LGU+ to Launch 'Metaverse Campus' with Cheongju University Next Year

University-Exclusive Metaverse Platform 'MetaLife' Established

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Freshmen of Cheongju University, class of 2023, will be able to attend classes through the metaverse (extended virtual world).

LG Uplus announced on the 8th that it has signed a contract with Cheongju University to build a university-specialized metaverse platform called 'MetaLife.'

Cheongju University plans to open MetaLife by February next year, allowing students to enjoy both online and offline campus life throughout their enrollment, beyond just using the metaverse for events such as entrance ceremonies or festivals. The aim is to accommodate the convenience of Gen Z students who are accustomed to online and non-face-to-face environments and to improve academic efficiency.

MetaLife will be created by applying a 3D modeled view of the entire Cheongju University campus onto LG Uplus's university-specialized metaverse platform. Students can participate in classes or receive career and employment counseling through avatars. Prospective students and local residents, among other outsiders, can freely explore and use the Cheongju University metaverse space, which mirrors the real environment.

Unique spaces will also be implemented. For example, students can write resumes or travel plans while receiving guidance from native speakers in a metaverse space modeled after New York's 42nd Street.

The Cheongju University metaverse campus will be completed through student participation. This includes applying games developed by students to the metaverse platform and introducing studio functions that allow students to create content themselves, fostering an environment of active two-way communication.

Jeon Seung-hoon, Executive Director of LG Uplus Smart Infrastructure Business, said, "We hope Cheongju University students will enjoy various campus life experiences in the metaverse space through the Cheongju University metaverse platform," adding, "We aim to provide real customer value to universities and students through the metaverse."

Hong Young-gi, Director of the Educational Innovation Center at Cheongju University, said, "This metaverse platform construction project at our university will serve as a foundation for integrating offline and online campuses and revitalizing student communities that combine 'play' and 'learning,'" and added, "We expect it to be an opportunity to create a shared and cooperative model between universities and regions based on the metaverse."