[Interview] Hongik University President Park Sangju: "The Fusion of Art and Technology Is the Future Growth Engine"

Artistic Sensibility in Engineering Thinking
Design Engineering Convergence Major
Attracting Industry Partners to the Art & Design Valley

The spirit of Hongik, which means "to widely benefit the world," is a core value deeply embedded in our blood. Hongik University, with its focus on both the arts and engineering, envisions a fusion of practical value and societal benefit. In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), Park Sangju, President of Hongik University and a 40-year veteran in engineering, is leading the way toward this vision. We met him in the president's office at the Munheon Hall of Hongik University in Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. He stated, "I intend to infuse artistic sensibility into engineering thinking." His answers to questions were confident and clear, and his deep, resonant voice lingered throughout the interview. The following is a Q&A with President Park.

Park Sangju, President of Hongik University, is giving an interview to Asia Economy. Photo by Yoon Dongju

-How can artistic sensibility and engineering thinking coexist?

▲Hongik University is renowned for its College of Fine Arts, but I believe that the field where the fusion of engineering is essential is industrial design. In this major, we nurture "designineers" (designer + engineer) who can develop high-quality products that satisfy both emotional and functional needs, producing practical talent ready for the field. Students in the Design Engineering Convergence major have recently achieved results on the global stage. The "POY" team from this major developed the "Golden Capsule," a non-powered IV drip device designed to control the amount of fluid by adjusting the air volume in a balloon. The "Golden Capsule" project ranked in the top five at the Prototypes for Humanity competition held in Dubai, UAE, competing against students from leading universities worldwide, and won an award in the "Health, Relief and Safety" category. At the 2023 Engineering Festival, the team received the Prime Minister's Award, and at the James Dyson Award 2023, they became the first Korean team to win the final prize.

-Hongik University has adopted the slogan "The Meeting of Industry and Art." How is this reflected in the curriculum and industry-academia cooperation programs?

▲To realize education that breaks down the boundaries between industry and art, we operate PBL (Problem-Based Learning) 1+1 courses and micro-major programs based on a flexible academic system closely integrated with industry. Students systematically develop practical abilities to apply convergent knowledge of design and engineering in real-world settings. To foster convergent talent with both artistic sensibility and engineering thinking, we have established an educational system centered on the Design Engineering Convergence major. This major has been designated as a specialized department through the University Innovation Support Project and receives focused support. We attract industry partners and implement customized curricula that link relevant majors from the College of Fine Arts and the College of Engineering to realize the fusion of industry and art.

-You have set strengthening industry-academia cooperation capabilities as a development goal. What are the specific strategies?

▲With the vision of building an "H·art+Tech Content Convergence Industry-Academia Ecosystem," we are creating new value for future industries through the creative fusion of art and technology. By integrating artistic sensibility and design thinking into traditional engineering fields such as electronics, mechanical, chemical, and civil engineering, we are enabling technology to evolve beyond mere functionality into forms with aesthetic and cultural significance. Providing users with intuitive and emotional experiences and realizing user-centered innovation are the core values and practical strategies that Hongik University pursues.

-Can you share specific achievements from recent industry-academia cooperation cases?

▲Through cooperation with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, we have established a global design-engineering convergence education program, creating an internationally recognized model for industry-academia cooperation. Talent nurtured with support from Audi has excelled in international competitions such as the James Dyson Award. We are also conducting pioneering research in the fusion of technology and urban design. Professor Lee Seungoh is leading the "Development of High-Precision Urban Flood Analysis and Prediction Technology Based on Intelligent Information Technology" project, which is gaining attention as a core technology for responding to climate crises and implementing smart cities. We expect this to contribute to public safety and urban resilience.

-How is the Art & Design Valley being operated?

▲By attracting industry partners to the Art & Design Valley, we are building an education and research ecosystem based on industry-academia-research collaboration. Students receive internship scholarships and have internship opportunities within the Art & Design Valley. Kia Motors' DEX (Design-Experience) Lab is set to officially open soon. Focusing on mobility interior component design, Kia researchers participate in entrepreneurship education through team teaching. After the official opening, hands-on education equivalent to real business experience and mentoring by industry professionals are planned. We expect this to play a significant role in transportation design and personal mobility design. At Hansae Co., Ltd.'s Next Design Lab, Vice Chairman Kim Ikhwan and other practitioners serve as adjunct professors. Vice Chairman Kim lectures on the global fashion industry, and each week, industry experts from different brands deliver trend-focused special lectures to strengthen practical education.

Park Sangju, President of Hongik University, is giving an interview to Asia Economy. Photo by Yoon Dongju

-You have stated that expanding educational spaces and facilities is necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of education and research. Could you elaborate?

▲To nurture creative, convergent talent and conduct advanced research, we are pursuing the construction of the "Innovation Growth Campus." This campus will be developed in connection with Seoul City's innovation growth plan, under three core objectives: strengthening industry-academia cooperation, nurturing future talent, and contributing to the local community. We plan to establish R&D centers, startup support centers, and industry-academia-research collaboration spaces to create an innovation ecosystem where research and entrepreneurship can thrive. Targeting completion by 2030, we will benchmark the MIT Media Lab and France's Station F to develop the "Technology & Culture Plaza," equipped with a multidisciplinary convergence research environment and a startup incubation system. By operating practical R&D and OJT education in collaboration with industry, we aim to promote patent development and technology transfer.

-What are the utilization plans for the four campuses?

▲We aim to realize mutual growth with the local community, centering on each campus in Sangsu-dong, Daehak-ro, Sejong, and Hwaseong. In particular, the Sejong campus is being developed as an education and research hub specializing in future industries such as digital health, digital content, future mobility, and video media. Based on the RISE project, we are building a cooperative ecosystem with local governments, industries, and research institutes. The Hwaseong campus is also being established as a demonstration research base for core fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and drones, through collaborative research with nearby major companies like Hyundai-Kia Motors, LG, and Samsung. The Sangsu-dong campus in Seoul is becoming a hub of creative industries by leveraging the cultural dynamism of the Hongdae area, where art and technology converge, and by connecting with adjacent business districts such as Gongdeok, Yeouido, and Sangam DMC. The Daehak-ro campus, specializing in performing arts education and creative activities, is leading the cultivation of artistic talent and enhancing the competitiveness of the local performing arts industry.

Park Sangju, President of Hongik University, is giving an interview to Asia Economy. Photo by Yoon Dongju

-In line with the AI era, Hongik University has set the vision of becoming a "global top 100 university nurturing talent to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution." What does this entail?

▲Creativity is something that AI cannot replace. AI is merely a tool; it is people who must possess creativity. Under the vision of "nurturing creative, convergent talent to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution," we aim to cultivate individuals with both creativity and problem-solving skills through convergent education that transcends the boundaries between art and technology. In the fields of art and design, we have recently ranked 44th in the QS World University Rankings for Art & Design, and we are developing a step-by-step strategy to enter the global top 10. While inheriting traditional art techniques, we are also creating an educational environment where AI and digital technologies can be used as creative tools. To enhance competitiveness in engineering, we have established and operate a total of 13 convergence majors, including "Architectural Space Art," "Big Data Business," "Design Engineering," "Future Mobility," and "Healthcare Services."

-If you could achieve one goal during your term, what would it be?

▲It would be to concretize the blueprint for a future-oriented university. I will improve the structure of education, research, and industry-academia cooperation so that Hongik University can firmly establish itself as an institution that preserves traditional values while leading the digital and convergence era. Education, research, and industry-academia cooperation should not be fragmented but connected as a single goal. To achieve this, we must expand talent development projects and exchanges with research institutes. To nurture talent who will lead a better future, we will pursue not just "change" but "evolution."

Interview conducted by Lee Myungjin, Social Affairs Editor

Organized by Lee Eunseo, Reporter

Who is President Park Sangju?

Park Sangju, President of Hongik University (age 63), describes himself as an engineer who "emerged" from a family of artists. This seems to explain why Hongik University, under his leadership, has chosen the fusion of art and engineering as its future growth strategy. He earned his bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from Seoul National University in 1984, his master's degree in electronic engineering from the same university in 1986, and his Ph.D. in electronic engineering from Stanford University in 1992. He then worked for nearly three years on the development team at Philips Semiconductor Research Lab, a global company in Silicon Valley, USA. Since joining Hongik University as a professor in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering in 1995, he has served as head of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Group, dean of academic affairs, and dean of the College of Engineering, before being appointed president in September last year.

The vision President Park is shaping for Hongik University is that of a university "where industry and art meet." In his inaugural address, he stated, "We must strive to become a model for 'Art and Tech' education and research, which combines art and advanced technology, to spread these achievements through industry-academia cooperation, and to elevate our status as a cradle of creative convergence education." President Park also emphasizes, "To nurture talent equipped with core competencies for the AI era, such as software and data analysis skills, we must break down academic boundaries and create an educational environment that fosters convergent thinking." In 2025, Hongik University has set its sights on becoming a "global top 100 university nurturing talent to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution."