Kookmin University researcher, student win Global Youth Award
Summary
Ra Min-su and Ji Ye-jun of Kookmin University won the 2026 WeGO Global Youth Award at Coex in southern Seoul on Oct. 7. The awards were presented during the 2026 WeGO Champions Seoul Workshop, part of Smart Life Week 2026, co-hosted by WeGO and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A workshop panel discussed AI and housing, with Kookmin University Vice President Kim Byoung-joon participating. Kookmin students also explored how AI technologies affect residential environments and urban sustainability.
Key Facts
- The event was held from Oct. 6-8, and the award is in its second year.
- Ra Min-su is a researcher at Kookmin University’s Global Development Cooperation Institute, while Ji Ye-jun is a senior at its Kookmin International Business School.
- WeGO launched its Sustainable Smart City Champions program in 2022 to provide education and international exchange opportunities in smart cities, digital governance and sustainable development.
- The Global Symbiosis Consortium includes Kookmin University, Kwangwoon University, Sun Moon University, Yeungnam University and Honam University.
- The consortium operates educational and exchange programs under the HUSS Convergence Talent Development Project, supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Award honors young people developing solutions to urban challenges
Ra Min-su, left, a researcher at Kookmin University’s Global Development Cooperation Institute, and Ji Ye-jun, right, a senior at the Kookmin International Business School, pose after receiving the 2026 WeGO Global Youth Award at the 2026 Sustainable Smart City Champions Session at Coex in southern Seoul, Oct. 7. At center is Kim Byoung-joon, the university’s vice president for international affairs and director of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) Global Symbiosis Project. Courtesy of Kookmin University
A researcher and a student from Kookmin University have each received an award at the 2026 Sustainable Smart City Champions Session, the university said.
The event was part of Smart Life Week 2026, co-hosted by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government at Coex in southern Seoul from Oct. 6-8.
Ra Min-su, a researcher at the university’s Global Development Cooperation Institute, and Ji Ye-jun, a senior at the Kookmin International Business School, won the 2026 WeGO Global Youth Award on Oct. 7.
Ji is also a student supporter of the university’s HUSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) Global Symbiosis Project.
WeGO is an international organization that promotes smart and sustainable urban development through cooperation among local governments, businesses and other relevant organizations around the world.
Through its Sustainable Smart City Champions program, launched in 2022, the organization provides educational programs and international exchange opportunities in smart cities, digital governance and sustainable development to nurture the next generation of urban leaders.
Now in its second year, the WeGO Global Youth Award recognizes young people from around the world who have contributed to solving urban challenges through innovative ideas and initiatives across various fields.
The awards were presented during the 2026 WeGO Champions Seoul Workshop, which also featured a panel discussion on the theme of “AI and Housing.”
Kim Byoung-joon, vice president for international affairs at Kookmin University and director of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) Global Symbiosis Project, speaks at the 2026 WeGO Champions Seoul Workshop at Coex in southern Seoul, Oct. 7. The workshop was part of Smart Life Week 2026 co-hosted by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Courtesy of Kookmin University
Kim Byoung-joon, vice president for international affairs at Kookmin University and director of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) Global Symbiosis Project, participated as a panelist to discuss artificial inteligence (AI) technologies and the future of sustainable cities.
Student supporters of the HUSS Global Symbiosis Project attended the event, exploring the effect of AI technologies on residential environments and urban sustainability.
Kookmin University is a participating institution in the Global Symbiosis Consortium under the HUSS Convergence Talent Development Project, supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
In collaboration with Kwangwoon University, Sun Moon University, Yeungnam University and Honam University, the consortium operates a range of educational and exchange programs to nurture interdisciplinary talent capable of leading a sustainable global society.
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