George Mason University Korea partners with local defense organizations

C5I Korea Center Director Shin In-sub, left, poses with Association of the Republic of Korea Army President Kwon Oh-sung, center, and Kwon So-young, director of the Industry-University Collaboration Foundation & Associate Dean of External Affairs at George Mason University Korea during a partnership signing ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of George Mason University Korea

George Mason University Korea signed a memorandum of understanding with two Korean defense organizations to jointly develop defense information and communications technology (ICT), along with command, control, communications, computing, cyber and intelligence (C5I) systems, the school said Friday.

George Mason University Korea is an extended overseas campus of the Virginia-based public research university. The agreement was signed with the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and the Defense Information and Communication Association at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, Thursday.

A university official said the partnership aims to promote policy, strategy and education collaboration in the digital age.

The C5I Korea Center — a local extension of the George Mason University C5I Center — will serve as a hub for joint research, education and industry-academic cooperation in defense ICT, cyber capabilities and artificial intelligence (AI).

Under the agreement, the partners plan to pursue a range of joint initiatives, including collaborative research on policy, strategy and systems development for Korea-specific C5I architectures; planning and operating a “C5I-AI Convergence” exhibit and related seminars at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition 2026; and identifying future requirements and projects in defense ICT.

The partnership also calls for building a civil-military-industry-academic network and launching professional education programs, seminars, forums and workshops, the official added.

“Aligned with Korea’s national objective of become a leading AI power by 2026, this collaboration will leverage the C5I Korea Center’s strong R&D strengths with the operational expertise of the Defense Information and Communication Association and the military practitioners of the Association of the Republic of Korea Army,” said Shin In-sub, director of the C5I Korea Center and president of the Defence Information Communication Association.

George Mason University Korea President Joshua Park said the institution will integrate data science, AI and analytics education with defense ICT to better prepare students for work in modern command, intelligence and communications environments.

“Through practical training and partnerships across military, academic and industry sectors, we aim to cultivate professionals who can support digital transformation and AI-enabled missions,” Park said.

George Mason University Korea, part of the Mason global network, offers U.S. degrees in Incheon, under the same curriculum as the main campus. Students may spend part of their studies in the United States and receive degrees accredited by the university in Virginia.