Prof. Nielsen Shares Insights at National Assembly Forum

Prof. Youngju Nielsen has presented at a National Assembly forum on the pension system. The forum convened leaders from labor, business, and financial investment sectors to discuss the future direction of retirement pension policy. At the forum, Prof. Nielsen recommended that the committee overseeing the retirement pension system be entrusted to professionals and held accountable not for the returns they generate, but for how funds are managed. In Korea, attention to pensions continues to grow as the system undergoes significant change. Prof. Nielsen, a leading pension expert, actively engages the media and various forums to share her insights on the fund-type pension system currently being introduced by the government. ○ Coverage in the media Low-Return Retirement Pensions Under Scrutiny: Can Fund-Type Models Offer a Solution? Principal-Protected Pension Structures Limit Returns, Accountability Unclear Pension Fund Model Sparks Debate: Process Accountability vs. Free Pass on Returns Underperforming Fund-Type Pensions Underscore Need for Clarity on Accountability Fund-Type Pensions Must Clarify Accountability: 'Process Accountability' Gains Support Fund-Type Pensions Not Enough: Financial Representatives’ Duty Key to Pension Reform Success 400 Trillion Won in Dormant Pensions: Can Fund-Type Systems Unlock These? Fund-Type Pensions Shift Focus to Process, Not Outcomes: External Funding Mandate Required in Phases Debate on Fund-Type Pensions Gains Pace: Financial Investors Watch Closely Fund-Type Pensions May Lift Returns: Success Hinges on Clear Structure and Financial Representatives’ Duty More Pension Holders Begin Managing Dormant Savings: Policies Needed to Change Behavior Labor and Business Split over Effectiveness of Mandatory External Funding for Retirement Pensions Returns Hover Around 2% on 500 Trillion Won in Pension Assets: Fund-Type Overhaul Sparks Debate

SKK GSB Featured Course: AI-Driven Banking

SKK GSB's AI MBA students explored how AI and big data are transforming banking through a course in AI-Driven Banking, taught by distinguished practitioner Swaroop Yalla, Managing Director of Global Risk Management Transformation, AI and Automation at Bank of America. The course examined how fintech companies are disrupting traditional banking by offering faster, more efficient, data-driven alternatives. Students engaged directly with the kind of AI applications banks are beginning to use, including systems that detect fraud, automate documentation, and trade in stocks. They also built their own mini AI models, gaining hands-on experience with coding and model development. The course also introduced AI agents capable of managing entire workflows autonomously, highlighting the growing role of intelligent automation in financial services. Looking ahead to likely future applications of AI, the course explored how banking may evolve over the next 25 years. Students examined critical ethical considerations such as bias in AI-driven lending decisions, and learned how to evaluate whether AI models perform effectively and responsibly. By the end of the course, students had gained practical coding experience and a strong understanding of how AI is reshaping one of the world’s most important industries.

Securing Electricity Supply with Clean Energy Is Key in the AI Era

SKK GSB successfully held its 9th “Investing in Climate, Investing in Growth” forum on March 19. At the event, Seunghee Moon, Manufacturing & Global Biz Development Expert at SK AX, delivered a lecture titled “Energy Business: The New Axis of Growth and Strategic Opportunities.” She emphasized, “Energy has evolved from a simple commodity into a strategic asset and a new 'currency'. It is now the foundation for AI data, national security, and global competitiveness. In the AI era, electricity demand surges due to data centers, and the key is to secure electricity supply with clean energy.” As global clients increasingly mandate 100% renewable energy, Korea’s manufacturing-based economy faces a critical turning point. To stay competitive against new environmental regulations, we must accelerate the deployment of solar and wind power, while building a solid Green Hydrogen infrastructure to ensure energy security. This transition to renewable energy brings both immense challenges and unprecedented opportunities. In this rapidly evolving landscape, the 'Energy Business' is becoming the single largest and most dynamic industry in our world—one that will continuously expand and redefine our future. She also noted that for sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as steel, aviation, and cement, green hydrogen is emerging as a critical alternative to fossil fuels. She expounded: “Countries face an energy trilemma to balance security, affordability, and sustainability. In particular, through digitalization that enables tracking and quantifying energy supply and consumption, software businesses that manage decentralized energy resources through data platforms will be the primary drivers of future growth.”

Young, Global, and Connected: New Year 2026 SKK GSB Alumni Gathering

Young, Global, and Connected, SKK GSB's New Year 2026 alumni gathering, brought together more than 200 alumni from Sungkyunkwan University's SKK GSB at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on February 26 for an evening of reconnection and celebration. The event highlighted the school’s young, global, and strongly connected alumni community, with graduates representing all six SKK GSB programs and a wide range of industries. Dean Andrew Yi, together with Vice Dean Raunaq Pungaliya and Alumni Association President Dongwon Kim, welcomed distinguished alumni, while Graduate School of Business Administration at Sungkyunkwan University Alumni Association President Jaebeom Lee and Secretary General Dongsun Sa delivered congratulatory remarks on the school’s growth and international reach. Alumni from different cohorts and professional backgrounds leveraged the occasion to expand their networks and to strengthen ties within the SKK GSB community. In his address, Dongwon Kim expressed appreciation to alumni and emphasized that 2026 will see expanded opportunities for graduates from diverse fields to connect, further strengthening the alumni network and fostering meaningful relationships between current students and alumni. Participants enjoyed dinner and a lucky draw sponsored by alumni and faculty; prizes included a Boracay hotel stay offered by an alumna, and a Jeju Island hotel‑and‑activities package contributed by the Dean. With more than 2,500 alumni from 77 countries, SKK GSB graduates now play key roles across a broad spectrum of industries worldwide, reflecting the school’s impact and global footprint.