by focusing on two specific expressions from the video: yusiyujong (a Korean idiom meaning “having a beginning and an end”) and musimujong (meaning “having no beginning and no end”). Chairman Choue explained, “Yusiyujong represents Kyung Hee’s belief—forged in the desperate circumstances of losing everything to war and fire—that ‘every hardship that begins must also have an end.’ It is the language of existential hope that allowed us to rise again from adversity.” Simultaneously, he noted, “Musimujong is the realization that although human life is finite, the world of truth and the universal principles we must pursue flow infinitely, without beginning or end.” He continued, “Nature and the universe are, in fact, indifferent to humanity; they do not selectively alleviate our pain or trials. Yet, that very indifference grants us the ‘reflective freedom’ to design our own paths within an infinite truth.” He added, “Kyung Hee’s founding spirit, the ‘Creation of a Civilized World,’ is not about mimicking established ‘answers.’ It is a journey of reflection and creation—a deeper inquiry into human dignity and truth as we move toward an infinite horizon within our physically finite lives.” Kyung Hee’s journey—spanning from the fires of Donggwang-dong in Busan to Dongdaesin-dong and eventually Mount Kohwang in Seoul—is a history forged by the interplay of survival and existence. It was built by overcoming suffering through the lens of yusiyujong while seeking the eternal through musimujong. It stands as a living testament to the Kyung Hee spirit: “dreaming of the future amidst the ruins and calling the hope of that future into reality.” ▶ Watch A Narrative of Hope: The Path of Kyung Hee Carved from the Ruins The 2026 New Year’s Ceremony and Greeting, held in the lobby of the Grand Peace Hall, offered an opportunity to re-trace the footsteps of the Kyung Hee spirit born from the ruins of war, re-examine the institution’s management philosophy, and pledge a new leap toward the future. Survival and Existence: In Search of a Holistic Horizon of Excellence Chairman Choue then addressed the fundamental questions of “survival and existence.” He noted, “Whether for an institution or an individual, life is always accompanied by these two themes: survival and existence. From the perspective of today’s institutional management, survival is a matter of how to manage finances, human resources, external relations, status, and facilities under competitive conditions to maintain institutional stability and growth. Existence is a matter of fundamental values, such as ‘What is a university?’ and “Why and for what purpose does it exist?’” According to Chairman Choue, “Survival reminds us of a fierce and harsh reality. Existence, however, is different. Existence is a process of keeping open the possibility of challenging the world that is possible and the world that seems impossible, and empirically transforming the truths or ultimate tasks therein. It is an attitude of mind to accept reality as it is, while sublimating the fundamental principles of the beyond—humanity and the world, nature and the universe—into aesthetic public practice.” As shown in the narrative of Kyung Hee’s founding—from the desolate wartime refuge of Busan to the barren wilderness of Mount Kohwang—Kyung Hee did not separate its future task of the “Creation of a Civilized World” (its goal of “existence”) from the fierce reality of survival. Even amidst hardships, an existential consciousness oriented toward a “seemingly impossible future” was integrated into the practical pursuit of survival: building the university, securing finances, and forming a community of faculty, staff, and students. Building upon the forward-looking orientations established during the war—the “Democratization of the Academy,” “Democratization of Thought,” and “Democratization of Daily Life”—the “realistic ambition” of the nascent university was expressed as follows: “ I have no desire to simply model this institution after any particular university in Korea. My heart is set on creating a university that is truly unique—one that is more profoundly rooted in the Eastern spirit than any other in this nation, yet capable of competing with the most eminent universities in the world. I believe this cannot be achieved without dedicating a hundred, even a thousand times more effort and sincerity.” -From Dr. Young Seek Choue’s inaugural address as President, May 20, 1954 From a comprehensive standpoint, Chairman Choue interpreted Kyung Hee’s early history as a “declaration of the will to achieve global excellence upon our own unique spiritual foundation, rejecting the competition of mimicking specific universities during a time when Korea was one of the world’s poorest nations.” This vision sought to build a world-class, unique university through the “reflective creation” of two major currents: a deep contemplation of the spiritual world of ancient Eastern philosophy and a scientific understanding of the nature of matter and its material foundations rooted in Western discourse. In short, Kyung Hee’s vision was a new path—the so-called “Third Way”—that transcends the limitations of “boundaries and reductionism” as well as “inertia and conventional wisdom.” The contemplation of survival and existence contains the essence of the Kyung Hee philosophy: the holistic sublimation of the generation of juri (governing principles) and jui (governing will). Kyung Hee views civilizational development as a process in which the generation of juri and jui are intertwined to create harmony. When human consciousness and the will to practice—which seek to perceive the principles of the universe where everything is interconnected and respond to them correctly—are combined, the world can move in a more complete direction. While juri-saengseong (emergence of juri) is the process of an infinite unfolding of order and harmony already permeated within nature, history, and the universe, jui-saengseong (emergence of jui) is the deepening of human consciousness and decision-making—asking “What shall I do” and “How shall I live?”—within that flow. The two are inseparable. “Nature, the very essence of cosmic order, is in itself a realm of vast silence and indifference. Paradoxically, that infinite void grants usthe creative freedom to design the ‘human path’ for ourselves. The ‘Creation of a Civilized World’ is not a path of following established answers; it is an endless journey of reflection–grasping universal truths and maturing the dignity of humankind.” Chairman Choue explained juri as “the world of principles that flow through the universe, nature, and human society,” and jui as “the world of historical consciousness and the will to practice, where individuals and communities choose their paths based on those principles.” He emphasized that “the core of the Kyung Hee narrative is to examine the world of ri (principle) and the word of ui (will) through an organic, multi-dimensional, and holistic integration.” As insight into these principles deepens, consciousness looks further ahead; as consciousness is elevated, these principles are manifested in a more complete state. The generation of juri and jui is a process of mutual creation and transitional movement. Within this philosophy, Kyung Hee sought a path of existence and a path toward a new civilization—opened jointly by universal principles and human consciousness—moving beyond simple acquisition and survival. This will to practice and spirit constitute the “Leadership of Consciousness” and the act of powol (encompassing transcendence), which involves fiercely embracing the limitations and contradictions of oneself and the world to seek the possibilities of a better world. Kyung Hee’s tradition of academics and peace is based on the creative fusion of “culture” and “science.” Chairman Choue noted, “From its inception, Kyung Hee was designed so that the humanistic value of peace and the rational reason of science would constantly interlace and create a synergistic effect.” He viewed this as an “eternal journey of dialectics and integration, aiming to pioneer a new future for humanity by harmonizing the values and philosophies of Eastern and Western civilization.” The “Creative Civilized World” pursued by Kyung Hee refers to a civilizational paradigm where the dazzling advancement of science, technology, and knowledge systems (“Hall of Academe”) finds its way and flourishes within human spiritual elevation and peaceful values (“Hall of Peace”). This is a holistic sublimation that leads to another dimension where body and soul, matter and spirit, reason and emotion, and scientific rationality and spiritual values do not conflict but rather converge and embrace one another. Chairman Choue reaffirmed that this process is both the future and the aspiration that Kyung Hee must undertake and challenge. The Lion and the Magnolia: The Path of Holistic Existence The “Lion,” Kyung Hee’s symbol, and the “Magnolia,” the university flower, also embody this holistic orientation. The lion statue, erected in September 1959 following the completion of the University Administration Building, differs from conventional depictions; it bears a smiling face, concealing its dignity within. The lion symbolizes wild, robust survival and the will to overcome reality, harboring the spirit of survival to navigate a harsh world. However, the Kyung Hee Lion does not stop there. It sublimates its formidable strength into a smile. Instead of flaunting or asserting power, it moves through the world with tolerance and inclusion. It seeks the will of tolerance that humans can harbor within the principles of nature and universal order—transcending mere human sentiment—and pursues deeper truths within the human world. The Magnolia forms another axis alongside the smiling lion. Known as the “harbinger of spring,” the magnolia possesses the vitality of a pioneer, being the first to bloom through the harsh cold. As a “model of life that blooms and withers together,” the magnolia is an entity inherent with the shared beauty of humanity and life. The strength with which the magnolia endures winter is not blind patience, it stems from an aesthetic aspiration to open the way for a better spring. Chairman Choue noted, “The magnolia symbolizes a ‘harmonious and beautiful life’ that resembles patience, pioneering, and the ultimate coherence of the universe.” He added that if we consider the aesthetic nature of our ideals and practical efforts, it can be interpreted as an orientation toward a life where freedom exists, yet all things can harmonize with one another. The Lion and the Magnolia together personify the path of holistic existence—where the holistic harmony of juri-saengseong and jui-saengseong, strength and tolerance, survival and existence, order and freedom, and ultimately, reflective freedom and creation, all breathe as one. Chairman Choue also called for the spirit of the Magnolia and the Lion to be reflected in the operation of the institution. This was in the context of emphasizing the professional duties of administrators regarding the “Precautionary Principle” of institutional management. “The precautionary principle means preemptively establishing a framework for institutional administration and management that forecasts crises and manages them during normal times,” he stated. “Institutional managers must always keep a close eye on signs of crisis and maintain a mindset of thorough management. The true duty of an administrator is not to scramble for solutions after a crisis has erupted but to detect and manage signs of trouble during periods of stability.” He continued, "Administrators must detect and thoroughly prepare for potential issues before members of the community even begin to sense anxiety or crisis. Just as the magnolia prepares for spring by enduring the cold winter, an institution’s crisis management must involve a routine of multifaceted preparation, both in the short and long term. Furthermore, this entire process of preparation must always be accompanied by aesthetic reflection and a deep sense of responsibility toward realizing the common good and making a civilizational contribution.” This is not merely about institutional performance metrics and management indicators highlighted by the practical world. It is intertwined with the responsibility to meticulously cultivate the path of true academics and learning that lies beyond—the path of global practice and the harmonious integration of our members’ daily lives with institutional decision-making. Chairman Choue emphasized that we must sublimate survival and existence through the pursuit of inspiration-evoking beauty, opening a path for institutional development that encompasses both the spiritual and civilizational worlds. He noted, “While this work is for ourselves, it is also profoundly important for current and past members of the Kyung Hee community who have shaped our history and our future members. For those involved in institutional administration, yesterday, tomorrow, and the distant future are every bit as significant as today.” As these words suggest, the defining theme for Kyung Hee in 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse—is to synthesize history and the present through a future-oriented consciousness, to weight human awareness against universal principles, and to pursue the extraordinary vision and resolve required to create opportunity from crisis, all while seeking the holistic horizon of excellence in institutional management. Chairman Inwon Choue of the Kyung Hee University System delivered his New Year’s address under the theme, “A Journey of Great Transformation: Kyung Hee’s Aspirations Never Cease.” Centering his remarks on the dual perspectives of yusiyujong (having a beginning and an end) and musimujong (having no beginning and no end), the Chairman retraced Kyung Hee’s history of overcoming adversity. He diagnosed a “deep crisis” in which civilization and existence itself are at risk of collapse, emphasizing the “leadership of consciousness” as the way forward. Notably, he defined the future not merely as “time that has yet to arrive,” but as “the source that transforms our current choices when viewed as a light that illuminates the present.” He further stressed that we must exercise the creative freedom to design the “human path” within a cosmic context rather than settling for a pre-established reality. The address reaffirmed Kyung Hee’s existential mission: to realize universal values for society beyond academic excellence, within a “holistic connectivity” that permeates the past, present, and future. A New Phase of Transition: “Deep Crisis” and “Deep Response” Today’s era is a “strange and unfamiliar phase that humanity is experiencing for the first time.” It is a time of civilizational transition where our modes of existence and survival are being fundamentally altered by the climate crisis, nuclear threats, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), and the trajectory of artificial intelligence and quantum computing toward superintelligence. Chairman Choue advised expanding this perspective from the individual level to a planetary scale. He noted that “the problems we face today are civilizational challenges that cannot be resolved through short-term policies or technological solutions alone.” As an educational institution, Kyung Hee is tasked with the responsibility to “disclose facts close to the truth, however uncomfortable they may be, and to contemplate solutions for the sustainable future of generations to come.” Chairman Choue identified the climate crisis as the foremost challenge. He referenced UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s 2022 COP27 warning that “we are on a highway to hell with our foot on the accelerator,” and pointed out that the climate crisis—once a focal point for the world—is disappearing from the forefront of media and politics. Chairman Choue questioned whether the crisis truly vanishes simply because someone in power asserts that “the climate crisis is not a crisis,” Emphasizing a shift in individual consciousness, he said, “Discussions on carbon reduction have vanished, and the media no longer shows significant interest. Yet, whether we desire it or not, the climate crisis will eventually transform human life in its entirety. Individual perspectives and actions are more crucial than ever. It is not necessarily desirable to fix our categories of thought according to conventional wisdom and public opinion. In this era of great transition, each of us bears the responsibility to look soberly at what is true.” He also raised significant points regarding recent discussions on UAP. “The idea that humans are the only intelligent beings in the vast universe may be beyond common sense,” he remarked, urging a view of the possibilities of life and intelligent beings from a cosmic perspective, noting that “there is no reason for the evolution of countless planets and life forms to mirror our own.” He emphasized the gravity of the issue by citing the “UAP Disclosure Act” currently being pursued by U.S. Congress, four congressional hearings held in recent years, and a documentary featuring testimonies from 34 high-ranking officials—including former directors of the CIA and National Intelligence, the head of the Pentagon’s UAP Task Force, military generals, and intelligence officers. The documentary in question is The Age of Disclosure (Directed by Dan Farah, 2025), which provides testimony on UAP and Non-Human Intelligence (NHI). While there are critical views of the film, it holds great significance for its civilizational call to transcend the existing human-centric, modern worldview and for posing fundamental philosophical questions about humanity’s place in the universe and the direction of civilization. “In this era of great transition, each of us bears the responsibility to look soberly at what is true. Rather than simply remaining withinthe conventional wisdom led by society and the media, we mustreinterpret human society within a cosmic context and cultivate a foundation of learning for future generations. This is the solemn task of our educational institutions today.” Chairman Choue proposes a responsible approach that reinterprets human society within a cosmic context. “As I mentioned earlier, there is no basis to assume that the evolutionary journey of the universe must be identical to that of humans,” he stated. “In a near-infinite number of planets, evolutionary paths different from those of humanity may have occurred. While this remains a question without a definitive answer, we must keep the possibility open and deeply contemplate what this means for mankind. From a civilizational standpoint, determining what kind of consciousness we will maintain and what questions we will pose for the future is one of the largest and gravest challenges we have ever faced in human history.” He also emphasized the future challenges that will be created by AI and quantum computing. “We stand at a turning point surrounding the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and, eventually, Super Intelligence that transcends human intellectual capacity.” He noted that especially when combined with quantum computers capable of calculating complex subatomic interactions, “a situation may arise where we must rewrite not only our existing labor and socio-economic structures but the civilizational paradigm itself.” This, he argued, is why future forecasting is directly linked to the survival and existence of Kyung Hee. Chairman Choue diagnoses the civilizational challenges facing humanity as a “deep crisis.” While leaving the horizon of interpretation open for individuals to decide how to view this crisis, he emphasized that we stand before another desperate task of survival and existence—an undeniable universal existential crisis. “The current crisis is not simply a matter of scale. It signifies that human civilization and human existence itself are heading toward an unknown abyss where they could collapse. In this regard, the solution also requires a “deep response” that goes beyond physical or technological measures. It is not about managing or fixing the surface of the problem; the human consciousness and modes of existence that brought about the crisis must fundamentally change. The leadership of consciousness—the ability to rethink and gain insight into the direction of civilization and the inner path of humanity without being swept away by the turbulent waves of reality—is crucial. A holistic understanding of our global planetary society, the courage to simultaneously embrace the horizons of hope and destiny, and the act of powol (encompassing transcendence) appear more desperate than ever.” Following the New Year’s address, the Kyung Hee University College of Music performed two pieces. The first piece, the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique,” expresses noble humanity amidst hardship, symbolically representing Kyung Hee’s founding spirit and its pursuit of Academe and Peace and the Creation of a Civilized World. A Perspective of the Future: “Kyung Hee’s Aspirations Never Cease” The New Year’s address concluded with reflections on the “Perspective of the Future.” Chairman Choue posed a poignant question: “When we look back on today from the distant future we once dreamed of, will we be able to say we do not regret our current choices?” He continued, “The future is not merely ‘time that has yet to arrive,’ When viewed as a light that illuminates the present from that future vantage point, hope is not simple optimism; it is the source that transforms our current choices.” Within this awareness, he emphasized the aesthetic practice and sense of responsibility that Kyung Hee has always pursued—a fusion of reality and the future. “The past, present, and future are not disconnected. They possess a ‘holistic connectivity’ that communicates and influences one another as a unified whole. The future is not a fixed destiny simply drawing near; it is newly generated at every moment based on what our consciousness chooses and how we decide today. This is a vital framework of consciousness for those involved in institutional management and administration. The essence of institutional administration is to consistently cultivate a foundation where members can learn, research and live to their fullest, while dreaming of an even greater future. To this end, admissions and career placement, personnel and finance, and reputation management are unavoidable realities. However, while standing firmly on the ground of that reality, we must not be trapped by the fixed notion that ‘this is the only reality.’ Our daily duty in institutional administration is to reflect on the deeper reality that exists beyond the framework of established notions and demands by the world, and to constantly re-illuminate the reality of today.” In this regard, the sphere of responsibility is not limited to the present day alone. Those in charge of institutional management are called to fulfill a responsibility toward history and tradition, a responsibility to manage the present more successfully than the past, and a responsibility to seek out a challenging and pioneering path toward the future. This requires a multidimensional responsibility: reflecting on the legacy of the past, managing the gravity of the present, and simultaneously summoning the possibilities of the future into the “here and now.” Chairman Choue stated, “Whether in the past or present, the themes of survival and existence remain vital. As long as we are grounded in reality, we must navigate it somehow. The reality facing each institution is different. While we must stand firmly on the ground of reality and manage it successfully, we must always keep in mind the paradoxical truth that this current state is not the only reality. We must always consider what lies beyond–the reality that will unfold tomorrow, and the reality that will unfold the day after.” In his concluding remarks, Chairman Choue emphasized that the phrase “Kyung Hee’s Aspirations Never Cease” is a promise to recreate the reality of today by looking back at ourselves from the vantage point of the future. “Trials have a beginning and an end (yusiyujeong). Nevertheless, the world of principles and the path of truth remain infinitely open (musimujeong). Within that lies the human path. Human life is finite, and the abyss of universal truth is an unfathomable source of existence. Yet, without an awareness of our finite nature, we would never seek the meaning of the infinite. The meaning of existence for humanity lies in seeking the ‘Art of the Impossible’—a world of possibilities within the universe that constantly opens new paths. Moving from survival to existence, and toward the holistic excellence that exists beyond fragmentary achievements, is the resolve we must make today as we stand in the midst of a difficult yet momentous journey of transformation. Recently, terms like ‘evolution or extinction’ and ‘peace or collapse’ have been circulating in the international community. The way to navigate this era of extreme divergence is to participate in the journey toward a sustainable future–one that stands firmly on reality while simultaneously surpassing it.” This reflects the 77 year-old resolve of Kyung Hee: “Freedom of Academe and Conscience” and “Academe and Peace.” Following the address, the Kyung Hee University College of Music presented two celebratory performances. The first piece was the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 8, “Pathétique.” This work expresses the inner peace and noble humanity that Beethoven never abandoned despite his hardships. It resonated deeply with Kyung Hee’s founding spirit, which has tirelessly pursued the “Creation of a Civilized World” and “Academe and Peace” in an era of civilizational transition. The second piece was the song “Magnolia Blossom,” which captured the aspiration to achieve a better future. After the ceremony, participants moved to the Cheongwoon Building cafeteria to share a traditional meal of tteokguk (rice cake soup), bringing the 2026 New Year’s Ceremony to a warm conclusion. This event was an opportunity to reflect on the history of the Kyung Hee University System and the mission of educational institutions during this era of civilizational transition. Pictured is the performance of the song “Magnolia Blossom” by professors from the Kyung Hee University College of Music at the event’s conclusion.
2026.02.23- SDG 4 - Quality Education
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 13 - Climate Action
- SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
-
Global Eminence
“The Moment of Chaos: Pathways to Planetary Consciousness and Future Politics”
Commemorative Dialogue at the 44th UN International Day of Peace Naomi Oreskes, G. John Ikenberry, and Inwon Choue shed light on the directions for a civilizational turn. Their shared view is that our age demands the urgent unfolding of a new horizon of politics embracing planetary consciousness. Editor’s note: This English edition is translated from the original Korean article. Every effort has been made to represent the speakers’ remarks accurately; certain sections have been condensed for clarity and length. “We stand before planetary threats. A pandemic. Climate disruption. The spread of weapons of mass destruction. Cooperation among nations is more vital than ever. Yet liberal democracy is failing in its role. Nationalism and populism regained their momentum. Bonds among nations are fraying. Rivalries among great powers have entered a new phase. The future grows much less predictable.” In September 2020, at the height of the pandemic, three scholars offered a stark diagnosis: Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science at Harvard; G. John Ikenberry, Professor of Politics at Princeton and Eminent Scholar at Kyung Hee University; and Dr. Inwon Choue, Chancellor of the Kyung Hee University System. On 19 September, they met again for the 44th UN International Day of Peace, Commemorative Dialogue. They discussed a changed reality and delved into new possibilities for a civilizational turn. The theme was “The Moment of Chaos: Pathways to Planetary Consciousness and Future Politics.” Professor Song Jae‑Ryong of Kyung Hee University led the Dialogue as moderator. Intensifying Crisis, a Sharper Sense of Interconnection The talk resumed a theme from five years ago: an age of urgency. Over that period, the pandemic, climate stress, geopolitical conflict, and unparalleled disruptive technology have reshaped the landscape. Urgency did not fade. It sank into daily life and became the new normal. Against this backdrop, the discussants asked what questions we must pose now. The participants in the Dialogue wondered how we might open pathways toward a transformative change for global civilization. Song framed the talk with a blunt premise. “Warnings of civilizational collapse are not new. Despite scientific forecasts and repeated alarms, humanity has not yet achieved a civilizational transition. Conditions are worse than five years ago. Why?” Interlocked Crises, Strained Cooperation This is not a new reordering but, as the discussants stressed, a disordering—or de‑ordering—moment in which no single actor can supply ordering power. As multiple crises interact, scholars increasingly describe the condition as a polycrisis, where feedbacks amplify risk rather than cancel it. Professor Ikenberry offered a sober reading. Recalling President Obama’s words in Hiroshima, Ikenberry warned that technological progress without moral progress will doom us. He organized his remarks around three intersecting crises. First, geopolitics: power is shifting from West to East and from North to South—most visibly from the United States to China—producing a more contested, multipolar environment. Second, modernity: rapid technological innovation, including AI, extends capabilities yet often destabilizes order. Third, liberal democracy: the United States, long a steward of the liberal order, has at times undercut the very system it built, eroding confidence at home and abroad. The result, he opined, is a loss of confidence about the future and a widening gap between planetary challenges and our collective capacity to respond. As one consequence of this widening gap between planetary challenges and collective capacity, the Dialogue turned to the erosion of public confidence. Why the Erosion of Confidence? Professor Oreskes shared the concern and posed a prior question: why has public confidence eroded? Even as climate impacts intensify—including in affluent communities—segments of societal leadership persist in denial and minimization, hindering collective action. Oreskes maintained that a different current now denies national history and scientific facts—from the success of vaccines to the reality of climate change. Such politics, she suggested, reflects habits of mind that refused to face the costs of growth and a failure of politics to respond. There is always an alternative; our task is to find it. From policy failures and social denial, the conversation moved to a deeper layer—the question of consciousness and first principles. Oreskes therefore urged rethinking progress itself, noting that growth as currently pursued conflicts with planetary boundaries—a tension economics has yet to resolve. In the Final Analysis, the Planetary Crisis Is a Crisis of Consciousness. Dr. Choue addressed a more fundamental question. He opined that the Earth’s planetary crisis is, at once, historical and a crisis of human consciousness. From that vantage, he searched for primary principles and a direction of remedy. “The world we live in is a result of human consciousness—of the collective mindset that sets the tenor of an age. If we read reality only through that historical current of consciousness, we imprison ourselves. We do so in the very frames and structures we have made. Recent stark proclamations by several nations that they would be ‘willing to use nuclear weapons’ are a case in point. Viewed strictly within the logic of national security, such a stance may look strategically rational. Nationalism and statism have long contested on that ground. But if such a story ever became reality, the consequence would be excruciatingly costly. The resurgent currents of ‘my country first’ deepen the concern. ‘A mindset that defines state existence within an atomized, mechanistic category.’ ‘A Hobbesian worldview that sees the world only through the rivalry and wars against all.’ That collective consciousness still grips contemporary real politics. We are standing at the brink. We now hold, in our hands, an unprecedented script for collapse: a world war under the shadow of nuclear weapons. Human society must move beyond conventional frames of thought. It must seek an alternative horizon of existence. ‘Everything is interconnected.’ ‘What is good for the whole is tacitly assumed to be good for the part.’ We must act on that central premise of a holistic perspective on the world we live in. A planetary consciousness must prevail. Urgently. That path may be our last means of averting the worst.” Choue then went on to talk about the background of this view. “It is not only the specter of nuclear war. It is also the reality of the planet's climate. The planetary climate system has moved from crisis toward catastrophe. We face a dire prospect that could shake and devastate the very foundations of human life. It is an imminent reality. I have been particularly attentive to ‘the Great Dithering’ that humanity has sustained for decades. Why such a delay? What future will it hold?” Seen against Earth’s history, the three centuries since humanity entered the industrial era are but a moment. For some 12,000 years after the last glacial period, atmospheric CO₂ and global average temperature held steady. In this brief interval, both rose almost vertically. Scholars identified anthropogenic greenhouse emissions as the primary cause. Scientists sounded the alarm long ago. In 1988, NASA climate scientist James Hansen testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He stated that the warming signal was statistically clear and that the cause was greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Consensus in climate science solidified thereafter, but the international community failed to deliver a commensurate transition—the public quarrel, truth versus falsehood, dragged on. After a long struggle, a historic pact was reached in Paris in 2015. One hundred ninety‑five countries adopted the Paris Agreement, pledging to cut emissions to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre‑industrial levels by the century’s end. Each state filed its nationally determined contribution. Implementation fell far short. In 2024, on a 12-month basis, global mean temperature had exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The world is passing through an inflection point. “We cannot explain the historical outcome by simply pointing to imperfect models or delayed policy,” Choue observed. “The root problem lies elsewhere. But after all, it is a lag of planetary consciousness. Until quite recently, many regarded climate change as a natural phenomenon remote from daily life. Fixed ideas of growth and national interest blocked the formation of a planetary perspective. The results are astonishingly grim. The reduction pledges made by governments have been left in near abeyance. The future of humanity is in peril. We must accept values that transcend entrenched national self-interests. A turn of consciousness is necessary. In times of imminent existential crisis, only urgency matters. Self-awakened, public consciousness to muster historical forces of change should no longer be delayed.” A Quest for a Holistic Perspective Song endorsed the urgent need for a planetary turn of consciousness to move beyond crises that have been warned and predicted for more than half a century. He continued in that vein. “We must now pursue a radical, foundational transition. The same call is rising within science,” he noted. Oreskes and colleagues signaled this shift in their recent paper, Earth at Risk: An Urgent Call to End the Age of Destruction and Forge a Just and Sustainable Future. The piece calls for a change in scientific perspective.” Oreskes recalled her initial hesitation. “At first, I declined the invitation to join as a co-author,” she admitted. “I asked myself whether the world needed yet another warning paper. Scientists have sounded the alarm for decades. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued six assessment reports. It has released millions of pages of data. Yet, the practical effect has been limited.” Professor Oreskes has long warned about the limits of modern capitalism and materialist civilization. She has worked to raise public awareness through lectures, scholarship, and policy advising. In 2014, she published a book, The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future. In it, she used speculative fiction to portray a dystopia grounded in scientific evidence. “I offered the worst-case future in the hope that humanity would never choose it. Yet the future that once seemed frightening even to imagine is drawing near. Consider climate change alone. Heat waves, deluges, floods, cold snaps, blizzards, typhoons, droughts, and wildfires now recur across the planet as if routine.” These experiences made her skeptical about the new paper at first. She ultimately joined for a different approach. Scientists did not stop presenting data and issuing warnings. They sought to open a larger discourse. “As Dr. Choue has said, overcoming the present crisis requires holistic thinking,” she said. “Yet we still inhabit segmented, reductionist habits of mind. To be sure, that method yielded real gains. It uncovered the causes of disease and enabled the development of vaccines. But the pandemic showed another limit. Scientists failed to build a broad acceptance of vaccination. We should have thought more deeply about responses at the macro level. This paper proposes collective shifts in values, behavior, and institutions—placing long-term, Earth-centered ecological health and social well-being above short-term gains. Above all, it stresses a change of consciousness.” For years, Dr. Choue has reflected on the limits of prevailing knowledge and the industrial-era habit of mind. He has made the case for a new epistemology to guide a civilizational transition. As an alternative, a holistic worldview that discerns the interconnectedness, resonance, and eventual coherence of all things on the planet and beyond is suggested. A holistic worldview does not treat single events as isolated facts. It reads them within historical and cosmic webs of relations and interaction. In the process, existential consciousness stands out as a participant and an initiator of new possibilities. Building on this, he addressed the commemorative speech. “The Moment of Chaos: A Quest for Holistic Engagement” at the International Day of Peace ceremony held right before this Dialogue. We advance when we relearn interconnection and choose cooperation. Professor Ikenberry underscored a premise shared by the day’s speakers: “There is an urgent need for a shift of consciousness. It will not be easy, nor are present conditions favorable; we must move with urgency, and a long-term perspective clarifies direction. History offers guidance.” He pointed to 1929–1945. In less than two decades, humanity endured the Great Depression, World War II, fascism, totalitarianism, the Holocaust, and the atomic bomb. Yet in 1945 a new international order took form with the founding of the United Nations, as nations built multilateral frameworks to secure peace and stabilize order. Humanity stood at the edge then as well. People have long envisioned a better future, and that today we need an imagination—and a consciousness—commensurate with the planetary scale given the unprecedented scope of current crises. Over the past two decades—through the global financial crisis, the Trump era, Brexit, the rise of Europe’s far right, populism, and the erosion of the middle class—Ikenberry has judged liberal internationalism to be in crisis. Yet he still locates grounds for hope within it: to navigate the present, we need more, not less, liberal internationalism. In that spirit, drawing on remarks he gave at a Kyung Hee colloquium two years ago, Ikenberry pressed for a “global imagination.” In this Dialogue, facing a deepening polycrisis, he even went further and stressed a thought that exceeds the imaginative and institutional limits of conventional international politics—an imagination at the planetary scale. Ikenberry continued, urging that we recognize our common fate on Earth. While thinkers have long asked where we come from and where we should go, he highlighted that now “this basic reflection must grasp the meaning of interconnection.” The stakes, as he phrased, are “existential”—whether democracies can renew themselves to cope with planetary disorder. He also pointed to the need for further discussion of the historical significance of what could be called planetary consciousness. Revisit, with an open mind, the civilizational implications of interconnectedness. Since industrialization, human civilization has nurtured a mechanistic mindset that reduces all things to material value. Daily life has become a contest for self-interest and desire. We have come to see every being as an object in rivalry and competition—an atomized entity. In that process, we have trapped ourselves inside causal worlds of separation and boundary. Binaries have become routine: self and other; human and nature; my country and yours. We have lost the primordial recognition that humanity belongs to the living community of Earth. The discussions underscored this reality and stressed a different starting point for change: to recognize that human beings, civilization, the Earth, and the cosmos are, in the end, one reality.” Dr. Choue was invited to speak of his own holistic perspective. “For some time, I have been interested in quantum epistemology. I am by no means a physicist. Even so, I have kept an eye on the premises of quantum science, more specifically, the quantum foundations of knowing. This is primarily because they can remind us of the historical importance of human consciousness.” He proposed two primary factors that shape reality and the future. One is a consciousness that reacts to things, events, and phenomena. The other is an inner, reflective, and generative gaze. Choue continued, “As Professor Oreskes noted, modern society has long relied on linear causality, boundaries and reduction, and a segmented, mechanistic mode of thought. We have reasoned inside that frame, and we have claimed universal validity for ‘modern’ reason. The frame was extended not only to nature and physical phenomena, but also to human consciousness, society, and even the international order—the outcomes of political and social action. I have asked if established modes of thought and received ideas can truly capture the order of the state of world affairs.” Dr. Choue added, “It is not enough to think that a segmented, mechanistic, and linear habit of mind can encompass the cosmos. When we speak of the ‘tremors of the void or cosmic abyss,’ we are drawing unknown realms into a narrow conceptual box. The notion that humanity is the lone intelligent life in an unfathomable universe is also a product of hubris. In that vein, I have taken an interest—alongside climate and nuclear questions—in UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) that may bear unprecedented implications for human existence. Human knowledge, as yet limited, cannot fully account for UAPs. We must move beyond self-centered anthropocentric thinking. It is important to widen our gaze toward the unknown unknowns. An open mind seems essential. The journey toward what we do not know is a meaningful starting point even in science.” “I share Professor Ikenberry’s view that we need a planetary imagination. We should revisit the inseparable connection of humans, Earth, and the universe. We should also imagine, not just measure, its historical meaning and civilizational impact together. With an open, progressive mind, a holistic perspective on the world should be recovered and restored so that the civilizational implications of relation and interconnectedness regain their true meanings. This could be the first civic step in an age of multi-layered, complex crises.” The quantum principles of superposition, entanglement, non-locality, and coherence constitute the foundation of the subatomic world. They also inform the order of the cosmos and of living systems. As an epistemic foundation for explaining cosmic transformation and the processes of change and becoming, they open a new window on the relations among human beings, society, the international order, and the cosmic deep. They suggest that our observation and consciousness can shape the future’s form. In Choue’s view, “integrating the deep traditions of a holistic perspective on the world, found across Eastern and Western philosophy, with the basic premises of today’s quantum epistemology can lay the groundwork for addressing the most challenging civilizational challenges we face. Our innate ability to resort to transcendental sensibility should regain its momentum in making history of the future in peril.” Oreskes called for a quantum-informed perspective while cautioning that such thinking is not a cure-all for practical problems. She stressed the difference in scale and standpoint between the quantum and macroscopic levels: to us, a table or a cup appears solid, yet at the atomic scale, matter is mostly empty space. She was skeptical of simply carrying insights from quantum mechanics into very different domains, and instead emphasized humility about the limits of observation, measurement, and understanding—one of the most important lessons of quantum mechanics, she suggested. Building on this, she urged integrating perspectives across science, the social sciences, the arts, and theology, and noted that this is a point that she would like to talk more with Dr. Choue. She added that, as Professor Ikenberry observed, humanity retains the capacity for renewal and repair; we can recover after hard times, though the passage will be painful. The task, she suggested, is to move toward what might be called a planetary consciousness and to find ways—together—to endure and transcend that pain. “Change begins when planetary consciousness, a spirit of challenge, and collective resolve take hold.” Professor Song asked how we might meet such a daunting task. He steered the Dialogue toward “future politics” and “planetary politics.” “I am also interested in the imagination that could open the horizon of future politics,” he said, “and in the coordinates for reflective civic participation and practice closely tied to it. He then asked Dr. Choue if his proposal on the ‘politics of transcendental engagement’ could serve as a way forward?” Over the years, Choue has talked of the concept of Transcendental Engagement (po-wol) to shed light on the practice that would break out of fixed cognitive frames, cross and include boundaries, and unfold a new horizon for human capability and public life. “I speak of transcendental engagement because all problems entangled in human affairs ultimately arise from our consciousness. As our act of observation can make one facet of the quantum world visible while concealing another, the human mind holds unbounded possibilities. Our consciousness, inner life, and existential reflection reach beyond what we presently think. We thus can inquire with discretion how we perceive consciousness itself.” From this, he defined transcendental engagement as “a process that, grounded in a holistic perspective on the world, expands the horizon of consciousness and carries that expansion into reality and public practice.” He continued: “As Professor Ikenberry also noted, ancient philosophy and religious thought long accompanied existential questions—Who and What am I? Why do I exist? Where should the human path lead? By contrast, modern social and natural sciences have rarely widened their horizon on consciousness. They have, to an extent, deemed human and natural history as if divided by clear breaks and boundaries.” “The result is reduction and segmentation—even though all things are inherently interconnected. This reveals a confined aspect of the modern knowledge system. When inquiry refuses to stay within that narrow territory, the academy and society often treat it as heresy. Historically, many who opened new horizons beyond prevailing doctrine often found little recognition in their own time. They sought to surpass the limits built into structured modes of thought and interpretation. Theories are not the truth. They are time-bound. To claim that one’s framework reveals ultimate reality, or the fundamental law of the world, is intellectual arrogance. We cannot come up with ‘the answer’ to everything with knowledge trapped in the five senses. To believe we can is to deny the indeterminacy that lies beyond determinism. To me, it is a mistake in reasoning. We should be able to allow ourselves to embrace what Popper once claimed, even ‘Indeterminism is not Enough.’” “These points do not reject every theory, model, or structure of the age,” he added. “They suggest that, in the unknown and the as-yet-unexplored, we must search for the complex and organismic meanings of the world around us. The biggest question of our time—'evolution or collapse’—cannot be resolved by conventional ideas or by our inherited modes of life and politics alone. As Professor Oreskes noted, we should tackle it together, with humility. We need politics grounded in a holistic perspective on the world. We also need a new consciousness that can ‘break out, rise beyond, and include.’ Building upon this, we can lay out a new, or deeper politics that can open the tightly shut doors of realpolitik.” On a slightly different note, Oreskes emphasized a civic and historical duty. “We must face reality and, with urgency, bring about a paradigm shift toward civilizational transition,” she said. “Grasping essences is always difficult and time-consuming, yet we must shoulder that task as planetary citizens. We should build our own stores of information and knowledge. We should resist fake news and disinformation. Citizens must become agents with ethical sensibility and a commitment to participation, not just passive recipients of information. In this process, scientists have a crucial task. They must help science speak more to the public, and show the courage to resist efforts to instrumentalize science for political gain.” Conceiving a new solidarity on the foundation of planetary consciousness In closing, the discussants were asked to speak of some hope for rising generations in the face of multi-layered existential crises. They all seemed to agree that our moment is both a time of danger and an opportunity for a new civilizational paradigm, with their particular emphases on the role of the rising generation. Professor Ikenberry was somewhat candid: “My generation did not leave the Earth a well-ordered place. So, I tell students, ‘Do not accept what you are given.” Think for yourselves. Become the Greatest Generation of our time.’” The term “Greatest Generation” once referred to those who fought in World War II and secured peace. “Today’s crises are larger and more complex than those of the past,” he said, “so I urge the rising generation to surpass the earlier one. I hope our students will open new pathways to peace with planetary imagination.” Ikenberry added an older example: the philosopher Diogenes of Sinope in ancient Greece is said to have replied to a question about his origins, “I am a citizen of the world.” That view—of oneself as belonging to the cosmos and of humanity as a single community—is needed now. “The rising generation should bring passion and fresh imagination to pioneer the future in ways different from ours,” he said. “We may not yet see the route clearly. I trust they will discover it.” Dr. Choue closed by observing that younger generations seem to desire a fairer society. He recalled a recent conversation with students and offered values he hoped they would carry on their journey toward the future. “At an occasion in May,” he said, “a student told me: ‘I have run a race of competition all my life. I assumed competition was obviously good. In your recent book, Aspiring Sapience, Pathway to Humanity, I read your remarks on competition, which emphasize its dangers more than its positive side. I feel unsettled.’ I hesitated in an instant, then offered a brief answer: It is a hard question. In the end, the heart and mindset matter.” “I was thinking of elevating excellence, not just mere competition, in life itself. Of deepening it. Of the inner disposition that tends toward ultimate truth—our common, enduring task—and of the inward reflection and the spirit of challenge toward the future that we must bring about in life. Perhaps the first step in the pursuit of excellence is to consider, alongside one’s own achievement, its social and planetary value.” Choue continued: “Our society—and modern society more broadly—now calls for a broader horizon of values. We must strive for our own achievements while making greater efforts for the basic needs of the underprivileged, and for a sustainable future. Hunger and poverty. Social conflict around polarization. Disruption of the environment and ecosystems. Fractured, zero-sum politics. A precarious future. These global realities, now part of daily life, call for values beyond rivalry and competition. Self-centered interests, desires, and avarices alone cannot solve them. ‘Evolution or disruption’ no longer sounds unfamiliar nowadays. The deeper a civilization becomes, the more we seek social values of care and consolation. We also ask, as we did not before, about the continuity of the future—how much time remains to us. It is a paradox of modern history. I hope the rising generation will nurture passion and aspiration for a better personal future, and for the future of their society and the world at large. Human history is a mirror of human consciousness. Our future, too, can take wholly different forms depending on the consciousness with which we turn toward it.” Since 1982, the year after the UN established the International Day of Peace initially on the third Tuesday of September and later fixed on 21 September, Kyung Hee has hosted the International Commemorative Conference — the Peace BAR Festival (PBF) every year. PBF is a civic forum for the era of civilizational transition, reflecting on Peace, Humanity, and the Future, and searching for practical alternatives. This year, “World Peace Week” ran from Monday, 15 September, to Saturday, 20 September, and PBF took place on Friday, 19 September, and Saturday, 20 September. Eighteen institutions participated, including The Elders (recipient of the first Miwon Peace Prize), the Club of Rome, the United Nations, the Václav Havel Library, the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Earth Charter International, Okayama University, the Laszlo Institute, the Korea Organizing Committee for the International Day of Peace, the United Nations Student Association of Korea, the UNESCO Student Association of Korea, and UNAI ASPIRE. Building on these conversations, Kyung Hee seeks to open paths beyond an age of turbulence—toward new forms of peace and coexistence. It will share wisdom for the planetary consciousness and future politics, working to conceive a new planetary solidarity. The Korean-language edition was written by Oh Eun Kyoung, Staff Writer, Kyung Hee Communication, in collaboration with Professors Shin Jin-Suk and Shin Choong-Sik at Kyung Hee University.
2025.10.30 -
Global Eminence
Kyung Hee Rises to No. 1 Among Private Universities, 19th Overall in Global Impact Rankings
Kyung Hee has reached a major milestone in global higher education, ranking No. 1 among private universities and 19th overall in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings—its highest placement since the rankings were first introduced. The THE Impact Rankings evaluate universities on how effectively they advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s edition, released in June, assessed 2,318 universities from 125 countries. Since the launch of the rankings in 2019, Kyung Hee has consistently demonstrated strong performance—earning the No. 1 national ranking in the inaugural year—and this year’s results mark its most significant global achievement to date. Leading Across the SDGs Kyung Hee placed in the global top 50 in 11 of the 17 SDG categories, with standout results in: 6th in Zero Hunger (SDG 2) 8th in Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) 13th in Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) 15th in No Poverty (SDG 1) 18th in Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) 19th in Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) 30th in Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) 34th in Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) 37th in Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) 47th in Life on Land (SDG 15) 50th in Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) The University also maintained a strong presence across the remaining five SDGs, with a notable 51st-place ranking in Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7). The THE Impact Rankings require all participating universities to be evaluated in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), reflecting the importance of global and public cooperation in achieving the SDGs. In addition to SDG 17, the final score is calculated based on a university’s top three SDG scores, adjusted through a normalization process. The final ranking is based on the average of the composite scores from the current year and the year before. Advancing Sustainability Through Innovation and Community Engagement Kyung Hee delivered standout performances in Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG 11), and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). The University has developed a strong innovation ecosystem centered on its Industrial and Academic Cooperation Foundation, Campus Town Program, and Department for Future Innovation. More than 90 startup teams are currently active at the Hongneung Center for Biomedical Startups and the Samuiwon Startup Center, supported by a wide range of entrepreneurship programs for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. Four ventures founded by Kyung Hee faculty and students participated in CES 2025 earlier this year. We are also building a sustainable urban environment by strengthening our ties to the local community. Kyung Hee runs an open-campus model that includes AI and software experience programs for K-12 students and co-working spaces for residents. In 2024, we launched a new collaboration initiative under the Learn+Vacation program, which combines local engagement with immersive learning. In May, students and faculty organized a Jeju Beach Cleanup as part of the Learn+Vacation Project. That same month, the University hosted All That Classic: Toward a Sustainable Future, a concert marking the College of Music’s 70th anniversary, inviting local residents, low-income families, multicultural households, and individuals with disabilities. Leading Future-Oriented Agricultural Education Agriculture, once regarded primarily as a productive industry, now lies at the intersection of climate change, food security, and regional resilience. Kyung Hee is spearheading next-generation agricultural education by integrating smart farming with ICT, while also strengthening cooperation with rural communities. Professors Dae-Hyun Jung and Choon-Tak Kwon from the Department of Smart Farm Science led a team of graduate students to win the top prize—the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Award—at the 2024 Smart Agriculture AI Competition. Kyung Hee has long recognized the public mission of higher education. To that end, the University has promoted education and research aimed at solving global challenges. In 2019, it became the first university in Korea to introduce global citizenship education as a required course for all undergraduates (via the “World and Citizen” curriculum at Humanitas College). In 2022, Kyung Hee launched the Miwon Peace Institute and the Global Academy for Future Civilizations to strengthen global and civic engagement. The University also organized the annual Peace BAR Festival in observance of the UN International Day of Peace, and operates public lecture series such as the Miwon Lectures, Distinguished Scholars Lectures, and the Global Collaborative program. Honoring Founding Philosophy and Looking Ahead In 2024, Kyung Hee established the Miwon Peace Prize to commemorate the legacy of its founder, Dr. Miwon Young-Seek Choue (1921–2012). The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to advancing the conditions for a better human existence and promoting the future of civilization and peace. The inaugural Miwon Peace Prize was awarded to The Elders, an independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, in recognition of their efforts to promote ethical leadership and global cooperation. From its founding, Kyung Hee has cultivated strong relationships with leading educational and academic institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and government bodies around the world. President Jinsang Kim emphasized that sustainability is no longer a matter of choice, but a fundamental responsibility entrusted to higher education institutions. “Under Kyung Hee’s founding philosophy of Academe and Peace, we have pursued education, research, and praxis for the past 76 years—rooted in global citizenship, a commitment to the public good, and socially engaged practice,” he said. “This recognition reflects the international validation of our collective efforts for a sustainable future. Kyung Hee will continue to fulfill its role in meeting the responsibilities entrusted to higher education in today’s world.”
2025.07.07- SDG 1 - No Poverty
- SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
-
Global Eminence
Professor Dong Keon Yon Named Fellow of the American Thoracic Society
Recognized for excellence in respiratory allergy research using big data and artificial intelligence Professor Dong Keon Yon of the Department of Medicine has been named a Fellow of the American Thoracic Society (ATS)—the first physician based in Korea to receive this honor. Founded in 1905, the ATS is the world’s largest academic society specializing in thoracic and respiratory diseases, with more than 16,000 members worldwide. The Society is particularly recognized for its authority in the fields of lung disease, intensive care, and sleep-related breathing disorders. The ATS Fellowship (ATSF) is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to public health through research excellence, clinical education, academic leadership, and societal impact. Professor Yon was recognized for his groundbreaking research in respiratory and allergy medicine, particularly his innovative application of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance the field. Over the course of his career, Professor Yon has published more than 400 academic papers. He has previously been named a Fellow of both the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FAAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (FACAAI). He is also the first Korea-based recipient of several prestigious international honors, including the Rising Star Award and the Early Career Achievement Award from the ATS. Reflecting on the fellowship, Professor Yon stated, “I will continue to dedicate myself to public health research in areas of critical global need and strive to lead meaningful, forward-looking studies that make a difference.”
2025.04.28 -
Global Eminence
Professor A Kyeong Lee, World-Renowned Mezzo-Soprano, Celebrates Her 30th Debut Anniversary with Commemorative Concert, My Way
Professor A Kyeong Lee of the College of Music held a commemorative concert, My way, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her debut Professor A. Kyeong Lee of the College of Music commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of her debut with a concert titled My Way. In an interview preceding the performance, Professor Lee, who metaphorically regards life as a progression through the seasons, particularly the transition from summer to fall, shared her reflections on reaching this milestone. A girl who once dreamed of a life in public service, envisioning herself becoming either a nun or a nurse, she now captivates both audiences and students as a celebrated international vocalist and an accessible, dedicated professor. <Editor’s Note> Q. What prompted you to pursue vocal music? I never imagined majoring in vocal music. I spent more time considering studying German, nursing, or even becoming a nun. Though I studied piano, I preferred singing. During that time, at my teacher’s suggestion, I entered the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival and won second place in vocal music—before I had received any formal training. From there, I began singing in earnest and went on to win first or second place in various university competitions. Debuted by chance, studied abroad in Italy a little later and won first place in six competitions Q. You started singing after winning a competition and entered Kyung Hee. Let us hear the story of when you first joined the University. In my senior year of high school, I visited Seoul to explore college campuses in search of one that suited my heart and aspirations. As I toured several universities, I was instantly drawn to the Seoul Campus of Kyung Hee University. The lush greenery left a lasting impression, and I found myself wanting to be a part of it. The presence of esteemed professors, such as Professor Jeong-heng Eom, also played a significant role in my decision. I felt anxious during the entrance exam process. Most of the applicants I met were from famous arts high schools in Seoul, while I had been a humanities major and had come to vocal music relatively late. I sensed a difference between myself and the others. Even after being admitted, some senior students would question, “Why did you choose Kyung Hee when you could have gone elsewhere?” Their questions strengthened my resolve: “I will become someone who brings honor to the University through my name.” In my first year, I placed first in the practical exam. From that point on, I believed, “I can do it.” It wasn’t about striving for rank: it was the relief of knowing that, if I worked hard, I could succeed. Q. You were also the top student when you graduated. When did you grow the most as a vocalist? Although I was a top student, I lacked confidence in my singing until after I graduated from college. I never felt my vocal skills were truly polished. Because of that, I avoided competitions during my college years, convinced I wasn’t quite up to the level of excellence that would contribute to raising the University’s stature. While I was in graduate school, however, I sang with the Incheon City Choir. During an evaluation, Director Soo-gil Park of the National Opera Company was serving as a judge. He discovered me during that evaluation and offered me a debut role on the spot. That debut came in 1995, when I performed the lead in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium with the National Opera Company. At the time, many of my seniors encouraged me by saying, “You’re like a raw gemstone—you’ll grow even more if you study abroad.” So, in 2011, at the somewhat late age of thirty-one, I went to Italy to further my studies. Soon after arriving, I met a senior vocal coach in Parma. I had prepared a song, and after hearing me sing just once, he asked where I had studied and who my teacher was. When I told him I was born and raised in Korea and had studied under Professor Hoon Lee at Kyung Hee, he responded, “You speak Italian well—and you don’t have an Asian voice.” The story of Coach Fulvio Bottega, with whom I still stay in touch and collaborate, remains especially memorable. After our sessions, he would encourage me with the words, “Go and win!”—and the following year, I did just that, winning first place in six international competitions. It felt like I had validated not only my studies in Italy, but also the foundation I had built back home in Korea. That period was, in many ways, my “summer”—a season of growth in my musical abilities and a time of anticipation, as I waited for the harvest of those efforts. In 2004, I returned to Korea to perform in the National Opera Company’s production of Aida and made the decision to come home for good. Around that time, I had also received an exclusive offer from the Hamburg Theater in Germany. My European agent, aware of additional interest from several other theaters, tried to dissuade me. But I felt a deep desire to give back to the Korean stage, which had nurtured me before I went abroad. It was the soil in which I first took root, and I believed that continuing to stand on that stage, working and growing there long-term, was the path meant for me. A sense of calling to make students shine, “I will be a role model as a professor and a mentor who walked on the same path” Q. After returning to Korea, you were appointed as a professor at your alma mater in 2010. What were your goals at the time? I should first speak about the environment in which I was raised. I didn’t grow up surrounded by music. My family never expected me to become a vocalist, and truthfully, neither did I. I simply wanted to be someone who could sing decently; that was the extent of my early ambition. Becoming a professional singer or a university professor wasn’t my goal. What I did feel, though, was a sense of calling: a desire to share knowledge and skills to help students shine. When I eventually became a professor, I hoped to be a role model for younger students who, like me, had few advantages afforded to them but persisted and studied hard in Korea. Some may view the path I’ve taken as that of an elite. But I’ve simply done my best at every step. Graduating at the top of my class was not a goal in itself; it was the natural result of applying myself fully during the time I was given. Becoming a professor wasn’t my ambition either; rather, opportunities presented themselves as I continued walking the path before me. What truly motivated me was the desire to share the music I love with students, to encourage them, and to offer hope—the kind of hope that says, “You can do it too.” These days, students often confront practical concerns early on and become discouraged quickly. I want to offer them courage. I tell them, “I was like that too. But if you keep working hard, someone will reach out to you.” That has been true in my own journey. When I was a senior in college, my mother passed away. Out of necessity, I joined a choir to support myself financially—and I gave it my all. Through that effort, my grades improved, and by chance, I made my debut. Later, when I returned to Korea, Professor Jeong-heng Eom offered me tremendous support. I’ve come this far because of such help. Now, as a professor myself, I want to be that kind of helper for others. Q. The title of your 30th anniversary concert is My Way. It is a place to summarize the path you have walked so far. As you approach the 30th anniversary, do you feel that your plans and aspirations have changed? A musician is an artist of time. Unlike a thesis, which unfolds in a refined sequence of introduction, body, and conclusion, music lives and breathes in the moment—together with the audience. To truly resonate, music needs listeners who feel it alongside you. This concert is for those who have witnessed my journey and for those just beginning to get to know me. Through it, I hoped to say, “This is the path I’ve walked.” I don’t know whether I’ll be able to keep singing or teaching for the next 20 or 30 years, but I believe this concert marks a meaningful turning point in my path thus far. In the so-called “the era of living to 100,” then I am now at the midpoint of life—and perhaps at the midpoint of my musical journey as well. It is a time for deepening, for growing more mature than before. Vocally, the phase of aging has already begun; after all, vocal elasticity typically begins to decline after fifty. Yet there is a kind of renewal that happens through teaching. As I guide students and offer them ways to improve, I find myself returning to my own foundations. That process continually reminds me of the purpose behind my education and research, and it helps me refine and reinforce my own vocal technique. Since celebrating the 30th anniversary of my debut, the scenery around me has subtly shifted. Students I once taught are now becoming mentors themselves, and I continue to meet new students with fresh hopes and questions. It feels as though a new chapter has quietly begun—one marked by deeper responsibility but also greater fulfillment. These days, I find meaning not in personal achievement, but through the growth of my students. I brought that spirit into my recent concerts. Instead of choosing songs I wanted to sing, I asked those around me what they wanted to hear. The program emerged from those conversations. I hope the concert feels like sharing a warm cup of tea with the audience: a time of gentle reflection and honest exchange. “I hope the soulful resonance I feel is conveyed to the audience as it is.” Q. What are your future goals? I often ask my students about their dreams, as I still have many. I dream of returning abroad, of standing once more on the world stage, of performing in one of the top five theaters. Yet when I reflect more deeply, I realize that what I truly want is to be someone indispensable in my current place—to be someone whose presence at the University is felt with meaning and purpose. I want to live out my role with integrity, to show a consistent, responsible image as a researcher and artist. I believe that students benefit not only from instruction, but from seeing their teacher fully immersed in their own work. In doing my best, I hope to offer not only lessons, but a model of what it means to pursue a life in music with conviction. Now is the time when the students I once taught are beginning to win awards in domestic and international competitions, make their debuts, and return to their careers in earnest. As someone who continues to teach alongside them, I feel the need to blend into this evolving landscape within the bounds of Kyung Hee. As a Kyung Hee alum myself, it is my role to make space for those who have just graduated—to support and acknowledge their growth. Vocal music is not a field driven by market logic or business principles. That’s why I believe that if I continue to uphold the title “vocalist A Kyeong Lee” with integrity, it will naturally create opportunities and a foothold for my juniors. As a musician, there is a moment I deeply long for—when someone says, “Your song moved me. It touched my heart.” Such words arise not from grand technical displays or vocal flourishes, but from the sincere delivery of a single verse or line. I want my voice and emotions to reach the audience as pure resonance, undistorted, unembellished. Music is not complete in the act of performing—it is shaped by those who receive it. When I sing, I send out the resonance of my soul, and it shall linger in each listener in a form that becomes uniquely their own. I also hope that many will discover musical talent within themselves. More than anything, I want to make music that becomes part of life itself: music that lives with us, not apart from us. Q. It feels that you have a special affection for your juniors. If there was something special you wanted to say to them? I always tell my students, “Don’t grow weary of music—make music for a long time.” While talent and vocal ability may be gifts, sustaining them demands constant effort. True artistry cannot deepen without understanding the language, culture, and society from which music emerges. An open perspective and a generous spirit are essential. I emphasize sincerity, honesty, and mutual trust, especially for those who wish to walk this path for a lifetime. College is a time not only to refine one’s craft but also to prepare to contribute meaningfully to society. Even in a world that celebrates diversity, we, as specialists, must carve out new paths grounded in our discipline. For those who love music, the journey is not about rigidly sticking to a single form—it is about continuously evolving, putting on new expressions while staying true to the core. I hope each of my students becomes a lifelong researcher, steadily discovering and defining their own artistic world. Some students are drawn toward other genres of music. Certainly, there are those whose temperament and gifts suit those paths. But from an educator’s perspective, I see students who, though not fluent in the language of their discipline now, are on the verge of becoming so. To them I say, “Don’t deviate from the path you are on and keep steady. You are a special one destined to walk this path and you are on the trajectory to success, even if you take a little longer.” In many cases, as musicians grow, their perspective narrows under the weight of their own ego. But music is never just for the self. I urge my students to remain open—to listen to the stories, voices, and performances of others. It is through this listening that true growth begins.
2025.04.21 -
Global Eminence
Kyung Hee Launches New Initiative to Revitalize Overseas Alumni Network, Starting in Vietnam
Provost for External Affairs Jong-Bok Kim and staff of the Office of Development and External Affairs visited Vietnam to meet Kyung Hee alums Members of Kyung Hee community in Vietnam recently gathered in Ho Chi Minh City. At the end of February 2025, Provost for External Affairs Jong-Bok Kim, along with staff from the Office of Development and External Affairs, visited Vietnam to meet and reconnect with our alumni. On February 26, the delegation hosted an alumni association meeting for Korean graduates residing in Vietnam, followed by a separate gathering on February 27 for Vietnamese alumni who had studied at Kyung Hee in Korea. This visit marked the first step in revitalizing the overseas alumni network, which had remained largely dormant since the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing Kyung Hee’s vision with alumni in Vietnam At the alumni association meeting on February 26, 18 Kyung Hee alumni currently active in the Ho Chi Minh City warmly welcomed the delegation. As part of the gathering, they screened Review 2024, a video outlining the University’s current development status, and shared insights into its future developmental direction. In his welcoming speech, Provost Kim reaffirmed Kyung Hee’s commitment to reconnecting with its global alumni network, which had weakened during the pandemic. “We will rebuild the overseas alumni network that has been disrupted since COVID-19,” he stated. He also announced plans to extend these efforts beyond Vietname, adding, “Starting with this visit, we will create opportunities to meet alumni in Japan, the United States, and other countries.” Alum Woo-Seok Song (English Language and Literature, ’92), President of the Kyung Hee Alumni Association in Vietnam, said, “When we first established the Kyung Hee Alumni Association in Vietnam, it took a while for everyone to feel at ease with one another. But now, we all feel like a big family. We will continue to support active exchanges among our global alumni.” During the event, attendees reminisced about their university days and pledged to foster collaboration and strengthening the alumni community. Global alumni who are active in universities, corporations, and other areas build cooperative relationships that extend beyond personal connections On the following day, February 27, a special event was held for Vietnamese global alumni who had studied abroad in Korea. This gathering served as an expression of gratitude to those who have brought distinction to Kyung Hee through their outstanding achievements in their home country. A total of 26 alumni, primarily based in the Ho Chi Minh City area, attended the event. Among them were graduates with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in diverse fields of study such as Korean language & literature, media, business, chemical engineering, biotechnology, and computer engineering. Many have established themselves in Vietnam as university professors, employees of major corporations, and researchers at leading IT firms. Provost Kim emphasized the enduring tradition of the “Kyung Hee Family,” urging global alumni to stay connected beyond graduation. He said, “As you enter society after graduation, I hope you will uphold the spirit of the Kyung Hee Family and work together for the growth of both the University and the global alumni network.” He further reassured attendees that the University remains committed to supporting its global alumni, stating, “We will continue to explore way to meet the needs of our alumni abroad,” while encouraging their ongoing interest and engagement with their alma mater. The Vietnamese alumni who had studied abroad at Kyung Hee also welcomed the visit of their alma mater. Alum Minh Xuan Nguyen (Master’s in Plant Molecular Systems Biotechnology), Vice President of the Kyung Hee Alumni Association in Vietnam, said, “It means a great deal that representatives of my alma mater travelled to Vietnam to meet us. I hope we can continue to support the University’s development through ongoing exchanges and collaboration.” This visit to Vietnam was part of the University’s commitment to fostering a strong global alumni network. Provost Kim emphasized, “Today’s alumni association serves a purpose beyond personal friendships and camaraderie. It represents an important opportunity to expand Kyung Hee’s global reach through its alumni abroad.” The Office of External Affairs plans to implement various initiatives to strengthen ties with global alumni associations and enhance the solidarity of Kyung Hee graduates worldwide.
2025.03.25 -
Global Eminence
Kyung Hee Partners with Seoul Metropolitan Government to Empower International STEM Scholars
Selected for Seoul Tech Scholarship, the University welcomes inaugural cohort of international scholars Kyung Hee has been designated as a partner institution for the Seoul Tech Scholarship, an initiative established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to support distinguished international students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. On October 7, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an award ceremony on the eighth floor of Seoul City Hall, where three Kyung Hee graduate students were honored as the first cohort of Seoul Tech Scholars: Asim Daina at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Sajjad Amina at the Department of Chemistry, and Mahmmood Muhammad Rafay at the Department of Biomedical Engineering. These scholars, who recently commenced their master’s programs, are all from Pakistan. The Seoul Tech Scholarship provides comprehensive support to graduates and imminent graduates from developing nations with expertise in STEM fields. This initiative responds to South Korea’s demographic challenges, including a declining birth rate and a shrinking youth population, by encouraging the development of a future-ready workforce equipped to drive growth in critical industries. Focused on four strategic areas—AI, biotechnology, robotics, and fintech/blockchain—the scholarship seeks to increase the number of international students in Seoul’s STEM programs, which currently represent only 10% of the nearly 74,600 international students across 54 universities. Seoul has selected institutions with established support frameworks for international students to serve as primary partners in preparing future STEM leaders. As a participating institution, Kyung Hee is responsible for the selection and oversight of scholarship recipients, working alongside the Seoul Metropolitan Government to provide tuition support. In addition, the University has formalized partnerships with national scholarship organizations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other developing nations through memoranda of understanding (MOUs). This collaboration led to the recommendation of candidates beginning in March, and following a two-stage screening process, nine international scholars were selected by June. Three of these students were admitted to Kyung Hee. Each receives approximately 20 million KRW in financial support over the span of two-year master’s program, covering tuition, living expenses, health insurance, and airfare. The University also offers a comprehensive suite of programs to assist international students in adapting to life in Korea, including Korean language instruction, legal support services, and alumni networking opportunities. Kyung Hee provides robust support for graduates as well. A dedicated career support center offers consultations with professional advisors, job preparation workshops, and specialized career services. The University conducts regular surveys to monitor graduates’ employment outcomes, including job sector, salary, and residential location. For those seeking employment, Kyung Hee plans to offer further assistance, including job listings and tailored training programs, to facilitate a smooth transition into professional roles in Seoul.
2024.10.30