Realizing “First & Only” Through Entrepreneurship Rooted in Pragmatism and a Sense of Community
Established Korea’s first College of Fine Arts and College of Automotive Engineering… Laying the Foundation for Specialization
Expanding the Major Selection System and the Alpha Project… Strengthening Convergent Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
First University in Korea to Announce a “Quantum Campus”… Establishing an Educational System Centered on the College of Quantum Convergence
Expanding the university’s capabilities, from applying research outcomes in industry to supporting employment and entrepreneurship
Ranked among the top universities nationwide in technology transfer royalties… Continued reinvestment centered on the technology holding company
Organizing hands-on projects and career fairs… Supporting career exploration and strengthening competencies for desired roles
Aiming to enter the top 300 in global university rankings through the “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE” strategy

Jeong Seung-ryeol, President of Kookmin University, is explaining his vision for the university’s next 100 years. (Photo courtesy of Kookmin University)

[The Korean University News, Reporter Im Ji-yeon] Kookmin University is preparing for the next 100 years based on the “pragmatism” and “spirit of community” that have defined the past 80 years, as it marks its 80th anniversary.

Founded in 1946, immediately after liberation, with the goal of nurturing talent to lead the nation and society, Kookmin University has built its competitiveness in specialized fields such as automotive engineering and design based on the pragmatic educational philosophy of Mr. Kim Seong-gon of Seonggok. The university now plans to expand its competitiveness by integrating future industries—including AI, quantum technology, biotechnology, robotics, advanced materials, and semiconductors—through a major-choice system, interdisciplinary education, industry-academia collaboration, and technology commercialization.

Kookmin University President Jeong Seung Ryul stated, “The most important values that have defined Kookmin University’s past 80 years are a sense of community, pragmatism, and the entrepreneurial spirit formed on this foundation,” adding, “We will continue to provide an education that connects acquired knowledge to real-world problems, enables students to find solutions on their own, and creates new value for society.”

- Kookmin University is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Looking back on the past 80 years, what are the most important values and identity that Kookmin University has upheld, and what significance does its pragmatist education hold?

“The most important values that have defined Kookmin University’s past 80 years are a spirit of community, pragmatism, and the entrepreneurial spirit formed on this foundation.

Founded in 1946, immediately after liberation, by independence activist Haegong Shin Ik-hee with the aim of nurturing talent to lead the new nation, Kookmin University has since grown based on the pragmatic educational philosophy of Seonggok Kim Seong-gon. The educational philosophy of cultivating talent that contributes to the nation and society remains a core identity that Kookmin University upholds to this day.

In particular, the “First & Only” spirit embodies an attitude of taking on challenges on paths others have not ventured down, breaking down barriers between different disciplines and industries, and creating new possibilities. The various achievements Kookmin University has accumulated—such as establishing Korea’s first College of Fine Arts and the first college dedicated to the automotive field—are also an extension of this spirit of challenge.

Pragmatic education goes beyond simply teaching the skills needed for employment; it connects acquired knowledge to real-world problems, enabling students to find solutions on their own and create new value for society. We believe that the ideal talent profile Kookmin University strives to cultivate is realized when this is combined with a spirit of community that benefits the lives of others.”

- How has Kookmin University’s pragmatic education led to achievements in student education, research, and industry-academia collaboration?

“Kookmin University’s pragmatism has yielded concrete results through the process of linking education and research to the industrial sector. Notably, we operate various self-directed educational programs, including CoREP—where students directly tackle real-world business projects—as well as the Alpha Project and the Eureka Project. CoREP is a program in which students analyze companies and markets and handle everything from business planning to report writing and presentations on their own; this has resulted in student proposals being incorporated into corporate business strategies or leading to employment at those companies.

In the fields of research and industry-academia collaboration, the university ranked first among all universities nationwide in technology transfer revenue in 2019 and became the first university in the country to win four titles in university consortium projects covering future automobiles, next-generation communications, the environment, and global/symbiotic fields. We are also expanding our foundation for education and research by securing major government-funded projects in future industries such as AI, biotechnology, and quantum technology.”

- What are the major changes you’ve implemented in response to shifts in the educational environment—such as AI and the autonomous major selection system—and what competencies do you aim to cultivate in students?

“The competencies we aim to cultivate in students ultimately boil down to convergent thinking and problem-solving skills. We seek to nurture talent capable of independently determining what they need to learn and creating new value by connecting diverse knowledge and skills.

A prime example of this change is the Major Self-Selection System. We provide students with a wide range of major options spanning the humanities, natural sciences, and arts and physical education, ensuring their career paths are not limited by the choices they make at the time of admission. We have also established the College of Future Convergence and support students’ decision-making through initiatives such as the Major Exploration Fair, academic advisor consultations, mentoring, and the K*-Smart Mentor System.

Teaching methods are also evolving. Notable examples include “Team-Team Class,” which integrates two different majors into a single course; “Alpha Project,” which grants academic credit for projects; and “Eureka Project,” which enhances learning motivation through hands-on experiences. AI education, too, must move beyond being a domain reserved solely for students in specific majors. Kookmin University is expanding its educational infrastructure—including the School of Artificial Intelligence, the Department of AI Design, and the Department of AI Big Data Convergence Management—while broadening AI-based learning support and convergence education.”

- How do you plan to utilize quantum computing and supercomputing infrastructure in education, research, and industry?

“I believe quantum technology is a core strategic technology directly linked to future national competitiveness. Kookmin University became the first university in Korea to announce a ‘Quantum Campus’ in 2025 and designated the quantum field as a key area of specialization that will lead the university’s future.

Centered on the College of Quantum Convergence, which will launch in the first semester of the 2027 academic year, we will establish an educational and research system that organically connects related fields such as quantum computing, quantum security, and semiconductors. Since this is a field that requires the integration of various disciplines—including physics, electrical engineering, and artificial intelligence—it is crucial to develop it into a university-wide convergence platform.

Our university is collaborating with IBM Korea, AWS (Amazon Web Services), and specialized research institutions such as ETRI and KIST. In the future, as our quantum computing and supercomputing infrastructure expands, we will be able to link this work with research in AI, new materials, and biotechnology. What matters is not merely possessing the infrastructure itself, but what new research, educational, and industrial achievements we can generate through it.”

- What educational and research innovations are being implemented to bridge existing strengths—such as automotive and design—with future fields like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology?

“Automotive and design are Kookmin University’s signature areas of specialization. Today, the automotive industry is transforming into a future mobility industry that integrates software, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and energy technology, while design is also expanding into a convergent field that encompasses AI, content, user experience, and cutting-edge technology.

In response, Kookmin University is establishing new educational frameworks, such as the Department of Future Mobility and the Department of AI Design. We are leading the Innovative Convergence University Project in cutting-edge fields such as future automobiles and next-generation communications, and through joint projects with companies, we are supporting students so they can directly experience technological and industrial changes within the curriculum.

The university is also expanding its investment in future industries, including quantum and bio technologies. Centered on the College of Quantum Convergence and the College of Bio-Convergence, it is strengthening the relevant educational and research infrastructure and promoting convergence with adjacent fields such as AI, advanced materials, semiconductors, and robotics. This vision is embodied in the eight major specialization strategies outlined in “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE.”

- What are the representative achievements in industry-academia collaboration and technology commercialization, and what are the future directions?

“Kookmin University has continuously strengthened industry-academia collaboration and technology commercialization to ensure that research outcomes are not limited to papers or patents but are actually applied in industrial settings. In 2019, the university ranked first nationwide in technology transfer royalties, and since then, centered on its technology holding company, it has established a virtuous cycle that identifies the university’s outstanding technologies and leads to commercialization and reinvestment. Last year, the university also ranked second and third nationwide in revenue from industry-academia collaboration and technology transfer fees per professor in the science and technology fields.

Kookmin University Technology Holding Co., Ltd. has established and supports 58 subsidiaries within just seven years of its founding, while also generating investment returns through the creation of a university startup fund and accelerator programs. Visible achievements continue, including generating net income for six consecutive years.

“Going forward, we plan to strengthen our industry-academia collaboration system by considering both commercialization potential and real-world industrial demand from the very beginning of the technology development process. We aim to revitalize the technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes in conjunction with initiatives such as the Seoul Anchor Project, and we also intend to expand collaborative models where companies and the university jointly identify and solve technical challenges.”

- What educational and support systems are you establishing to assist students with their career paths, employment, and entrepreneurship?

“I believe what students need is not just to acquire job-specific skills in a short period right before graduation, but rather a process of exploring their aptitudes and career paths throughout their college years and systematically building the competencies required for their desired roles.

Kookmin University has established a support system that progresses step-by-step, from career exploration for lower-division students to practical projects and employment for upper-division students. A representative program is CoREP. Through this program, students collaborate with companies to carry out real-world job projects, gaining hands-on experience in the entire process—from market analysis and business planning to report writing and presentations. We also operate Junior CoREP, which is designed for lower-division students.

In addition, the university runs programs such as K-Hunting, career fairs featuring alumni, special lectures by industry professionals, and customized employment support programs tailored to each major. According to the 2023 University Information Disclosure, Kookmin University recorded an employment rate of 70.5% and received an “Excellent” rating for two consecutive years in the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s University Job Plus Center performance evaluation.

The university integrates entrepreneurship education and hands-on projects into its curriculum and provides support to ensure that the university’s technologies and students’ ideas lead to actual commercialization. In the 2025 university evaluation by media outlets, the university ranked first nationwide in terms of revenue generated by student-founded startups, and 33 students were selected in 2025 and 32 in 2026 for the “300+ Promising Student Startup Teams (U300)” competition.”

- Amid a declining school-age population and intensifying competition among universities, what is the most critical challenge for sustainable development?

“The decline in the school-age population, changes in the industrial structure, and technological innovations—including AI—are realities that universities cannot avoid. In the future, it will be difficult to maintain a university’s competitiveness based solely on past scale or reputation. We must provide clear answers to why students should study at this university and how the university can contribute to society through its education and research.

To this end, Kookmin University has established ‘KMU VISION 2035: EDGE’ and is pursuing four major strategies: building a student-centered educational system; strengthening research capabilities and expanding industry-academia collaboration; enhancing global capabilities and networks; and expanding infrastructure and practicing socially responsible management.

In particular, the university is focusing on maintaining its existing strengths in fields such as automotive engineering and design while securing competitiveness in future-oriented industries like quantum technology, AI, and biotechnology, and on creating a university where the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and the arts and physical education develop in a balanced manner. Furthermore, since the university’s future is ultimately shaped by its students, faculty, staff, and alumni, investing in people is also crucial.”

- What are the achievements of the collaboration with Seongbuk-gu, and what role will Kookmin University play in growing together with the local community going forward?

“Kookmin University views Seongbuk-gu not merely as the area where the university is located, but as a community with which we solve problems and grow together. Accordingly, we have continued to collaborate in various fields, including student welfare, the environment, youth entrepreneurship, and culture and the arts. Through the ‘1,000-Won Breakfast’ program in partnership with Seongbuk-gu, we are promoting welfare initiatives that students can tangibly experience, and through the HUSS Climate Change Response Project Team, we are expanding plogging and environmental campaigns to the local community. Through the Seoul Campus Town Project, we are fostering a community-based startup ecosystem and, together with Seongbuk-gu, are operating initiatives such as ‘Seongbuk ON Alley Connection’ and the ‘Seongbuk Bustling Youth Mutual Growth Market.’

In the field of culture and the arts, to mark the university’s 80th anniversary, the KBS Open Concert was held on campus on September 22. Under the theme “Beyond the University Walls: Creating and Enjoying the 80th Anniversary Together with the Local Community,” the event was designed as an opportunity to share with the local community. Moving forward, we will go beyond individual projects to more closely link the university’s educational, research, and industry-academia collaboration capabilities with real-world issues in the region.”

-What are the achievements and plans for strengthening global competitiveness, and what is the vision for the university’s 100th anniversary?

“The global competitiveness that Kookmin University pursues lies in creating an educational environment where students can collaborate across borders and demonstrate their capabilities in global industry and research settings.

Notable examples include SEA:ME, a program conducted in partnership with Volkswagen Group Korea, and G-PBL, which takes place in California, USA. These programs support students in gaining hands-on experience in overseas industrial settings through mentoring and projects led by local companies and experts. We are also strengthening our global educational infrastructure and international partnerships, such as by elevating KIBS to the status of an International College.

Our goal is to rank among the top 300 universities worldwide and within the top 50 in three specific fields by 2035. By leveraging Kookmin University’s unique strengths, we will bridge academia and industry and set a new standard for higher education.

“The driving force behind the past 80 years has been our people. As we move toward our 100th anniversary, we will continue this history of challenges together with our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to shape the kind of university that the times demand.”

■ About President Jeong Seung Ryul…

He graduated from the Department of Economics at Sogang University, earned a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, and received a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of South Carolina. After joining Kookmin University as a professor in the Department of Information Management in 1997, he held various positions, including Dean of the Graduate School of Business IT, Director of External Affairs, Director of International Affairs, Director of Planning, and Vice President for Planning. He also served as President of the Korean Society for Internet and Information Studies and President of the Korean Association of International Education Professionals. In September 2023, he was inaugurated as the 13th President of Kookmin University. Since March 2026, he has served as the 12th Chair of the Seoul Presidents’ Forum.