Dongguk University President Yun Jae-ung said, "If Dongguk has spent the past 120 years nurturing people, over the next 100 years it must become a university that creates new paths for people to walk," emphasizing a university-wide shift centered on startups and artificial intelligence (AI).
CNTTech and ChosunBiz held the "C Forum (C-Forum) 2026 Dongguk University 120th Anniversary Special Forum" on the 15th at Namsan Hall at Dongguk University in Jung-gu, Seoul. C Forum is an event where members of the innovation ecosystem, including startups, investors, public institutions, and universities, gather to discuss the future of industry with "Connect, Collaborate, Create" as its values. Through this forum, Dongguk University examined an innovation ecosystem built jointly by universities, investors, and startups under the theme "120 years of challenge, startups for the next 100 years."
In the first session, President Yun took part in a conversation on the theme "startup ecosystem built by universities." He said, "A span of 120 years is intangible and hard to feel, but the most boast-worthy asset of Dongguk is its people," adding, "From Manhae Han Yong-un to the many alumni who contributed to Korea's modern education innovation, industrialization, and democratic development, they are Dongguk's greatest asset."
Yun assessed that it has become important for Dongguk to consolidation the human asset it has cultivated with the startup ecosystem.
He said, "With new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly changing existing jobs, universities must build a startup ecosystem so young people can carve out new paths on their own," and explained, "Supporting startups based on interdisciplinary convergence and new imagination extends into the future the tradition of universities nurturing outstanding talent."
He added, "Universities must first imagine and design the future to cultivate new talent," and "the role of the university is to create people who take paths not yet traveled, to produce cases of reaching success through failure, and to be the place that shows these to students."
As a core task for improving the university's constitution, he pointed to an AI great transition. President Yun noted, "We are raising efficiency by introducing a plan to adopt AI across education, research, and administration." He explained, "Building the capability to use AI wisely is the core of university competitiveness," and "we are bringing startup incubators and startup support agencies onto campus to create an environment where students can train for startups outside the classroom."
He also laid out the direction of university education in the AI era. He said, "Universities should change into places that cultivate students' ability to ask good questions." He added, "What will matter going forward is the ability to reflect, empathize, and create," and "Dongguk is focusing its education on cultivating talent that will not be replaced even in the AI era."
President Yun defined startup education as the process of creating a culture in which students do not fear failure. Sharing his own experience of applying to an on-campus startup program but being rejected, he said failure becomes the nourishment for creative thinking.
He said, "Since failure is a process that naturally comes, do not be afraid and keep challenging yourself," and "universities should be spaces that back students so they can learn from failure and get back up again."