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Kookmin University joins EU quantum security project
Kookmin University professor Yoo Il-sun speaks at a Horizon Europe researchers' forum hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Courtesy of Kookmin University
By Lee Kyung-min
Kookmin University has secured a place in one of Europe’s largest research programs, signaling a deepening of cross-border collaboration in quantum technology and digital security.
Kookmin University said Thursday that professor Yoo Il-sun, a faculty member in the information security and cryptography department, had been selected for the European Union’s flagship Horizon Europe initiative, a multibillion-euro program aimed at advancing strategic technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and semiconductors.
The selection marks a rare case for a Korean university joining a core European research consortium in a field that combines quantum technology with digital security, underscoring growing global cooperation in next-generation technologies.
The project, titled “Quantum Computing European Union-Korea Working Team,” will run for three years with a budget of about 2.7 million euros ($2.9 million). It is led by Politecnico di Milano in Italy and includes partners such as Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute and Finland-based IQM Quantum Computers.
Kookmin University said it will focus on designing and testing AI-based digital security systems that integrate quantum computing with high-performance computing. The research will emphasize quantum-safe security technologies tailored for emerging 6G networks and hyperconnected digital ecosystems.
“This selection is meaningful as it demonstrates that our university’s research competitiveness and innovation in quantum technology and digital security have gained international recognition,” Yoo said. “We will take the lead in securing technological sovereignty and setting global standards in future strategic technologies through collaboration with leading European institutions.”
Yoo has led key research in 5G and 6G mobile communication security, contributing to the development of Korea’s security technologies and industry ecosystem. He currently chairs the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ 6G-IoT quantum security standardization group and the International Federation for Information Processing’s working group on e-business information systems.
Kookmin University said the project is expected to strengthen its Global ICT Convergence Security Research Center’s partnerships with European institutions and position it as a global hub in quantum and AI-driven security research.
The university has also unveiled a long-term strategy, “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,” aimed at sharpening its competitive advantage in higher education. The plan focuses on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, global capacity and sustainability, with eight priority sectors including quantum technology, AI, robotics and advanced materials.
As part of its push into quantum research, Kookmin University last year launched what it described as Korea’s first “quantum campus,” designed to link research, education and commercialization in the field.