▲Kyungbok University — Winner of THE 2026 NYF‑K‑NBA Korea National Brand Awards, University Internationalization category. Photo courtesy of Kyungbok University.
Namyangju — Kyungbok University announced on April 7 that it had been named No. 1 in the Internationalization of Universities category at THE 2026 NYF‑K‑NBA New York Festival Korea National Brand Awards.
Following consecutive University College wins in 2024 and 2025, Kyungbok captured the university internationalization award in 2026, marking three straight years of recognition and reaffirming its position as a leading national university brand in Korea.
Now in its 17th year, the NYF K‑NBA Korea National Brand Awards is a prestigious ceremony that recognizes brands with national value and competitiveness. The awards honor institutions across education, industry and culture that have demonstrated sustained innovation and measurable results.
President Jeon Ji‑yong said Kyungbok’s vision, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit have driven sustained efforts to cultivate globally minded graduates, resulting in three consecutive awards. He added the university will further strengthen industry‑driven, on‑demand programs and personalized career‑design systems to realize its motto, "Turning Potential Into Professionals."
Kyungbok continues to pursue educational innovation grounded in AI and digital‑twin technologies. Centered on its AI Digital Twin Research Institute, the university collaborates with industry, academia and local communities on applied research that addresses real‑world problems. It is also developing advanced interdisciplinary talent through a specialized Master of Technology program in AI‑based XR simulation content.
The university is working with the Ministry of Education’s RISE (Regional Innovation‑centered University Support System) initiative to strengthen workforce development aligned with regional strategic industries, and it is expanding industry‑academic cooperation projects to build a model of shared growth with local communities.
Kyungbok ranked first in integrated employment rate among metropolitan universities under university information disclosure standards — for institutions with more than 2,000 graduates in 2017–2022 and for those with more than 1,000 graduates in 2024–2025 — demonstrating the university’s emphasis on practice‑oriented education. Observers point to roughly 8,400 industry partners, overseas employment support programs and tailored job‑placement services as key contributors.
In 2024 the university awarded KRW 26.4 billion (about $19.8 million) in scholarships and provided an average of KRW 4,389,000 (about $3,292) per student, reinforcing a student‑centered learning environment. The scholarship recipient rate reached 90.1%. The university has also expanded supports such as dormitories, shuttle buses and overseas field‑study programs.
Kyungbok said it will use this recognition to accelerate AI‑driven educational innovation and to refine its regional innovation model, advancing its goal of graduating practice‑oriented talent with global competitiveness.
Kang Geun‑ju, Energy Economy, kkjoo0912@ekn.kr
