InterviewWhy Korea University is nurturing critical thinkers to prepare for AI era

Korea University President Kim Dong-one speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the main building of the university's campus in Seongbuk District, Seoul, April 9. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes classrooms and research, universities are being called to redefine their role — not as passive adopters of technology, but as institutions that cultivate individuals capable of using AI as a tool while safeguarding human dignity and intellectual autonomy.

Korea University unveiled “Next Intelligence” as its core vision to mark its 120th anniversary last year and has continued to advance the concept since. It frames intelligence as a partnership between humans and AI, working together to enhance and extend each other’s capabilities rather than compete for dominance.

“The core mission of university education is no longer simply to deliver knowledge,” Korea University President Kim Dong-one told The Korea Times in a recent interview. “It is to fulfill the role of a Next Intelligence University — one that teaches what AI cannot replace: how to ask meaningful questions and how to choose values.”

He emphasized that the rise of AI presents both new opportunities and fundamental challenges for universities.

“The current moment calls for higher education to reexamine and answer a more basic question — why universities exist in the first place, as simply delivering knowledge is no longer enough to define their role.”

Kim pointed to the lack of sufficient discussion and preparation for what may come after AI advances to a level comparable to human capabilities.

In response, he outlined two key roles for universities in the AI era.

Kim said that while it is inevitable for institutions to advance cutting-edge technologies by supporting research in AI-related fields, he stressed that an equally — if not more — important role lies in strengthening education in the humanities and social sciences.

Korea University President Kim Dong-one delivers a speech during the university’s 120th anniversary ceremony at its campus in Seongbuk District, Seoul, May 2025. Courtesy of Korea University

Under its Next Intelligence University vision, Korea University is moving to integrate AI across education, research and university administration.

“The goal is to cultivate talent that can make the best use of AI — to teach students how to use it effectively,” Kim said.

He added that even in an AI-driven environment, a strong foundation of basic knowledge remains essential, noting that such fundamentals enable students to use AI more productively and ultimately produce higher-quality outcomes.

Accordingly, the university places emphasis on building core knowledge and teaching fundamental principles in the first and second years. From there, it aims to shift toward an education model that focuses on applying that knowledge and leveraging AI in more advanced learning.

In addition, to cultivate individuals capable of safeguarding human dignity in a rapidly changing era, the university is making significant investments in the humanities and social sciences.

While many universities are ramping up investment in AI-related engineering fields, the university has sought to balance that push by equally strengthening the humanities and social sciences programs, hiring around 100 new faculty members in those fields over the past three years. It has also begun construction of a new humanities building — the first such project among major universities in since 2012.

“This reflects our commitment to placing the study of humanity — what AI cannot replace — at the center of the university’s priorities,” Kim said.

A screenshot shows Korea University’s “Next Intelligence” vision. Courtesy of Korea University

He stressed that the role of universities going forward is not merely to keep pace with technological change, but to help set the value frameworks that guide its direction.

“The government and companies each have roles in responding to immediate challenges and the near-term future,” Kim said. “Universities, while somewhat distanced from society, observe how it operates and identify emerging problems. We serve as a mirror reflecting society while nurturing talent for the future — a role that will become even more important in the AI era.”

In line with this vision, the university is positioning basic academic disciplines as a core asset to be protected, while strengthening an education model that emphasizes interdisciplinary, problem-solving approaches.

As part of this effort, it has introduced a Problem-Based Seminar for freshmen, designed to encourage students to define complex global challenges on their own and explore solutions from multiple perspectives.

The university has also institutionalized platforms such as the Next Intelligence Forum and Next Intelligence Seminar, bringing together leading global scholars and creating opportunities for students to engage directly with top thinkers and expand their intellectual horizons.

An aerial view of Korea University’s campus in Seoul's Seongbuk District / Courtesy of Korea University

The widening gap between the pace of technological advancement and ethical discourse in the AI era is also emerging as a major challenge.

To address this, the university emphasized that it is systematizing education on AI ethics and literacy, after becoming the first in the country to establish AI usage guidelines.

At the undergraduate level, the university offers courses on AI’s ethical issues, societal impact and global regulatory trends. For graduate students, the university is providing more advanced training focused on research ethics and the responsible use of the technology.

On the research front, the university has established collaborative platforms such as the “AI Convergence Colloquium,” bringing together scholars from diverse disciplines, while continuing proactive discussions on the potential risks and ethical implications of AI.

“I believe the role of universities is not to remain at the level of prohibition or regulation, but to present new standards and models based on responsible autonomy,” Kim said.

Alongside the climate crisis, pandemics and energy depletion, AI related issues are emerging as a global challenge — one that no single country or institution can address alone.

“Technology itself is neutral, but how humans direct its development can lead to vastly different outcomes. [In this sense,] AI also requires broader social and international consensus on how it should evolve,” Kim said. “In this new era, universities should take a leading role in shaping the future of humanity in the age of AI.”