Kim Jaecheol, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group, Donates 25 Billion Won of Personal Funds to Seoul National University

Seoul National University Launches "Kim Jaecheol AI Class," Selecting 30 Students Annually
Exchange Programs with Leading U.S. Universities and Industry-Academia Internship Opportunities

Kim Jaecheol, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group, will donate 25 billion won of his personal funds to Seoul National University to foster talent in the domestic artificial intelligence (AI) sector and to help build the industry ecosystem.

On October 1, at a donation agreement ceremony held at the Seoul National University administration building, Honorary Chairman Kim pledged to donate 2.5 billion won of his personal funds each year for the next 10 years. The ceremony was attended by Yoo Hongrim, President of Seoul National University, university officials, as well as Kim Namjung, Chairman of Dongwon Group, and Kim Eunja, Vice Chairwoman of Dongwon Wine Plus, among other family members.

On the 1st, at Seoul National University, Kim Jaecheol, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group (right), and Yoo Hongrim, President of Seoul National University (left), are taking a commemorative photo at the AI Talent Development Kim Jaecheol AI Class Fund Agreement Ceremony. [Photo by Dongwon Group]

This donation stems from Honorary Chairman Kim's belief that "Korea must take the lead in the AI field in order to advance as a developed nation." It is known that he was inspired to make this donation after resonating with President Yoo Hongrim's urgent call for AI talent development during a lecture at Seoul National University earlier this year, where he spoke on the topic of his management essay, "How to Ride the Waves of Life."

Based on this donation, Seoul National University will establish the "Kim Jaecheol AI Class." Over the next 10 years, 30 undergraduate students will be selected each year to receive full scholarships and tailored education. The program will also support exchange student opportunities with leading global universities such as MIT, Stanford University, and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as internships at global ICT companies, with the aim of cultivating world-class AI talent. Seoul National University expects this class to serve as a "catalyst for Korea's AI education platform."

Honorary Chairman Kim stated, "It is unacceptable for Korea's youth, who possess great potential, to lose opportunities for academic exploration due to a lack of infrastructure. Creating an environment and foundation where our young people can conduct research without worry is an essential task, which is why I am once again taking on a new challenge."

Honorary Chairman Kim's history of educational philanthropy dates back half a century. In 1979, just 10 years after founding his company, he established the Dongwon Scholarship Foundation with a personal donation of 300 million won, launching scholarship programs. Since then, he has consistently supported research and educational development funds, with cumulative donations exceeding 110 billion won.

This is not his first contribution to AI talent development. In 2019, he donated 3 billion won to establish the Hanyang AI Solution Center at Hanyang University, and in 2020, he contributed 54.4 billion won to KAIST to establish the Kim Jaecheol AI Graduate School.

Dongwon Group is also strengthening AI education and practical applications at the corporate level. In 2019, the company introduced Robotic Process Automation (RPA) across all its affiliates, and the following year launched a dedicated AI organization under the CEO, which has since expanded into the current Digital Transformation (DT) division. Last year, the company held an internal AI competition, and this year, it is co-hosting an AI competition with KAIST to further enhance related capabilities.

Honorary Chairman Kim remarked, "When we were young, we sought our future in the blue oceans of the world, but in the AI era, the new future will be found in the ocean of data." He added, "I hope this donation will serve as a catalyst for nurturing AI talent at Seoul National University." He went on to urge, "I ask that the teachers and students of Seoul National University join forces to become the roots of Korea's AI industry."

Yoo Hongrim, President of Seoul National University, stated, "At this critical juncture for fostering the AI industry, which will determine national competitiveness, Honorary Chairman Kim's decision is highly significant." He added, "As we mark the 50th anniversary of the integrated Gwanak Campus, this year will be a turning point for Seoul National University to become a hub of AI education through the Kim Jaecheol AI Class."