KUBS Partners with Leading Global Universities to Advance on the World Stage      Korea University Business School (KUBS) is rapidly strengthening its global competitiveness by establishing a series of new exchange agreements with leading universities across the United States, Europe, and Asia. From September 2024, KUBS has signed or is in the process of negotiating a total of nine new international partnerships. Notably, many of these agreements are with universities ranked among the top 20 undergraduate business schools in the United States, drawing particular attention.  KUBS has recently forged a variety of exchange agreements with prestigious U.S. institutions. For undergraduate exchange programs, it has entered into agreements with the University of Virginia and Michigan State University. In addition, comprehensive MOUs for broader academic collaboration have been signed with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego). At the MBA level, exchange agreements have been established with Emory University and Georgetown University. KUBS is also expanding partnerships with universities in Europe and Asia, including Université Paris Dauphine-PSL in France and the City University of Hong Kong. Negotiations with the University of Washington are also progressing smoothly.  These new agreements encompass a range of meaningful collaborations—including undergraduate, graduate, and MBA student exchanges, as well as joint research—providing students with broader opportunities for global learning experiences. A particularly notable agreement is with The Johns Hopkins University, which offers KUBS undergraduate students admitted to its graduate programs through the Global +1 Program up to 50% in scholarship support.  A representative from the KUBS International Office stated, “The fact that KUBS has signed so many agreements with leading international institutions in such a short period demonstrates the school’s growing global reputation and educational excellence. We will continue to expand top-tier partnerships worldwide.”  As of now, Korea University Business School maintains active international exchange partnerships with 114 universities in 33 countries.   

Sowing Time and Weaving Stories – The Past and Future of the Korea University Business School’s 120th Anniversary Projects      Korea University Business School (KUBS) is marking its 120th anniversary in 2025 with a series of commemorative initiatives. First launched in 2022, the anniversary project is currently led by the 120th Anniversary Project Committee, chaired by Professor Hojung Shin, and encompasses a wide range of academic and cultural programs with lasting significance.  The first initiative took place in April 2022, with the creation of a symbolic green space in front of the KUBS main building. Trees such as wild plum, pagoda, and Korean pine were planted, transforming the KUBS campus into a space that evokes its historical legacy and identity. In May of the same year, the sculpture Relatum – The Location by renowned artist Lee Ufan, was installed in front of the KUBS main building, bringing greater artistic depth to the campus. Then in November, 120 Years of KUBS: An Oral History—featuring the recorded voices of honorary professors—was published, contributing to the preservation and enrichment of the school’s historical record.      In 2025, a series of academic and cultural projects are being carried out to further commemorate this historic milestone. In May, Korea University Business School: 120 Years and Beyond, a special commemorative pictorial book, was published. What makes this publication unique is its artistic reinterpretation of key moments in KUBS history through watercolor illustrations—offering a creative and emotionally resonant perspective on the school’s 120-year legacy.  KUBS traces its origins to 1905 as the Department of Commerce at Bosung College and is the only college that has shared Korea University’s 120-year journey since its founding. As the first institution to offer business education in Korea, KUBS has played a pioneering role in advancing the field of business studies nationwide. The commemorative pictorial book is organized into four balanced chapters—△Bosung College (1905–1945), △College of Commerce and Economics (1946–1976), △KUBS (1977–2004), and △Global KUBS (2005–present)—featuring 120 key events and scenes illustrated in watercolor.      The main illustrations were created by Professor Youngsun Jin, an honorary professor  in School of Art & Design, while select scenes were digitally illustrated by the 120th Anniversary Pictorial Student Committee using AI tools. The content of the book is based on records from A Centennial History of KUBS by Professor Emeritus Soosik Shin, and was planned and reviewed by the 120th Anniversary Project Committee to ensure editorial and historical accuracy. Going beyond a simple retrospective, KUBS: 120 Years and Beyond serves as a foundation for imagination and insight toward the next 120 years. The book is currently on public display at the KUBS History Hall on the first floor of the Hyundai Motor Hall.  In August, The Path of Business: A Civilizational History of Korea University Business School’s 120 Years will be released. Also in August, the KUBS Imagination Contest will be held, offering total prizes of 6 million KRW. Under the theme “Mapping the Future: Business Society in 60 Years,” the contest invites students to unleash their imagination and creativity by envisioning the world 60 years from now. The selected entries will serve as foundational material for discussions at the 120th Anniversary Forum on Friday, September 26, where invited experts will explore “The Future of Business and Business Studies.” All Korea University students are eligible to participate and may apply via the KUBS website by Friday, August 15.  September will feature a wide range of engaging events. Beginning on Thursday, September 25, the student-led KUBS festival Hosang Daedongjae will take place, followed by the official 120th Anniversary Forum – The Future of Business and Business Studies hosted by the business school on Friday, September 26. A panel of young entrepreneurs, corporate HR executives, and academic leaders will freely discuss the future direction of business and business education, drawing on student-generated visions of the world 60 years from now. The forum will feature a keynote lecture by Professor Youngheon Cho, historian and author of The Path of Business, along with the final round of the Imagination Contest, panel discussions, and a garden party. In the evening, a celebration hosted by the K-MBA Student Association will conclude the day’s festivities.      The 120th anniversary project goes beyond a mere retrospective; it serves as a platform to solidify KUBS’s identity and articulate its vision for the future. This was symbolically demonstrated during the 120th Anniversary Ceremony in May, where Dean Eonsoo Kim presented the school’s academic road map and development strategy. At the event, Dean Kim introduced the “Next Intelligence” vision, which aims to lead the future by integrating Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence. A key space for realizing this vision is the soon-to-be-established “3C 4Tech Trading Zone” within the KUBS campus.  Dean Kim emphasized that “a creative convergence space that dismantles the boundaries between technology, business, and art is essential for nurturing future talent,” adding that “the Trading Zone will be an open platform where students, companies, startups, and artists can freely collaborate, experiment, and grow together.”      The Trading Zone will feature a 3C Café offering refreshments, transparent whiteboards for open ideation, an Open Theater showcasing cultural content every Friday, an Art Sculpture that fuses technology and visual art, and art–multimedia studios. This space will serve as an Experiential Learning Place where students from business, engineering, and design collaborate in teams to identify and solve real-world challenges, working alongside startups and companies. Dean Kim emphasized that the Trading Zone will become a springboard for positioning KUBS as a hub for cultivating creative talents grounded in 4Tech innovation, expressing a strong commitment to driving innovation in future-oriented education.  Marking a significant turning point, Korea University Business School is leveraging its 120th anniversary as a springboard for sustainable change and innovation, collectively driven by its members, as it sets its sights on a bold leap into the next century. 

A Day of Shared Knowledge, Experience, and Connection – Successful Conclusion of the DBA Summer Special Lecture     KUBS-DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) program successfully held its 2025 Summer Session Special Research Seminar on Saturday, July 26. This meaningful event featured alumni from the Euro-Asia DBA program, which was jointly operated with France’s KEDGE Business School and Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 2016 to 2019. These alumni were invited as guest lecturers to share insights from their research fields and foster academic exchange.      The first speaker was Professor Taewon Park, currently Vice Chairman of Hancom and a board member of Chung-Ang University. Professor Park focused on the shift from B2C (Business to Customer) to B2B (Business to Business) models, and delivered an in-depth lecture on how to write research papers, using Doosan Heavy Industries’ portfolio strategy and various research materials. His session included a dynamic Q&A with current KUBS-DBA students, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere.      The second session was led by Hee Ok Kang, CEO of GAIAHOK and a current advisory board member of KUBS. Kang's lecture explored the impact of LMX (Leader-Member Exchange) on employee turnover, while incorporating the concept of organizational commitment. She examined the distinct impacts of these factors on office-based and field-based employees.      The final session was delivered by Dr. Youngha Lee, former president of LG Electronics and an experienced executive active across diverse industries. Drawing from both his extensive leadership background and academic insights gained during his DBA studies, Dr. Lee presented compelling case-based strategies that demonstrated how LG Electronics, as a latecomer, successfully penetrated and gained a competitive edge in mature markets. His engaging delivery and grounded analysis resonated strongly with the audience and received an enthusiastic response.  Spanning a diverse spectrum of industries and research disciplines, this year’s Special Research Seminar served as a meaningful platform for scholarly exchange and intellectual growth. It also deepened the bond of mutual respect and academic kinship between current students and alumni of the DBA program. 

Ask the Tiger About Your Career!… AI Career Chatbot “HORANG2” Officially Launched      To commemorate its 120th anniversary, the Career Development Center at Korea University Business School (KUBS) has officially launched HORANG2, an AI-powered career exploration chatbot built on Large Language Model (LLM) technology. The initiative was designed to help students explore their career paths more efficiently and in a personalized way, and is particularly meaningful as it was developed with the active participation of current KUBS students.  HORANG2 combines the latest GPT language model with KUBS’s internal database to provide personalized job information tailored to each student’s major, interests, and career goals. The platform is also integrated with more than 4,000 LinkedIn profiles of KUBS alumni, offering broader networking opportunities and allowing students to directly request coffee chats (1:1 mentoring sessions). In addition, HORANG2 supports academic exploration by enabling students to search the research areas of KUBS faculty members.    The chatbot was developed in collaboration with 'Absent', a startup team formed by KUBS students Yongseok Lee and Gyuri Kwon (Business ‘20). After approximately five months of planning, development, and testing, HORANG2 was officially launched on May 5, coinciding with Korea University’s founding day.      Students can access HORANG2 through various channels, including:  △ Clicking the main banner on the KUBS homepage △ Visiting the official website: https://horang2.co.kr △ Scanning the QR code on the KUBS official Instagram account  To enhance user convenience, the platform now offers improved accessibility for English-speaking users. It also includes updated features such as multilingual responses and international job postings based on input in foreign languages—specifically designed to support international students.    A representative from the Career Development Center remarked, “We hope HORANG2 will serve as a truly helpful career navigation platform for our students. Moving forward, we plan to build a closely connected career ecosystem that links students, employers, and the university by continuously expanding job information, improving response accuracy, and upgrading our database.” Meanwhile, HORANG2 is set to evolve based on ongoing user feedback, with upcoming feature enhancements including improved job-matching algorithms, a strengthened alumni network, and integrated recruitment event information. 

Singapore, China, U.S., Netherlands… KUBS MBA Classes Expand Across the Globe      Korea University Business School (KUBS) organized International Field Trip for students enrolled in the Korea MBA (K-MBA), Finance MBA (F-MBA), and Executive MBA (E-MBA) programs. By visiting key global hubs such as Singapore, China, the United States, and the Netherlands, participants were able to experience local business environments firsthand and enhance their global perspective and practical competencies.      From June 25 to 29, 156 K-MBA students, led by Professor Kwanghyun Kim, participated in a global field study in Singapore to explore current global business trends. They visited leading IT companies, startup accelerators, and government institutions to learn about digital transformation strategies and ESG practices in the Asian market. By examining Singapore’s strategic growth model and entrepreneurial ecosystem, the students broadened their understanding of global market dynamics.      Meanwhile, 33 F-MBA students, led by Professor Bumjean Sohn, visited Shanghai, China, from June 26 to 29 to gain firsthand exposure to one of the world’s leading financial centers. They visited local investment firms, global financial institutions, and fintech companies, where they received in-depth briefings on the latest trends and policy directions shaping China’s financial sector. The program also featured active discussions on the future of global finance. One participant shared, “It was a valuable opportunity to experience the dynamism of an international financial hub and to refine my vision for a global career.      The E-MBA program also successfully conducted its 2025 Spring Semester International Residency Program (IRP). As a core course in the E-MBA curriculum, the IRP enhances participants’ understanding of the global business environment and strengthens their practical capabilities through short-term study at prestigious universities in the U.S. and Europe, as well as visits to local companies and institutions.     From June 21 to 28, E-MBA 23rd cohort students, led by Professor Daeki Kim, participated in the International Residency Program (IRP) at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C. Through lectures on diverse topics—such as American Business and Government in Global Geo-Politics, Artificial Intelligence Implications for Business, and Creativity for Leaders—students expanded their insight into the rapidly evolving global business landscape. As part of the program, they also visited the Port of Baltimore, a key logistics hub on the U.S. East Coast, where they gained firsthand experience of global trade and supply chain operations. The visit deepened their understanding of the interconnectedness between port infrastructure and public policy. As part of the program, students also visited Capitol Hill, where they engaged in in-depth discussions on U.S. trade and investment policy, as well as the role of Congress. Taking place in the very heart of the U.S. policy-making landscape, the visit offered participants valuable insights into strategic thinking and global governance. In addition, cultural exploration activities included visits to Manhattan in New York City, Hudson Yards, the One World Observatory, and a cruise around the Statue of Liberty—allowing participants to experience the history and culture of the U.S. East Coast firsthand.      E-MBA 22nd cohort students, led by Professor Joonghyuk Kim, completed their International Residency Program (IRP) in the Netherlands from July 5 to 12 at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. The program focused on sustainable management and innovation strategies in Europe. Students attended lectures such as Introduction to Leading Innovation, Impact of Political, Social, and Environmental Changes on the European Economy, and Disruptive Technology and AI, gaining multifaceted perspectives on management challenges in the era of ESG and digital transformation.    They also visited leading innovation institutions and sustainable urban development sites, including Floating Farms, TNO (the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), High Tech Campus, and Blue City, where they explored firsthand examples of Europe’s leadership in ESG-driven business practices.  In addition, students broadened their understanding of local culture and industrial heritage by taking a canal cruise in Amsterdam and visiting the Heineken Experience. The European IRP served as a meaningful opportunity for participants to strengthen their management philosophy and practical leadership skills as global leaders, while deepening their insights into Europe’s distinctive culture of innovation and sustainability-centered business strategies.      This global field study program exemplifies the Korea University Business School MBA’s distinctive educational philosophy. By facilitating experiential learning in real-world global business environments beyond the classroom, the program received high praise from participants. KUBS will continue to expand its practical global business education through sustained partnerships with leading universities and corporations around the world. 

[Interview] Professor Taewon Park’s CEMS Skill Seminar – Learning “Real Business” Through Field Experience     Field-based education that allows students to directly observe and engage with corporate transformation and innovation is drawing increasing attention. Korea University Business School’s (KUBS) CEMS Skill Seminar reflects this trend by offering students a unique opportunity to experience real-world business environments firsthand. The seminar was planned and led by Professor Taewon Park—Vice Chairman of Hancom Inc. and Board Member of Chung-Ang University—who used the transformation of Doosan Group as a central case study to emphasize the importance of practical, experience-driven business education that goes beyond theory. KUBS Business Weekly sat down with him to learn more about what “real business” means in today’s educational landscape and what he hopes to cultivate in future global business leaders.   Q1. What inspired you to design and lead the CEMS Skill Seminar? Each year, I teach a course on “Transformation” to students in the G-MIM program, focusing on how businesses evolve across generations. In particular, I use the case of Doosan Group, where I have built my career, to illustrate how corporate strategies shift and adapt over time. Doosan, founded in 1896, is one of the oldest companies in South Korea.   The company began as Park Seung-jik Store, a dry goods shop, in its first generation. In the second generation, it expanded horizontally and vertically, focusing on OB Beer and other B2C consumer goods businesses. In the third generation, Doosan underwent major restructuring, selling off its consumer businesses including OB Beer, and pivoting toward B2B industries such as heavy industries and construction equipment. In its current, fourth generation, the company is undergoing another transformation, shifting its focus to next-generation energy (such as SMRs), smart machinery, and advanced technology industries.   This Skill Seminar was designed to help students understand how businesses, like Doosan, adapt their strategies in response to technological and societal change in order to survive and grow. At the same time, the course aims to enhance students’ practical understanding of business by introducing key terminology used in real-world corporate settings.   Q2. What kind of learning or insights did you hope students would gain through the field visits and company tours? Whether or not they come from a business background, most students are exposed to management primarily through theory-based courses. However, real-world business is far more complex and dynamic. In my lectures, I emphasize the “Real Business World,” sharing how companies actually operate. This program allowed students to see how theory is applied in practice through two on-site learning experiences. The first was a visit to Doosan’s headquarters in Bundang, where students observed the office environment and employees’ working styles, and toured the corporate history museum, which outlines how the company’s business evolved through each generation. The second was a two-day field trip to Changwon, where students visited five factories—including smart factories—and experienced Doosan’s cutting-edge manufacturing processes firsthand. They also had the opportunity to see high-level technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and gas turbines up close, both of which are manufactured by only a few countries worldwide. Through these visits, students were able to gain a vivid understanding of global industrial competitiveness.   Q3. Were there any memorable moments or student reactions during the seminar? What left the deepest impression on me was how satisfied students were with aspects of the program beyond the classroom. During the on-site learning experience, students stayed comfortably in five-star hotel accommodations, each with a private room. We also provided a ten-course dinner paired with wine. After dinner, students naturally gathered and continued to socialize through second and third rounds of informal meetups. This gave them the chance to share stories they didn’t get to exchange during class, and to build a stronger sense of connection and belonging. Rather than just a corporate site visit, the seminar became a meaningful experience of shared learning and interaction. I believe experiences like this leave a lasting impression. Perhaps thanks to programs like this, Korea University ranked first among the 33 CEMS member schools worldwide last year. I believe the Skill Seminar played a meaningful role in achieving that recognition.   Q4. What are your hopes for the KUBS CEMS program and the Skill Seminar moving forward? I find it highly encouraging that Korea University’s international standing has been rising in recent years. As an adjunct professor who also works in the field, I believe the role of faculty with real-world industry experience is becoming increasingly important. Education grounded in practical experience helps students cultivate realistic judgment and a global business mindset. I hope that the CEMS Skill Seminar will continue to serve as a dynamic educational platform that bridges theory and practice, Korea and the world—enabling students to grow into globally competitive and practice-ready business leaders.