History Makers. We Change the World!
“A dream is not a job title, it is a vision of who you want to become.” On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, SUNY Korea held the SUNY Korea Distinguished Seminar, hosting Sejin Kim, a SUNY Korea Business Management alumnus. Having pursued various paths such as paralympic swimmer, Asia’s first game accessibility specialist, and adaptive fashion model, Sejin Kim shared his story of growing up in a world which seemed determined to keep him down. Sejin Kim’s presentation was split into 5 main segments, labelled as the primary visions/dreams of his life in chronological order. From simply wanting to be able to walk, to pushing beyond his physical limits to reach the qualifiers in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and his post-Olympic dream to simply live ordinarily through the lowest moments of his life, Sejin continued to dream in order to live a life he could be proud of. Sejin Kim’s story is an odyssey of unbreakable resilience, moving onwards no matter how many times he wanted to simply give up and disappear. To live is to create your own purpose. You will reach heights beyond your imagination, and you will fall to depths that seem impossible to climb out of. But to live is to find reasons to continue onwards. Written by Student Reporter, Danwoo (Dan) Kim danwoo.kim@stonybrook.edu
On October 26, 2026, SUNY Korea Shared Prosperity Scholarship recipients visited Sipjeong Elementary School in Incheon to participate in a community wall painting activity hosted by General Motors Technical Center Korea (GMTCK). The event brought together students from SUNY Korea and George Mason University, along with GMTCK employees, to decorate the school's walls with colorful Roblox-themed artwork. Participants worked together, shared laughter, and enjoyed the opportunity to connect while helping create a more vibrant environment for the children. The activity was part of the Shared Prosperity, Shared Growth program, which provides students with opportunities to learn about Korean history and culture while encouraging engagement with the local community. By participating in this social contribution initiative, scholarship recipients gained firsthand experience in community engagement, teamwork, and social responsibility. SUNY Korea extends its sincere gratitude to GMTCK for hosting this activity and providing students with the opportunity to make a positive contribution. We look forward to participating in more meaningful community activities in the future! Written by Student Reporter, Onyinyechi Achi (onyinyechi.achi@stonybrook.edu)
SUNY Korea participated in GMTCK AI Week 2026, held from October 14 to 15 at the Cheongna and Bupyeong facilities of GM Technical Center Korea (GMTCK), to present student and faculty research and engage with industry professionals. The theme of the GMTCK AI Week was “Beyond Awareness into Value. AI That Truly Works.” The event aimed to move beyond general awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) by sharing practical applications in business operations and research and development (R&D). Participating organizations, including GMTCK, Siemens, and Google, presented AI projects and exhibitions, technical sessions, seminars on innovation in manufacturing and R&D, and hands-on workshops featuring AI tools. On October 14, SUNY Korea exhibited five AI-related research posters by winning teams from the 2025 Research Challenge at the AI Showcase conducted at GMTCK’s Cheongna Proving Ground. The exhibition featured research from the Department of Computer Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and FIT’s Fashion Business Management program. The projects demonstrated how AI can be applied across a range of fields, from data privacy and electric vehicles to electronic components, semiconductors, and sustainable fashion. The Department of Computer Science presented research examining privacy risks in scene-coordinate regression models used for camera pose estimation. Research from the Department of Mechanical Engineering focused on predicting the remaining useful life of electric vehicle inverters by combining physics-of-failure models with neural networks, as well as evaluating the reliability of multilayer electronic components using physics-informed neural networks and the finite element method. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering showcased research integrating atomic-level physics with AI-based semiconductor device simulation to support the design of 6T SRAM memory cells. Meanwhile, FIT’s Fashion Business Management program presented a prototype designed to help users make more sustainable clothing decisions—including reuse, repair, resale, and replacement—based on carbon footprints and user preferences. On October 15, Professor Mario Ruettgers of the Department of Mechanical Engineering presented his research at the technical conference in Bupyeong. He introduced research on temperature control that combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with AI-based reinforcement learning. His presentation explored a temperature-control approach that accounts for the time delay before changes in inlet temperature affect downstream conditions, as well as the potential to apply trained control policies to different operating conditions. SUNY Korea students also attended technical sessions and seminars to learn about practical applications of AI in manufacturing and R&D. Through discussions with industry experts and feedback on their research, students gained valuable insights into how university research can translate into real-world operations and product development. SUNY Korea aims to build on this experience by creating more opportunities for students and faculty to exchange ideas with industry professionals and apply their research to practical challenges.
What does intelligence mean in the age of AI? James Rhee, global business leader, acclaimed CEO, and bestselling author, returned to SUNY Korea for a special lecture titled “A Perspective on the Future of Intelligence Upon the Launch of the New HBS Case.” Following his previous visit in September 2025, Rhee returned to share his perspectives on the future of intelligence and the importance of human agency in an increasingly AI-driven world. Rhee is recognized for his innovative approach to leadership, entrepreneurship, and organizational transformation. His leadership philosophy and work are the subjects of a newly published Harvard Business School (HBS) case, which examines his approach to building systems centered on human agency, trust, and goodwill. Drawing on his multidisciplinary experiences, Rhee has demonstrated how kindness, trust, and human connection can serve as powerful foundations for organizational success. As AI continues to develop and reshape how people learn, work, and interact, Rhee invited the audience to reflect on the role of humans in the AI-driven world. While AI can process information and generate sophisticated outputs, human wisdom, empathy, and connection remain essential. He highlighted the enduring value of human expression through the example of minyo, traditional Korean folk songs. Although their melodies may be simple or imperfect, they carry generations of wisdom, shared experiences, and emotional resonance that AI cannot create. His perspective emphasized the importance of radical human agency over technological passivity and systematic thinking to navigate complexity, make thoughtful decisions, and ensure that technological progress continues to serve humanity while preserving the value of human wisdom, kindness, and connection. During his previous visit to SUNY Korea, Rhee encouraged students to reclaim their agency and lead with kindness, emphasizing self-trust, balance, and goodwill as essential qualities for navigating uncertainty. His return built on these ideas, inviting the SUNY Korea community to reconsider the meaning of intelligence in an era of rapid technological change and to recognize the enduring importance of human agency and connection.
SUNY Korea is proud to announce that Samteun Choi, a sophomore in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), has received the WeGO Global Youth Award in the Advanced Technology category. This achievement marks the second consecutive year that a SUNY Korea student has received this recognition, following Joonhyeong Kim’s award in 2025. Organized by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), the Global Youth Award recognizes young leaders with outstanding potential to contribute to the future of smart cities, advanced technologies, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and other fields. Through its global youth programs, WeGO provides opportunities for young people to exchange knowledge, develop expertise, and explore innovative solutions to urban and technological challenges. Samteun has demonstrated strong academic performance, while actively contributing to the SUNY Korea community through engineering projects and student leadership. He serves as president of the EVision student robotics club and has fostered a collaborative environment where members of different experience levels can participate in hands-on robotics projects. He and three teammates won first place in the ECE Department Design Competition with their project, “3D LED Cube with Glove-Based Gesture Communication.” In addition, he is currently participating in the 2026 National University AI Semiconductor Circuit Design Competition, where he is gaining further experience in AI chip design, testing, and AER communication design. Samteun’s recognition continues SUNY Korea’s record of student achievement in the WeGO Global Youth Award, following Joonhyeong Kim’s success in 2025. Together, these accomplishments reflect the university’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, hands-on innovation, and student leadership in advanced technology.
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