With Love for the Mountains… PeaKMBA Donates to Wildfire Affected Areas      PeaKMBA, a hiking club composed of students from Korea University Business School Korea MBA (hereinafter K-MBA) program, has donated funds to the Korean Red Cross to support recovery efforts in wildfire-affected areas in Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do.    The donation was made via bank transfer to the Korean Red Cross on Thursday, April 3, under the name of PeaKMBA. A total of 80 K-MBA students participated, raising a total of KRW 4.2 million. The initiative was proposed by the executive committee of the 24th cohort and carried out through voluntary participation over five days via the club’s group KakaoTalk chatroom.    The PeaKMBA executive committee of the 24th cohort shared, “When we heard that wildfires had devastated forests equivalent to 90% of Seoul’s area, as mountain lovers, we couldn’t just sit idly by,” explaining the motivation behind the donation. They added, “It may be a small act, but we’re proud to have done something meaningful. Go PeaKMBA!”    PeaKMBA noted that this donation is just the beginning, as they plan to take part in on-site volunteer work for forest restoration in the near future—further demonstrating their commitment through sustained, hands-on action.    Meanwhile, PeaKMBA, a community of mountain enthusiasts, continues its vibrant activities under the slogan “Let’s Play in the Mountains,” holding monthly group hikes and an annual trek across Jirisan. 

CEMS MIM Ranks 10th Globally in 2025 QS Master in Management Rankings … Korea University Business School Demonstrates Prestige as the Only CEMS Member in Korea      The CEMS Master in International Management (MIM) program, in which Korea University Business School (KUBS) participates as a full academic member, has once again proven its global excellence by ranking 10th out of 206 programs worldwide in the 2025 QS Master in Management Rankings.    The ranking was released by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), a leading global higher education evaluator. CEMS MIM rose one spot from last year’s 11th place to rank 10th, placing it within the top 4.8% worldwide. The program received an impressive overall score of 90.5 out of 100.    CEMS significantly outperformed the global average across all evaluation categories, particularly in ‘Value for Money’, where it scored an outstanding 97.3 points—far exceeding the global average of 61.3. It also received high marks in several other key areas: Thought Leadership – 86.5 (global average: 50.6), Employability – 86.4 (global average: 50.1), Alumni Outcomes – 83.7 (global average: 49.9), and Diversity (class and faculty) – 84.6 (global average: 64.8). Moving forward, Korea University Business School plans to continue taking the lead in cultivating the next generation of global business leaders through close collaboration with its international partners.     Korea University Business School (KUBS) became a full academic member of CEMS in 2015 and remains the only member institution in Korea. CEMS is an exclusive global alliance of leading business schools, allowing only one institution per country to join. The alliance currently consists of 33 top universities from 33 countries and more than 70 global corporate partners.    Applications for the CEMS Global MIM program are now open and will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, April 18. For inquiries regarding admissions and applications, please contact the administrative office at +82-2-3290-5365.    ▶ [CEMS G-MIM Admission Guide (Click)]   ▶ [Apply for CEMS G-MIM (Click)] 

“A New Era of Talent Development: Advancing as HR Leaders” – The Inaugural Ceremony of the CHRO Program at Korea University      The inaugural ceremony for the first cohort of the CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer) Program, newly established by Korea University Business School, was held on Tuesday, April 8th at the Cuckoo Seminar Room on the 6th floor of LG-POSCO Hall.      The event featured a series of segments, including a welcoming address, the university anthem, a campus tour, an introductory lecture, an orientation, and a banquet. During the ceremony, incoming participants had the opportunity to meet with faculty members and peers, sharing their excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. The ceremony was attended by Eonsoo Kim, Dean of the Business School; Gangseog Ryu, Associate Dean; and Kwanghyun Kim, Academic Director. All three extended warm greetings to the participants. In his welcoming address, Dean Kim remarked, “In this era, valuing and nurturing people is the key source of competitive advantage for any organization. I hope this CHRO program empowers you to grow into HR leaders with both practical capabilities and strategic insight.”      The first cohort of students shared their thoughts, saying, “Until now, our focus has primarily been on practical work, and we’ve had few opportunities to study HR theories in a structured way. We’re excited to learn and grow through this program,” and added,  “The chance to network with professionals from a wide range of industries will also be an invaluable asset.”      The CHRO Program was established to cultivate top-level talent capable of leading the human resources and organizational functions of companies in an ever-changing business environment. Starting in April, the 16-week program is held once a week on Tuesday evenings (18:00–21:00). It is the only CHRO-dedicated executive education program in South Korea, specifically designed for HR managers and senior-level executives. 

“Becoming Leaders in the Future of Healthcare”… SNUH Business Program Holds Entrance Ceremony      The entrance ceremony for the SNUH Business Program, jointly organized by Korea University Business School (KUBS) and Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), was held on Tuesday, April 1 at CJ Hall in Seoul National University Children’s Hospital. The event was attended by key figures including Dean Eonsoo Kim of KUBS, Program Chair Professor Seok-Gyun Kim, and President Young-Tae Kim of SNUH. The ceremony featured introductions of distinguished guests, congratulatory remarks, and a commemorative photo session, celebrating the beginning of a new journey for the program’s inaugural cohort.      In his welcoming address, Dean Eonsoo Kim remarked, “It is truly meaningful to launch this program with such talented individuals who will become future leaders in the healthcare field.” He added, “As AI technology rapidly transforms the healthcare landscape, we will actively support you in cultivating the expertise and leadership needed to stay ahead of these changes.”       In his congratulatory remarks, President Young Tae Kim remarked, “As core members of Seoul National University Hospital, I hope you will cultivate both managerial thinking and capabilities to support the hospital’s sustainable development.” He emphasized, “This program will serve as a solid foundation for your growth into leaders who can drive transformation in the healthcare sector.”      The SNUH Business Program is an educational initiative designed to strengthen the managerial and leadership competencies of 20 key personnel from SNUH, including staff in nursing, healthcare services, administration, and pharmacy. The program is built upon the theoretical framework and practice-oriented curriculum of Korea University Business School, with the goal of delivering practical outcomes in areas such as strategic decision-making in healthcare, change management, and patient-centered service innovation. Moving forward, the SNUH Business Program aims to nurture creative and insightful leaders who will help shape the future of healthcare systems. 

"Closing One Chapter, Opening Another"… KUBS Student Ambassador KUBE’s 20th Cohort Farewell and 22nd Cohort Inauguration Ceremony      The closing ceremony for the 20th generation and the inauguration ceremony for the 22nd cohort of KUBE (Korea University Business School Student Ambassadors) were held on Monday, March 31, at the Cuckoo Seminar Room in LG-POSCO Hall. KUBE is the official student ambassador group of Korea University Business School (KUBS), actively involved in planning and supporting various events to enhance the school’s reputation both internally and externally. The event was attended by Professor Eonsoo Kim, Dean of KUBS, Professor Hyun Seung Na, Vice Dean, and members of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd cohorts of KUBE.      The ceremony began with congratulatory remarks by Dean Eonsoo Kim, followed by a report on KUBE's activities from the second semester of 2024 and a presentation of the activity plan for the first semester of 2025. Certificates of participation and prizes were awarded to members of the 20th cohort, and appointment letters and scholarship certificates were presented to the 22nd cohort. Scholarship certificates were also awarded to members of the 21st cohort. The event concluded with a group photo session. In his remarks, Dean Kim emphasized, “The paths you have paved will continue the tradition of KUBE and serve as a valuable foundation that connects your experience to new opportunities. In this meaningful year marking the 120th anniversary of Korea University, I hope your passion and dedication will continue to enhance the legacy and spirit of KUBS.”      Following the speech, KUBE reflected on its activities during the second semester of 2024 and introduced its plans for the first semester of 2025.  In the previous semester, KUBE carried out a range of activities, including the Fall 2024 Regular Campus Tour, the 10th Anniversary Homecoming Day, the 18th Youth Mentoring Day, ongoing campus tours, self-promotion initiatives, and protocol support.  For the upcoming semester, KUBE plans to continue its efforts with a variety of activities, such as the Spring 2025 Regular Campus Tour, the 19th Youth Mentoring Day, KUBEmanza Season 5 — a themed annual interview series with KUBE alumni — along with continued self-promotion initiatives, ongoing campus tours, and protocol support.      During the closing ceremony, Dean Eonsoo Kim presented certificates of participation to six 20th-cohort members who successfully completed their one-year term: Kim Min-Jin (Business ’24), Kim Se-Eun (Business ’24), Kim Yeon-Ha (Business ’23), Park Su-A (Business ’24), Yoon Je-Woo (Business ’20), and Jang Jun-Hyeok (Business ’24). Vice Dean Hyun-Seung Na also presented prizes, followed by individual photo sessions for each member.      Next, during the inauguration of the 22nd cohort, Vice Dean Hyun-Seung Na presented appointment letters and scholarship certificates to six newly selected members: Kim Da-Jin (Business ’25), Moon Si-Hoon (Business ’25), Ahn Hyo-Won (Business ’24), Lee Chae-Woo (Business ’25), Im Jeong-Yeop (Business ’22), and Hong Jun-Seok (Business ’25). The 22nd cohort members were chosen through a highly competitive selection process that evaluated their school spirit, passion, written applications, interview performance, foreign language proficiency, and ability to create social media content.      Finally, Dean Eonsoo Kim presented scholarship certificates to six members of the 21st cohort, who have continued to lead KUBE activities into this year: Kang Min-Ji (Business ’23), Kwon Na-Yoon (Business ’24), Park Seon-Yu (Business ’24), Shin Woo-Jin (Business ’23), Jeong Jun-Hee (Business ’24), and Cha Jae-Wook (Business ’24).      Yoon Je-Woo (Business ’20), who served as the president of KUBE during the past semester, shared, “I constantly wondered whether I was a good fit for KUBE and whether I could contribute meaningfully as the president of such a prestigious organization. Thanks to the support of my professors and staff, I’m grateful to have completed my term successfully and to take part in this closing ceremony.” He added, “I hope my year as a member of KUBE was a meaningful one, and I wish the best of luck to the new members.” Kim Da-Jin (Business ’25), a newly selected member of the 22nd cohort, said, “Becoming a part of KUBE, which I had dreamed of joining since entering Korea University, fills me with excitement, nervousness, and a deep sense of honor. I will carry out my role with a strong sense of responsibility, as the face and voice of the Business School.” 

“Exploring the History of Technological Innovation and Startups” – Special Lecture on Entrepreneurship by Professor Seongmin Jeon of Gachon University      The Entrepreneurship Academy special lecture, hosted by the Startup Station at Korea University Business School, was held on Tuesday, March 25, at The STAGE on the second floor of the KUBS Main Building. The lecture was delivered by Professor Seongmin Jeon from the College of Business at Gachon University, under the theme “The Past, Present, and Future of the Startup Ecosystem.”      Professor Jeon explained that before the 1980s, the concept of venture startups was virtually nonexistent in Korea. However, the emergence of personal computers and the introduction of the internet gave rise to a new business culture. He discussed how startups such as ‘SayClub, Hangame, and SAEROME Technology (Dialpad)’ experienced growth and faced challenges during the venture boom.      Regarding Hangame, Professor Jeon shared an anecdote: “In the early days, when the company wasn’t making money, they opened a PC café called ‘Mission No.1’ and set all the PCs to display Hangame.” This strategy helped the company establish a D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) model, observe customer behavior, and complete its value chain. He also introduced startups that entered new industries through technological innovation, emphasizing the importance of pursuing business models even in ventures that may initially seem improbable. He stressed the value of not being afraid of failure.      Based on interviews with around 30 individuals who were active during Korea’s first venture boom—a period when Teheran-ro in Seoul was known as “Teheran Valley”—Professor Jeon’s book Teheran Valley Story traces the development of Korea’s startup ecosystem. The book is available for free through Startup Alliance and Ridi Books.      Meanwhile, Professor Seongmin Jeon of the College of Business at Gachon University, who delivered the special lecture, earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Seoul National University and his Ph.D. in business administration from the same institution. He previously served as President of the Korea Association of Venture Business, and currently holds various positions including Executive Board Member of the Korean Academic Society of Business Administration and the Korea Society of Management Information Systems, Editor-in-Chief of the Korean Business History Society, Economic Expert Panel Member at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), Outside Director of the Yoonmin Creative Investment Foundation, and Evaluation Committee Member for the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea.