"In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), a new future lies in the ocean of data. I hope KAIST will rise to become the world's top AI research group." These were the words left by Jaecheol Kim, Honorary Chairman of Dongwon Group, as he made a generous donation to KAIST.
On January 16, KAIST announced that Honorary Chairman Kim had pledged an additional 5.9 billion won in development funds, bringing his total donation to 60.3 billion won.
This is the second time Honorary Chairman Kim has donated since 2020. He has requested that the funds be used to nurture AI talent and strengthen research infrastructure.
The establishment of the current 'KAIST Graduate School of AI' was also made possible by Honorary Chairman Kim's donation in 2020. Since then, he has hoped that KAIST would develop world-class capabilities in the field of AI.
Upon hearing that KAIST's AI research had recently ranked fifth among global universities over the past five years, he pledged this additional donation, requesting that the school strive to reach the number one spot. The pledged additional funds will be used to cover the shortfall in resources needed to construct the AI Education and Research Building.
Previously, President Kwang Hyung Lee told Honorary Chairman Kim, "Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), currently regarded as the world leader in AI, has 45 faculty members in the field. To surpass CMU, KAIST's Graduate School of AI needs to expand its faculty to more than 50 and construct a new research building dedicated to research."
In response to President Lee's explanation, Honorary Chairman Kim replied, "I will build the building," and it is said that this additional donation was a decision to fulfill that promise.
The AI Education and Research Building will have a total floor area of 18,182 square meters (5,500 pyeong), with one basement level and eight above-ground floors, and is scheduled for completion in February 2028. Once completed, it is expected to serve as a world-class AI research hub, housing 50 faculty members and 1,000 students.
Separately, since 2021, KAIST has been selecting an additional 60 master's and 10 doctoral students each year as 'Dongwon Scholars' outside the regular admissions quota for a period of ten years. The selected master's and doctoral students have received tuition and research incentives funded by donations for three years, and starting in 2024, KAIST is allocating its own budget to create an environment where scholars can focus on their research.
Going forward, KAIST plans to build a world-class faculty at the Jaecheol Kim Graduate School of AI and systematically operate its master's and doctoral programs to cultivate global core AI talent.
Honorary Chairman Kim stated, "I hope this donation will serve as a small catalyst for Korea to become a leading nation in AI. Above all, I look forward to seeing global core talent grow here at KAIST and ultimately contribute to enhancing the nation's competitiveness."
President Lee responded, "Honorary Chairman Kim's unwavering support will be a driving force for KAIST to secure global AI leadership. We will ensure that the Jaecheol Kim Graduate School of AI grows into a mecca where the world's best AI talent gathers to create innovation, fully meeting the Honorary Chairman's expectations."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
