단국대학교

On November 2nd, a ceremony was held on Dankook University’s Jukjeon campus to mark the university’s 76th anniversary. The ceremony aligned with the 59th memorial of DKU founder Beomjeong Chang Hyong and the 76th memorial of founder Hyedang Cho Huijae. Joint Memorial Service for the 59th anniversary of Beomjeong Chang Hyong’s passing and the 76th anniversary of Hyedang Cho Huijae’s passing A joint memorial service for DKU’s founders was held at the Dankook University History Museum’s convention center. Dankook Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang and Honorary Chairman Choongsik Chang were among the attendees along with DKU President Soon-cheol An, faculty members, family members of the founders, and student representatives who all gathered to pay tribute and reflect on the noble cause for which the university was established. As part of the ceremony, participants placed flowers in front of Chang Hyong’s portrait while listening to a recording of his voice from when he was alive. DKU 76th Anniversary Ceremony held to “look back on the university’s proud history…and strengthen commitment toward realizing 100 years of Dankook” Following the memorial service, the university’s 76th anniversary ceremony was held at the Nanpa Concert Hall with more than 600 participants attending, including members from the Dankook Foundation, school officials, and recipients of a special award given in celebration of the university’s anniversary. Attendees looked back on the university’s proud history of 76 years and renewed their commitment to leap forward toward ‘100 years of Dankook.’ “Seeking truth and honing wisdom to establish a foundation for restoring true talent to contribute to this world” [Dankook University Mission Statement] “As we proudly celebrate Dankook’s 76th anniversary, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all members of the Dankook family, including our faculty, staff, alumni, and sponsors who have helped the university overcome many obstacles -big and small- throughout the years and nurture exceptional talent,” said DKU Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang in his commemoration remarks. He went on to say, “I applaud everyone for your hard work that, despite difficult conditions, has allowed us to continuously attain major government-funded projects such as the Campus Innovation Park and Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS). Your efforts have helped us sharpen our research capabilities and promote industry-academia partnerships to create the best learning environment for our students.” Meanwhile, DKU President Soon-cheol An said, “based on remarkable accomplishments in industry-academia partnerships in next-generation industries such as semiconductors, future automotive, biomedicals, and hydrogen energy, Dankook University attracted a total KRW 100 billion in external research grants as of the end of October,” and went on to ask “all members of the university and the 230,000 Dankook alumni to come together as we march toward Dankook’s centennial.” DKU Alumni Association President Sang-bae Lee also shared his hopes saying, “it is an honor to have graduated from this prestigious private university that contributes to the nation and its people by cultivating outstanding talent. Witnessing my alma mater start a new chapter in its history, I will also do my utmost along with our alumni association to realize the university’s vision of becoming a first-class university.” To celebrate the university’s 76th anniversary, the Dankook University History Museum (Director Jong Su Lee) published The Iron Birch’s Dream. The e-book depicts the life of DKU founder Beomjeong Chang Hyong as an independence activist and covers the history of our university, which is the only private college that was founded with domestic capital during Korea’s colonial period. The book touches on Chang Hyong’s inspiring spirit of ‘suppressing the strong and helping the weak (抑强扶弱)’ which deeply resonates with all Dankookites. The e-book, which can be found on the Dankook University History Museum’s website, is an easy and informative read for all audiences from middle and high school students to adults who wish to learn about Dankook’s history. In addition, faculty and staff members who have continuously served the university were awarded with recognition during the ceremony.

“To grow as an innovative R&D hub in 3D printing, connecting Korea to global markets” Stratasys to inject KRW 5.125 billion into the Jukjeon campus to open the DKU-SSYS Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Convergence Research Center in December Dankook University is embarking on a project to establish Asia’s first 3D printing R&D Center together with the global leader in the field, Stratasys. On October 11th, a signing ceremony was held in Pangyo where the two organizations signed an MOU to foster cutting-edge manufacturing talent and to work together to nurture 3D printing engineers who will take the lead in the fourth industrial revolution. Dankook University President Soon-cheol An, Stratasys Vice President Yann Rageul, Stratasys Korea GM Brian Moon, DKU Vice President for Industry-academia Cooperation Joa-sub Oh, and representatives from the two parties took part in the ceremony. From the MOU, the two organizations will establish Asia’s first ‘Cutting-edge Manufacturing Innovation Convergence R&D Center’ for 3D printing at the Jukjeon campus in December. Stratasys will extend a total of KRW 5.125 billion in cutting-edge 3D printing equipment and provide remodeling and training programs. The new R&D center will be housed in the Main Laboratory Building and cover a 264㎡ area, equipped with the latest SLA, SAF, and FDM 3D printers. A 50㎡ space for corporate collaboration is also planned to be set up to support manufacturers. With a vision to advance the research center as an innovation hub in 3D printing and serve as a bridge between Korea and the global market, the two organizations will boost research for next-generation high precision 3D printers by operating joint R&D equipment, conducting co-studies on 3D printing material and devices, and delivering various training and research programs to cultivate necessary talent for the field. “We look forward to this partnership serving as a stepping stone for DKU, which is at the forefront of fostering professional talent and conducting research in cutting-edge fields, such as future automotives, robotics, semiconductors, and digital healthcare, and to grow as an R&D hub for high-tech manufacturing industries in Korea,” said DKU President Soon-cheol An. Stratasys was founded in 1989 and is the global leader in 3D printing, offering 3D printing technologies and solutions across all industries, including aerospace, automotive, industrial machinery, and medicine.

Dankook’s 18th University President, Soobok Kim, expressed “gratitude to the Dankook family,” while the incoming 19th President, Soon-Cheol An, shared his “commitment to increasing university finances and improving the university’s reputation […] and [asked the community] to join in writing Dankook’s history of innovation.” On September 7th, a special ceremony was held at the Dankook University’s Nanpa Concert Hall on the Jukjeon campus to bid farewell to Dankook’s 18th University President, Soobok Kim, and to welcome the University’s 19th President, Soon-Cheol An. Many guests attended the ceremony, including the Dankook Foundation’s Honorary Chairman Choong-sik Chang, incumbent Chairman Hosung Chang, DKU Alumni Association President Sang-bae Lee, Saeeden Presbyterian Church’s Senior Pastor Kang-suk So, Pai Chai University President Wook Kim, parliamentarian Choun-sook Jung (Democratic Party of Korea), and university officials. The guests applauded the new president’s blueprint for the university while paying respect to his predecessor for his hardworking efforts. Former DKU President, Soobok Kim looks forward to “the new president being at the center of leadership for the university’s future” Stepping down from the university president position, former DKU President Soobok Kim said in his departure speech that “it has been an honor to be the first Dankook alumnus to serve as university president throughout the 72-year history of Dankook. I will always be proud and grateful for being a part of Dankook’s history.” Kim, who was known for placing importance on communication, also looked back on his 4-year term and commented that “despite hardships, such as COVID-19 and the grim reality of declining school-age population faced by higher education, we were able to overcome many impediments thanks to the passion all Dankookites demonstrated toward the university.” During his term, President Soobok Kim rapidly responded to the global pandemic by setting up an emergency committee, acting as a strong backdrop for the university, and making it possible to maintain steady university operations and a stable research foundation. He also contributed to boosting industry-academia partnerships and strengthening the university’s research capabilities by continuously winning government grant projects, including the Campus Innovation Park project, the Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS) project, and the Humanities-Utmost Sharing System (HUSS) project. Incoming President An “to open the age of Dankook Innovation 5.0 for Dankook University” Meanwhile, in his inaugural address, incoming President Soon-Cheol An said, “it is an honor to be given the role as President of Dankook University which boasts a rich history and tradition of 76 years,” and added, “I am aware of the responsibilities and mission bestowed upon me. I will strive to realize an innovative Dankook along with Dankook Foundation’s Honorary Chairman Choong-sik Chang, Chairman Hosung Chang, professors and faculty members at the forefront of education, the 230 thousand Dankook alumni, and our wonderful students.” During his speech, President An expressed his aspirations to “open the age of ‘Dankook Innovation 5.0’ leveraging the university’s innovation DNA in the face of higher education’s crisis triggered by a declining school-age population, deteriorating university finances, hierarchical ranking of universities, and excessive regulations.” He promised to “carry out [his] role as university president, building on the philosophy of Honorary Chairman Choong-sik Chang, to develop new visions and reach for higher goals when crises arise rather than relying on makeshift measures.” Dankook’s new President, Soon-Cheol An, said he will continue to promote the key values of ‘Dynamic Dankook 2027,’ which was led by Dankook Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang when he was the university’s president, to realize ‘Dankook Innovation 5.0.’ An stressed that he will implement seven key initiatives under the two main strategies of increasing the university’s financial base and securing global competitiveness. To increase university finances, An shared his commitment to secure more government sponsored projects, set up a ‘Dankook Partnership Quad’ that connects industry, academia, government, and research parties, lead regional innovation projects, grow the university development fund, and promote technology holding companies and school-based enterprises. In addition, An will also strive to strengthen Dankook’s reputation by building a digital education infrastructure based on artificial intelligence and metaverses, establish a Dankook International College, and set up a new department for majoring in Korean Studies. President Soon-Cheol An also shared his determination to “run the university based on best practices and common sense, to reinforce principles and rationality, and to set an example of fair management where people who work hard are rewarded appropriately.” He went on to say that “[I] will strive to protect the tradition and values of Dankook University that reflect our founding spirit and strengthen the university’s base by interpreting the university’s founding philosophy to fit modern society and take the lead for the future.” Dankook Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang expressed “appreciation to the former president for [his] efforts in advancing educational innovation for the future,” and asked “the incoming president to open a new chapter for the university with remarkable insight and leadership.” Meanwhile, Dankook Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang also took the podium and said, “[I] express my heartfelt appreciation to former DKU President Soobok Kim for his efforts and strong responsibility showcased as he took on his role as captain of the Dankook ship over the past four years,” and went on to add “[I] also look forward to DKU’s new President Soon-Cheol An in opening a new chapter for the university with his remarkable insight and leadership to launch Dankook toward a future full of hope.” Honorary Chairman of the Dankook Foundation, Dr. Choong-sik Chang also congratulated President An on his inauguration.

“Open the age of DKU Innovation 5.0” Sharing his blueprint to ‘increase university finances and enhance its reputation.’ The Dankook University Foundation, led by Chairman Hosung Chang, convened its Board of Directors meeting on July 21st and appointed professor Soon-Cheol An from the Department of Political Science and International Affairs as the nineteenth President of Dankook University. President An graduated from Dankook University’s Department of Political Science and International Affairs and received his PhD from the University of Missouri before returning in 1997 to teach at his alma mater. Since then, he has served as head of the Office of Planning, head of the Secretarial Team, Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Dean of the Graduate School, and Executive Vice President of External Affairs. In these roles, he made extensive gains across various fields for the growth of the university. He also contributed to the advancement of the Korean Political Science Association as its Vice Chair. His term as DKU President will be for four years, beginning on August 26, 2023. The University President Nomination Committee consisting of 13 members, including professors (honorary and incumbent), students, faculty, alumni, and social leaders, opened nominations for the university’s president on the DKU website last March. After reviewing candidates’ educational philosophies, vision, and commitment to overall university management, professor An was named President. The University Board introduced indirect elections for appointing the university president beginning with the 18th president in order to discover new leadership who can build on the university’s founding principles and also drive change for the future. Indirect elections were adopted to support democracy in university operations and make the electoral process more transparent. The newly appointed President, Soon-Cheol An, summarized the history of Dankook University by dividing it into different stages of innovation. He referred to the first stage as version 1.0 when it became the first 4-year private college in Korea after liberation from Japanese colonial rule, followed by its upgrade to university status as 2.0. Then the opening of the Cheonan campus as 3.0 and the relocation to the Jukjeon campus as 4.0. Now, he said, the university is ready for DKU Innovation 5.0 to lead the fourth industrial revolution. Accordingly, he announced his plans to “open the age of Dankook University 5.0 to respond to our changing times” by implementing two key strategies of increasing university finances and enhancing the university’s reputation. To realize DKU Innovation 5.0, the incoming President stressed his plans to strengthen the university’s reputation and competitiveness by increasing the university’s finances by attracting more government research grants and university development funds, investing in technology commercialization and technology holding company subsidiaries, and establishing school-based enterprises. Moreover, An emphasized plans to sharpen the university’s competitive edge by building a sustainable research platform for global studies. Based on the university’s mid-to-long-term development strategy of Dynamic Dankook 2027, incoming president An shared his vision to implement the two key strategies while pursuing initiatives for future growth across the seven key areas of education, research, students, industry-academia partnerships, globalization, administration, and finance. Twenty-four specific initiatives were set forth under these areas to achieve DKU Innovation 5.0. In education, initiatives will be implemented for an innovative education infrastructure and securing top-notch educational competitiveness. In research, plans will be implemented to build a sustainable research platform, advance internationally distinguished research, and improve QS ranking. For students, the university will form a user-centric learning environment and university culture, while for industry-academia partnerships, a glocal ecosystem will be set up to boost entrepreneurial collaborations. Furthermore, the university will establish a university education system that meets the standards of global institutions (globalization), strengthens accountability in administration through system innovation while improving working conditions for faculty members (administration), and secures stable finances along with efficient fund operations (finance). Upon his appointment, An said, “[I] will strive endlessly to nurture Dankookites to lead in the age of the fourth industrial revolution by building on the university’s history and tradition while deeply connecting with each member of the university.”

Dankook’s Overseas Volunteer Corps have returned from volunteering in Cambodia and Mongolia. Thirty-five members of the Jukjeon campus Overseas Volunteer Corps, led by Moon-seok Seo, visited the Tatok School in Siem Reap, Cambodia for 11 days starting June 24th to volunteer. During this time, the group taught students math, science, and art, helped prepare meals, and helped with the maintenance of school facilities. Volunteers also held performances, demonstrating traditional Korean dance, taekwondo, and K-Pop dance to spread awareness of K-culture. The act of volunteering and sharing was especially meaningful for DKU graduate school student Ket Chanthon in giving back to the Cambodian community. Meanwhile, thirty members of the Cheonan campus Overseas Volunteer Corps, led by Ki-hong Kim, also took part in volunteer work at School #9 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for 9 days starting June 24th. School #9 is a large school in Mongolia where more than 3,000 students from elementary, middle, and high school study. The volunteer corps took part in projects, such as teaching Korean language, science, art, and physical education, as well as building maintenance and painting murals. They also offered health education information while visiting the University of Mongolia and engaged in cultural exchanges. “This trip made me thankful for what I have while instilling perseverance in me that I believe will give me the strength to not give up when faced with hardships,” said Min-ji Lee (Senior, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) who was a part of the delegation to Cambodia. “I can still see the excited faces on the children who were learning science for the first time with us,” said Su-rin Cho (Junior, Department of Materials Science and Engineering) who volunteered in Mongolia. “Working together with other volunteers in various areas has been the driving force behind my own personal growth.” Dankook University has carried out domestic and overseas volunteer work since the volunteer corps was first founded in 2007. Since then, over 2,400 students and faculty members have taken part in volunteering overseas in countries such as Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Laos in line with the university’s guiding principles in education to practice ‘Truth and Service.’

From May 1, Dankook University will start its ‘KRW 1,000 breakfast’ program. The university was selected for the ‘KRW 1,000 breakfast’ program hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion & Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (EPIS). With this program, affordable breakfasts will be provided to Dankook’s 13,400 student body for seven months starting from May 1 to November 30, excluding public holidays and summer break. The program was created to increase rice consumption and offer healthy breakfasts to students who often skip their morning meal. Students will pay KRW 1,000 with KRW 1,000 support from MAFRA and KRW 2,000 from the university to relieve the financial burden experienced by students in the age of surging food prices. At the Jukjeon Campus Hyedang Hall student cafeteria, 100 meals will be prepared on a first come first serve basis from 8:30 to 9:30 in the morning from Monday to Friday. The catering company at the cafeteria has agreed to also take part, contributing an additional KRW 1,000 per meal as the program is for a good cause. At the Cheonan Campus, the student cafeteria on the third floor of the Student Hall will prepare 70 meals each day from 7 to 9:30 in the morning from Tuesday to Thursday, each week.

Dankook University (Chairman Hosung Chang) delivered KRW 28,484,950 in donations to Korea’s Red Cross on April 24th to support victims of the devastating series of earthquakes that shook Turkey and Syria in February. Chairman Hosung Chang of the Dankook Board, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, and over 1,340 employees from the university and its hospital and dental hospital took part in the donation campaign. The funds will be used to provide emergency relief and support reconstruction work in the areas hit by the earthquake. “I express my deepest condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria who have suffered greatly from the earthquakes and hope that this donation can extend some help to restoring their homes and comfort those who have lost much in their daily lives,” said Hosung Chang. Dankook has continuously made donations to emergency relief areas at home and abroad, including the forest fires in Uljin and Gangwon, as well as for the war in Ukraine to practice the university’s guiding principles of truth and service by carrying out its social responsibility.

Injecting KRW 53.6bn to form an Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Hub in South Chungcheong Province To house 124 bio-healthcare and high-tech components & materials companies Generating one thousand jobs and KRW 200bn in revenue Dankook University overcame stiff competition from nearly nine other proposals to be selected as the ‘4th Campus Innovation Park University.’ Accordingly, DKU will partner with South Chungcheong Province and the city of Cheonan to form a new industrial complex. The Campus Innovation Park is a joint project carried out by three government ministries (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT), and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS)) to strengthen the government’s initiatives for industry, academia, and research cooperation and corporate capability building by taking idle land on university campuses and turning them into high-tech urban industrial complexes that include spaces for businesses to operate (Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Hub) and create an ecosystem for innovation. Selected for the project, DKU will extend integrated support for companies in the areas of bio-healthcare and high-tech components and materials. The Campus Innovation Park project will be initially funded until December 2027 with a total of over KRW 53.6bn, composed of KRW 19.05 in state funds, KRW 17.57bn in advanced investments from LH Corp, KRW 11bn in provincial funds from South Chungcheong Province and the city of Cheonan, as well as KRW 6bn in matched funds from the university. Dankook will work with public institutions on administrative procedures needed to build the industrial complex plan until 2025. Construction of the Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Hub facilities is slated for completion by 2027. During this time, plans are to attract 124 relevant businesses and research institutes to generate KRW 200bn in annual revenue and over 1,000 jobs. The Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Hub, the heart of the Campus Innovation Park, will be located on 21,453㎡ of Dankook’s land near the Cheonho Lake, which has recently emerged as a popular destination in Cheonan. Standing 12 stories tall, the hub will cover 19,997㎡ gross floor area and serve as home to a joint lab (analysis lab) and work space for high-tech components and materials and bio-healthcare stakeholders, startups and Post BI (post-business incubator) players, innovation institutes and startup accelerators, institutions that offer assistance in starting businesses and provide administrative support, and corporate research centers. After building the Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Hub (high-tech and startup zone), Dankook plans to create an Open Space Zone - Startup Incubator Center and Open Space Hall - and a Bio Healthcare Zone - Smart Medical Demo Complex- both to be newly built, in line with the university’s mid to long-term development plans.

On April 3rd, defending champions, Dankook University, repeated their victory, taking the top spot at the 20th Haksan Kim Seong-ryul National Jangsa Ssireum Contest held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Competing teams hailed from 13 universities. Dankook defeated Inje University and Inha University to go on to the finals where the team took the winning trophy after beating Kyungnam University 4:3. Ssireum team captain, Ji-yul Kim (Dept. of International Sports, Senior), received a thunderous applause from the audience after demonstrating his fighting spirit and ending a close match in success, despite an injury. In the individual rounds, Yeong-chan Song (Dept. of International Sports, Sophomore) won the Yeoksa class (105 kg amateur weight class) again after also taking first place at the 53rd Presidential Cup National Ssireum Championship. Coach Doo-sik Joo, who received the Best Coach Award, said that “Yeong-chan and Ji-yul played key roles in the win, despite personal injuries,” and expressed his gratitude to the team saying, “I would like to thank all the athletes who displayed their mental strength and fighting spirits and to all members of the Ssireum team who united in the name of Dankook.”

Covering more than 85,000 words, including from traditional and modern Mongolian, as well as idioms The Institute for Mongolian Studies at Dankook University, which set up the first department for Mongolian studies in Korea in 1993, compiled the world’s largest Mongolian dictionary, The Great Mongolian Korean Dictionary (蒙韓大辭典) (Dankook University Publishing, 2023). Composed of two volumes, the dictionary runs 3,090 pages and covers over 85,000 words. This was a feat accomplished nearly 700 years after Korea, under the Goryeo dynasty, first started interacting with Yuan dynasty and 15 years since embarking on the mammoth task to compile the dictionary in 2009. Until now, Korean researchers studying Mongolian relied on Mongolian dictionaries in English, Japanese, or Chinese. The institute addressed this inconvenience by translating, editing, and supplementing the Mongolian Language Detailed Dictionary (2008), the so-called ‘Mongolian dictionary for Mongolians,’ published by the Institute of Language and Literature at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. This effort resulted in adding 5,000 more entries than before. The new dictionary contains idioms, proverbs, riddles, and archaism extracted from all Mongolian literature since Genghis Khan established the Mongol Empire in the 12th~13th century. Headwords are introduced in the order of Cyrillic (modern Mongolian), traditional Mongolian (Uighur), the corresponding Korean word, example sentences in Cyrillic, and a Korean translation of the Cyrillic example sentences. In addition, Russian and Tibetan loanwords, dialects, archaic words, and newly coined words are set forth in the order of consonants in the Mongolian alphabet to enhance understanding language used in all parts of Mongolia, including Inner and Outer Mongolia. The dictionary will not only be helpful for those studying Mongolian in Korea, but also to those studying Korean in Mongolia and students preparing to study in each other’s countries. The appendix contains a brief look at Mongolian grammar to make it easier for the public to learn the language, as well. Rather than providing extensive descriptions like an encyclopedia, the dictionary focuses on offering the exact corresponding Korean terms. The Korean definitions of Mongolian words are based on pure Korean, while observing Korean language norms for Korean descriptions and the loanword orthography standard set forth by the National Institute of Korean Language. Loanwords from Chinese are indicated using simplified Chinese characters to show relevancy to the original Chinese word. “Mongolian dictionaries previously published in Korea did not have many entries and lacked sufficient example sentences, mostly serving beginners or those traveling to Mongolia. However, this dictionary will open doors to more active research on Mongolian language and culture, as well as enabling comparative studies with the Korean language,” explained Honorary Professor Seong-gyu Lee, who also commented that “it is a very meaningful step in the field of humanities.” The Institute for Mongolian Studies also previously published the Dictionary of Nomadic Culture in Northeast Asia in 2017, introducing rich nomadic culture, including that of Mongolia, to Korea.

Eighteen businesses sponsored by the DKU Startup Support Foundation’s initial startup package program last year have recorded KRW 10 billion in revenue and successfully attracted KRW 5 billion in investments. On March 17, Dankook’s Startup Support Foundation, headed by Kihoon Yeom, held a Startup Performance Presentation at the El Tower in Yangjae-dong, Seoul. There, the 18 startups shared their business results and held prototype demonstrations of their products. It was a meaningful gathering where each startup shared the story behind their business and how they attracted investments. According to the Startup Support Foundation, these startups applied for over 40 patents during the past year and created 50 new jobs thanks to support from the university. Lucky Home Inc., a pet product startup, registered over KRW 2 billion in revenue, while Mona Electric Inc., a secondary battery equipment manufacturer, succeeded in attracting KRW 900 million from investors.

Dankook University’s Next-generation Semiconductor Project Group (headed by professor Yong-seo Koo) signed an MOU with the Korean branch of ON Semiconductor, a global leader in power semiconductors, to work together in fostering semiconductor specialists. The MOU ceremony was held on March 8th at Dankook’s Jukjeon campus with representatives from both parties attending, including DKU Vice President of Industry-academia Cooperation, Oh-young Kim, professor Yong-seo Koo, who leads Dankook’s Next-generation Semiconductor Project Group, onsemi HR Vice President Jong-gon Kim, and Sang-su Bae, Head of the HR Group at onsemi. Under the MOU, the two parties will make efforts to advance the industrial and academic ecosystem for semiconductor research by jointly pursuing an undergraduate and masters internship program linked to employment opportunities, participate in joint research and government R&D projects, hold sessions regularly for research exchanges, jointly develop and operate a talent cultivation program tailored to corporate needs, implement an employment and startup support program, and expand technology business developments. Last year, Dankook University had technology transfers worth around KRW 2.7 billion. Along with the Next-generation Semiconductor Project Group, Dankook plans to focus on nurturing key talent by advancing practical training courses in all areas related to semiconductors - from semiconductor devices and materials to processes and design through cooperation with the convergence semiconductor engineering major (undergraduate program) and the Department of Foundry Engineering (graduate program) and stepping up efforts to win government projects. onsemi is one of the global leaders in power semiconductors and was named a Fortune 500 company in 2022. Its 2022 revenues recorded KRW 8 trillion, and the company is among the top 20 global semiconductor players listed on the S&P 500. onsemi Korea has 1,900 employees and is the largest power semiconductor business in Korea, registering over KRW 1 trillion in revenue last year and also being named in ‘Korea’s Exemplary Workplace (2022)’ list. “The MOU will lay the groundwork for cultivating core talent through joint research and a practical training course across all areas of semiconductors including power semiconductors,” announced DKU Vice President Oh-young Kim. Meanwhile, onsemi Vice President Jong-gon Kim said, “a close partnership will be built across various fields through the MOU with Dankook University to nurture outstanding talent in semiconductors and connect them with career opportunities.”

Among the six universities participating in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s STAR-Academy (Science and Technology Acceleration for Region+Academy) project to commercialize science and technology, Dankook University was selected as having the most outstanding project group following evaluations of the project’s first-year performance. The project was introduced to ensure cutting-edge technologies are not overlooked in the market but supplied appropriately to sharpen the competitiveness of companies while also promoting the reach of relevant research findings. The essence of the project is to nurture professionals with graduate degrees. “[We] set up a Department for Science & Technology Policy Convergence in the general Graduate School and admitted fifty new students to lead practical technology development related to digital healthcare and cutting-edge machinery that leverage artificial intelligence,” explained professor Sung-han Rhim who heads the project at Dankook. He shared the blueprint to “continuously foster 40~50 students with masters and doctoral degrees each year, supported with government subsidies worth a total of KRW 6.8 billion by 2027.” The Department of Science & Technology Policy Convergence offers a selection of majors including Science & Technology Policies, Science & Technology Commercialization, and Science & Technology Startups. The curriculum for Science & Technology Policies covers relevant policy data, artificial intelligence, and technology innovation policies, as well as science & technology governance and sustainability. The Science and Technology Commercialization major touches on topics such as technology valuation, technology commercialization strategies, patents and intellectual property rights, and technology forecasting and planning. Those majoring in Science and Technology Startups will dive deep into business feasibility analysis, startup policies, Acceleration practices, and study overseas startups. In addition to fostering professional talent, the project group is also working on setting up an ecosystem by issuing the ‘Science and Technology Commercialization Policy Report,’ establishing the Korean Society of Science and Technology Commercialization, publishing a society journal entitled ‘Science and Technology Convergence Studies,’ building a cooperative system with institutions such as the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator, and hosting STAR Academy conferences and seminars. Recognized for such efforts, professor Rhim was awarded the of Science and ICT award last January. “The project group achieved 100% of the performance goals set forth by the government in its first year,” said Rhim who also added his hopes to “strengthen an advanced theory and hands-on training system to promote local industries and share our achievements in science and technology going forward.”

Sending best wishes for health and happiness to everyone at Dankook as we roll into the new year! 2023 is the year of the black rabbit which represents wisdom and abundance. We hope it will be a year where all of you come closer to reaching your goals. Below, we share new year’s messages from Chairman Hosung Chang of the Dankook Board and Dankook University President, Soobok Kim. [Chairman Hosung Chang of the Dankook Foundation] OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW - preparing the foundation for a new leap forward. Implementing an educational platform, leveraging new digital technology. Chairman Hosung Chang extends his deepest gratitude to the members of the Dankook community for their endeavors in overcoming the hardships of COVID-19 over the past three years. Amid the current difficulties, such as the shrinking school-age population, he asked that Dankook embrace the saying of ‘OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW’ by laying the foundation for the university to advance forward through educational programs and platforms that leverage new digital technology. [President Soobok Kim of Dankook University] Seek measures to sharpen the university’s competitive edge. Make it the year of advancing as a global university. Dankook University President Soobok Kim asked for all members of the Dankook family to unite in the spirit of ‘ONE HEART, ONE SOUL (strive together to achieve a common goal)’ and develop active measures to improve the university’s finances, enhance efficiency in its academic and administrative systems, and prepare thoroughly for domestic and international evaluations. This way, he hopes, Dankook will be able to further sharpen its competitive edge this year and strengthen DKU’s reputation as a global university.

Dankook University is expanding its investments in fostering essential talent needed for new industries in the future, such as future vehicles, semiconductors, biohealth, and hydrogen-related sectors. First, a convergent semiconductor engineering major (80 students) was newly set up at the undergraduate level to advance the semiconductor sector with a specialized curriculum that covers areas such as semiconductor devices, material, processes, circuit design, and reliability tests. The Foundry Engineering Department was introduced to the graduate program last September where students take a deep dive into the system semiconductor fabrication process. Professors from five departments, including the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, teach inter-disciplinary courses in all aspects of semiconductor fabrication, including power, material, parts, and equipment. Starting in 2023, employees from Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor business will be brought as guest professors as part of an industry-academia collaboration effort to teach courses on how to generate added-value to the future semiconductor industry and will also engage in joint research with the university. Meanwhile, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is also stepping up to nurture professional talent called for in the development and production of future vehicles as it won a major government project this year. In addition to landing research initiatives for digital manufacturing equipment and AI-collaborative robots, the department is capable of producing over 30 graduates with masters and doctorate each year, not to mention students completing the undergraduate program to serve in the fields of ecofriendly vehicles and smart sensors. Talent development in bio-healthcare is also on track. Dankook is the lead university in the convergence and open sharing system for biohealth and came in at the top of the list of the 56 universities participating in the initiative in the first-year evaluation of the project. Eighty-five bio convergence courses were opened on various topics including ‘AI-driven genetic disease diagnosis,’ and an intensive curriculum was implemented to make the courses available for students from other universities in the consortium. More than six thousand students have already completed courses on the new shared education platform that was set up to support the university’s plans to foster 25 thousand bio specialists by 2026. In addition, investments are underway in the development of hydrogen energy, which is a leading component of a carbon-neutral society. Last year, Dankook transferred four premier material technologies related to hydrogen, which amounted to KRW 1.8 billion. The hydrogen separation and production technology that was transferred was acclaimed as an outstanding result of industry-academia collaboration that can be utilized by material-parts-equipment companies to secure global competitiveness quickly as it improves domestic separator manufacturing technology, cuts energy costs, reduces process unit costs, and strengthens durability when producing hydrogen. The LINC+ 3.0 program (phase 3 of the Leaders in INdustry-university Cooperation) has also grown into a substantial talent development program. DKU plans to invest a total KRW 35 billion by 2027 including KRW 24 billion in government grants and KRW 11 billion in educational expenditures that include start-up funds to develop talent for future industries and bring the industry-academia cooperation ecosystem to global levels under the goal of achieving ‘total and open industry-academia cooperation.’ Five industrial collaboration centers opened to nurture talent in cutting-edge fields, such as ICT and biotechnology, as well as strengthen partnerships with businesses in medical biotechnology, ICT, and material-parts-equipment. Currently, support is also being extended to connective major, convergence major, and micro major programs where 450 teaching staff and over 13 thousand students are participating across 60 academic departments.