“True communication is more important than sales”…WADIZ Entrepreneurship Academy Lecture On Demand Successfully Held   2023-Spring ‘Entrepreneurship Academy Lecture On Demand (hereinbelow lecture)’ hosted by Korea University Business School (Dean= Sang Yong Kim) Startup Research Institute (Head = Jon Jungbien Moon) was held on the last 21st. This lecture invited WADIZ Chief Sales Officer Inbeom Hwang and Project Director Woojung Im as speakers who gave a presentation on WADIZ’s overall business, practical experience, Q&A and etc. Since its establishment in May 2012, WADIZ has become Korea's largest lifestyle design funding company, performing various reward-based crowdfunding and investment-based funding along with many startups.   Firstly, CSO Hwang explained WADIZ’s services and the roles of each department. WADIZ conducts funding for the promotion and sales of startups, and creators, and consists of departments responsible for SMBs, big brands & global sourcing, and IP business. Hwang stated that “WADIZ’s business is not limited to just funding”, and that “WADIZ helps challenges of people who want to share their own stories in various ways through online and face-to-face communication and financial services.” The lecture continued with an introduction of a business design chart. They explained how to design a business according to a table consisting of four items. △Channels △Sales Perspective △Categories △ Product Engagement. CSO Hwang cited the example of WADIZ and advised that “Major tasks could be classified through online and face-to-face channels, parallel consignment and procurement, all types of materials along with intangible categories that deal with creators’ areas, and distribution. He then expressed his aspirations and expectations for more active business expansion by stating that “We are planning to manufacture WADIZ’s own products in partnership with companies that own IP characters.”.   PD Lim shared his hands-on experience of directly working with partner companies. He talked about the mindset when participating in funding by saying “We are helping increase the sales and providing opportunities for healthy growth through communication with makers who operate projects.”. In particular, PD Lim advised that “It is important to persuade consumers of the necessity and value of a product beyond simple explanations.”, and “Focus on building credibility and fandom rather than aiming for short-term profits.”   In the Q&A session, CSO Hwang gave sincere advice and tips for students preparing to start a business or pursue new ideas. He explained that “The era of relying solely on finished products is now over.”, and “We are now in an era where the story behind the product including the maker’s thoughts, philosophy, will and belief as well as the joy and difficulty of the manufacturing process, is valued even more than the product itself. He emphasized that this is the time when the value of the “process economy” is expanding. Finally, CSO Hwang gave warm encouragement to pre-entrepreneurs saying, “Encouragement for new attempts is rapidly being made compared to the past so if you are thinking of starting a business, I hope you must challenge yourself”.  

  116th Business School Graduation Ceremony - Representative commencement speech by Dong kyu Jung (Business ‘18)      Good afternoon everyone, My name is Dong kyu Jung from the KUBS class of 2018, graduating with all of you who are gathered here today. I could recall my freshman year as I walked on campus today, a late February day with the chilly winds of winter meeting the warm breezes of spring. I reminisce the day of freshman orientation, dance club performances at the Business School greenspace, and drinking Makgeolli with classmates at the central square on one beautiful day. All of these memories coming to my mind, I remember how overjoyed I was to receive the acceptance letter from KUBS. “The mighty power of “together” will realize all of our dreams.” This sentence I saw from a promotional video was the greatest reason I wanted to come to Korea University. It seemed as if the word “together” embodied the reason why hundreds of thousands of voices were singing as one, people dancing as one to a song at the Korea-Yonsei games. After spending three years at KUBS, I grew used to being “together,” and now I might understand its meaning as well. Debating “together” with classmates, working on team projects, and cheering side-by-side, I could learn about the lives of different people and each of the values it carries. From the lectures and the conversations with professors, I could also learn valuable knowledge, wisdom, and sometimes, ways of living. Living amongst you, my fellow classmates at KUBS, I could feel so many things that I couldn’t possibly have felt on my own. I am sure that you too, felt the same way. So at this moment, as I stand here for our graduation ceremony, I look back to realize that my time at KUBS taught me about the mighty power of “together,” which I feel more grateful for having been able to spend with you. Now, once this graduation ceremony comes to an end, we must find each of our answers to the question of “what do I want to do, and how do I want to live my life?” Perhaps until now, we have raced to reach a single goal of graduation, but from now on, every choice we make and every step we take will come together to create a path to our dream and happiness. From all of you gathered here today, I assume some might have found the answers to that question, while some may still be searching for the answer. However, I trust that in the end, all the difficult times we have to face will become a sturdy pillar that holds up oneself. And that if those pillars gather, with never-breaking minds, to pave their own ways, they will gather to become the “eternal heartbeat of the nation.” For this reason, I hope that the memories we shared at the KUBS could be like a home for the heart, a place of rest whenever we are wearied while walking down the road of life. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the professors who made it possible for me to be here today, to my senior colleagues in the alumni association, to my parents, grandparents, uncle, and family. I hope that dreams, good health, and happiness are in our future. Thank you.  

  SK·UTD·IBRE Award Winners   The SK·UTD·IBRE Awards are presented to authors of papers published in the best international journals of the SK Award Journalists or the excellent international journals of the IBRE Award Journalists, as determined by the KUBS. The above is a list of award winners as of September 2022 - February 2023. (by award category, in Korean alphabetical order)  

  The Powerful Leap of KUBS Baby Tigers… Welcome, class of 2023!   Last February was a busy month for KUBS, with events to welcome the incoming freshmen class for the 2023 academic year. Starting with the freshmen preview on Friday, February 3, KUBS held the Freshman orientation on February 23 to 25.       A total number of 360 freshmen entered KUBS for the 2023 academic year, consisting of 52.22 percent of male students and 47.78 percent of female students. On February 23 to 25, for two nights and three days, the KUBS emergency council held the 2023 Business School Freshmen Orientation (Freshmen OT) to help the freshmen quickly adjust to college and to instill a sense of pride and belonging as a member of the KUBS. Being the first in-person Freshmen OT in 4 years after the long COVID-19 crisis, the event provided a refreshing experience for not only the freshmen but also the current students. The event was especially significant because it transformed the subdued campus atmosphere, due to the pandemic, into being cheerful and lively.   In the 2023 Freshmen OT, attendants were first gathered in the KUBS LG-POSCO SUPEX hall for an overall introduction of the KUBS, then moved to Beache Palace in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do for the main program. Students had the time to experience the KU culture, enjoying the performance of Broaden, the KUBS dance club, U&I, the KUBS rock band, and recreational games. Furthermore, on the second day of the event, the students were divided into groups A, B, C, D, and E so that the students could get closer to one another.   “The Freshmen OT allowed students to learn the knowledge needed for school life as well as to socialize with KUBS classmates,” said Jeongwon Je, freshman participant of the 2023 OT. He shared “Through the cheering sessions, recreational activities, and more, we were able to establish the identity of Korea University."    The Freshmen pre-orientation was held on Friday, February 3, for students who were unable to attend the Freshmen OT, The Pre-OT allowed freshmen to socialize and acquire various information through programs such as school introduction, campus tour, club introduction, and more.   Meanwhile, Korea University held the 2023 entrance ceremony on Thursday, March 2 at the Hwajung Gymnasium. Approximately 7,000 people filled the Korea University Hwajung Gymnasium including freshmen from all departments, their parents, as well as freshmen from KUBS. Congratulating the newly admitted freshmen, the Korea University Acapella club LoGS presented a delightful show. Prior to the main ceremony, from 10 a.m., the Korea University Cheerleaders provided a time for the freshmen to experience the energetic and bold cheer moves unique to Korea University.    

  ESG Research Center holds “ESG Colloquium: Public Institutions and ESG Management Outlook for 2023”   ESG should be applied to public institutions as well Discussion on ESG Management outlook for 2023       “ESG Colloquium: Public Institution and ESG Management Outlook for 2023”, hosted by KUBS ESG Research Center (Head= Professor Jaehyuk Lee) was held at Korea University LG-POSCO Hall on last 21st. The event was held to analyze the research results on ESG management in public institutions and to facilitate interdisciplinary research on ESG, as the importance of ESG management has been emphasized and required in public institutions as well. This event was followed by △Introduction to events and guests △ESG interdisciplinary research contest winner presentation △ Presentation and discussion on the outlook of the 2023 public institution management △ Presentation and a discussion on the necessity of ESG evaluation in a public institution.     In the first session “ESG interdisciplinary research contest winner presentation”, presentations were made by the winning teams (3 teams) of the “Public institution ESG management facilitation plan’ contest which was hosted by ESG Research Center in 2022. △ Let’s Try Team (Saerom Lee, Kijoon Jung, and Jeongjin Choi) on  ‘Analysis of ESG Management and support for SMEs on major public institutions’, △ ESG Wannabe Team (Yoojung Shin, Sieun Park, Bomi Lee, Junyoung Cheon, and Yujin Hyun) on ‘Promoting ESG in private companies of public institutions focusing on public procurement’ △ ESG KU TF Team (Junghyun Lee, Subin Seo, Suhyun Jo, Daeun Jung) on ‘Research on evaluation methods for ESG management for ESG management in public institutions focusing on energy institutions.’ Daeun Jung (Business’ 20) from the ESG KU TF team said “I was able to learn knowledge that had been ambiguous and the process of formulating strategies for the effective spread of ESG business”, and said “It was an honor to have this valuable experience of delivering the research results to related industry experts.     In the second session, ‘Presentation and discussion on the outlook of the 2023 public institution management were held. Professor Hyunsun Choi from Myongji University (former head of the Public Institution Management Evaluation Office at the Ministry of Economic and Finance) gave a presentation on ‘Direction of the ESG evaluation system and indicators for public institutions’ and raised concerns about the problem of 350 different public institutions using the same indicators to conduct management evaluations. In the panel discussion, Professor Yongjun Sung (Korea Univerisity Department of Psychology, former evaluation committee member of the public institution) and Jaehyuk Lee KUBS professor (Head of KU ESG Research Center) participated and pointed out that the monotonous management evaluation system of public institutions tends to focus on short-term performance. Professor Jaehyuk Lee said that “If management evaluation focuses on short-term evaluations, it may not be easy to expect public institutions to pursue voluntary innovation from a long-term perspective.”.    In the last third session, a presentation and panel discussion on the need for public institution ESG evaluation was held. Jeongyoon Park, the vice-director of the Institute for Culture and Community Research at Myongji University, gave a presentation on the ‘diagnosis of complementary directions for items for K-ESG guidelines for public institutions’. Vice-director Park diagnosed the current state of ESG practices in domestic public institutions and raised the need for establishing K-ESG guidelines specifically for public institutions. Professor Jaehyuk Lee and Yongsik Ok (President of the International ESG Association and professor of Environment and Ecological Engineering at Korea University) participated in the panel discussion. Professor Ok stated that “Environmental issues and governance issues are closely related.”, and ‘The interest and understanding of ESG-related committees in public institutions should be improved.”   During the closing remarks after the event, Professor Jaehyuk Lee pointed out the need for changes and innovation in public institutions to keep up with as the importance of stakeholders is being emphasized. He stated that “I hope that this colloquium today will serve as an opportunity to accelerate such changes.     

General Graduate School hosts  ‘Best English Thesis Award Ceremony’   Thesis selected through evaluation from 7 majors     “Best English Thesis Award Ceremony” hosted by the General Graduate School of Business Administration and International Business, was held on February 17th (Fri) in the Dean’s Office of Business Main Hall. KUBS Dean Sang Yong Kim, Associate Dean Woochan Kim, and 5 award winners attended the ceremony.   The best thesis was selected through rigorous evaluation by the selection committee after being recommended from six following majors: △Management △ International Management △Marketing △Accounting △LSOM △MIS. In this ceremony, no recommendations were made from the accounting major.     The total of 6 winners are the following: △Kisu Kim (MIS Master’s program) △Migeum Kim (LSOM Doctoral program) △ Joonhyuk Lee (Marketing Master’s program) △Sohee Im (International Management Doctoral program) △Jaehoon Jung (Finance Master’s program) △Yeseul Jo (Management Integrated Master’s and doctoral program), and no award winner from accounting major. Every winner will receive a plaque and a scholarship of 300,000 Won.   Dean Sang Yong Kim presented the plaques to the participants and congratulated the winners. He said, “The most essential competitiveness of KUBS comes from the research capabilities of the faculty along with master’s and doctoral students.”, and “We will encourage new researchers who achieve outstanding research results and invest in creating a better research environment.