Abu Dhabi, May 14, 2025 – South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) brought together
their next-generation leaders to explore future cooperation in science,
technology, innovation, and sustainability.
A special exchange event was held at the
Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Korea Foundation (KF). The
event featured participants from the KF Global Fellows program and the UAE
government’s National Experts Program (NEP), marking the first formal
engagement between rising STEM leaders from both countries.
The gathering served as a platform for
in-depth dialogue on shared national goals, including sustainability through
innovation, the future of energy, talent mobility, and cross-border policy
collaboration.
The UAE’s NEP cultivates strategic planning
and innovation capabilities among mid-career professionals across government
sectors. Similarly, the KF Global Fellows program aims to strengthen Korea’s
global leadership in STEM by providing international exposure to outstanding
young professionals. Both programs share a mission: to equip future leaders
with the tools to address global challenges and forge meaningful partnerships.
The 10 fellows include Minsang Yu (CSO of
AUTONOMOUS A2Z), Daewon Yoon (Researcher at Samsung Electronics), Keehoon Kang
(Professor at Seoul National Univ.), Keungoui Kim (Professor at Yonsei Univ.),
Sunghak Park (Professor at Sungkyunkwan Univ.), Jongho Won (Professor at
Dankook Univ.), Jungwoo Kim (Researcher at KIST), Jeehye Min (Researcher at
STEPI), Sungil Yun (Researcher at KITECH), and Wona Lee (Researcher at NIGT).
Following their UAE visit, the fellows will
continue to Vietnam and Singapore to engage with leading scientific
institutions including the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), and the Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR).
The delegation is accompanied by two senior
mentors: Dr. Wonsoo Kim, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and
current Director of the Future Civilization Institute at Kyung Hee University;
and Professor Hwasoo Yeo of KAIST’s Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering. Dr. Kim noted, “Addressing global challenges like climate
change and AI transformation requires transnational solidarity. This exchange
reflects our joint commitment to preparing the next generation of global
leaders.”
The Korea Foundation will continue to expand
the Global Fellows program, promoting STEM-based policy cooperation,
international joint research, and startup partnerships-solidifying South
Korea’s position as a global leader in science and technology.
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