On October 7, (Wednesday) at COEX in Seoul, where they each received the “2026 WeGO Global Youth Award” at the World Smart Cities Organization (WeGO) Champions event held in conjunction with “2026 Smart Life Week (SLW).”

△ Photo: (From left) Ra Min-su, researcher at Kookmin University; Kim Byoung Joon, Director of the Global Symbiosis Business Unit; and student Ji Ye-jun

The World Smart City Organization (WeGO) is an international organization that supports smart and sustainable urban development through collaboration among local governments, businesses, and relevant organizations worldwide. Through the “WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions” program, which has been in operation since 2022, WeGO provides educational opportunities and international exchange programs in the fields of smart cities, digital governance, and sustainable development to foster the next generation of urban leaders.
 
Now in its second year, the “WeGO Global Youth Award” recognizes young people from around the world who have contributed to solving urban problems through innovative ideas and activities in various fields.
 
At the “2026 WeGO Champions Seoul Workshop,” held on Stage S in Hall A of COEX, an awards ceremony was held alongside a panel discussion on the theme of “AI and Housing.” Kim Byung-jun, Director of the Global Symbiosis Project at Kookmin University (Professor of Public Administration), participated as a panelist to discuss AI technology and the future of sustainable cities.
 
Student supporters from the Global Symbiosis Project who attended the event also examined the impact of AI technology on the living environment and urban sustainability, taking the opportunity to deepen their understanding of global social issues and broaden their international perspective.
 
Meanwhile, Kookmin University is a participating institution in the Global Symbiosis Consortium under the Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS), supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Together with Kwangwoon University, Sunmoon University, Yeungnam University, and Honam University, it operates various educational and exchange programs aimed at fostering convergent talent to lead a sustainable global society.

△ Photo: Kim Byung-jun, Director of the Global Symbiosis Business Unit at Kookmin University, speaking during the panel discussion