To cultivate the next generation of innovative leaders in an AI-driven society, Korea University has established a Department of Artificial Intelligence. Building on the strengths of the College of Informatics, which has long been at the forefront of advanced technology education, the department expands the university’s educational and research horizons into the AI field, now a core driver of the information industry, alongside the existing Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Data Science. In the first semester of 2025, the department welcomed 102 freshmen, making it the largest incoming class for any AI-related department in Korea. At a time when artificial intelligence is transforming not only multiple industries but everyday life, the question is what vision and strategy does Korea University’s Department of Artificial Intelligence have for shaping the future of AI education.

"Korea University is deeply committed to artificial intelligence."

- Baek Seung-jun, Head of Department

Q. What was the motivation behind launching the Department of Artificial Intelligence?

We aim to foster creative, interdisciplinary talent capable of leading paradigm shifts in AI. Our students will acquire solid theoretical foundations while developing practical, application-oriented skills that enable them to respond proactively to the evolving landscape of AI technologies.

Q. What are the unique strengths of the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Korea University?

We are confident that our curriculum is among the very best, both in Korea and internationally. Courses span all areas of AI -data science, computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, and robotics- organized into step-by-step modules. Without mandatory major requirements, we operate a flexible track-based completion system. Our faculty includes experts from world-leading companies such as NVIDIA, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Kakao Brain, and Naver, many of whom continue to lead industry-linked projects.

Q. How does the department support career exploration and skills development?

We have built a systematic educational governance model that integrates cooperation between majors, colleges, and industry. This allows students from diverse academic backgrounds to develop SW–AI convergence skills. In addition to an integrated curriculum from foundational to advanced courses, we plan to offer industry-linked programs such as joint projects and internships for upper-year students that are aligned with real-world needs.

Q. Do you have a message for current students in the department?

In today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape, what matters most is holding onto your own interests and focus. Many areas remain underexplored or only partially impacted by AI. Dedicating yourself to a field you are truly interested in can one day become a powerful strength. I hope each of you follows your passion and applies your technical imagination to the fullest.

Q. What about advice for students considering the Department of Artificial Intelligence?

In light of the pace of technological advancement, there is still a lack of philosophical and humanities-based reflection on its impact on humanity and society. I encourage students with interests beyond engineering and natural sciences, perhaps in relation to the humanities and social sciences, to join us. When diverse perspectives converge, AI can develop in a healthier and more balanced way.

"We’ll write the first page."

- Kim Geun-hyung & Yeo Seung-min (Department of Artificial Intelligence, Incoming class of 2025)

Q. Why did you choose Korea University’s Department of Artificial Intelligence?

Seung-min: In high school, I served as president of the information club and was introduced to AI. After working on several AI projects, I became convinced it was the right path for me. I chose Korea University because there are no mandatory major courses in this field, which allows me to design my own curriculum, and because many alumni are already active in the field, providing valuable guidance for career planning.

Geun-hyung: I’ve liked computers since I was young, and in high school I became interested in AI and BCI (Brain–Computer Interfaces). When I learned that Korea University was establishing the Department of Artificial Intelligence, I applied right away. I was especially drawn to the fact that the College of Informatics also offers an Interdisciplinary Major in Brain and Cognitive Science and a graduate program in Brain Engineering.

Q. What has your impression of the department’s atmosphere been during your first semester?

Seung-min: Korea University has exceeded my expectations. Many major courses go beyond theory and focus on hands-on, application-based learning, and professors are passionate about sharing insights into both practice and research. Most importantly, the atmosphere among classmates is amazing because we see each other not as competitors but as partners in growth, freely sharing information and ideas.

Geun-hyung: I was a bit concerned about having no upperclassmen as the first cohort, but I’ve been able to adapt naturally by taking classes and joining events with students from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Data Science within the College of Informatics. Through the Junior-Senior Pair-Up Program,* I’ve found support from peers, who are like family to me, and as the inaugural class, our unique situation has helped us build even stronger bonds with each other.

* Junior-Senior Pair-Up Program: Since the Department of Artificial Intelligence currently has no upper-year students, seniors from other majors within the College of Informatics are paired with first-year AI students to provide close guidance and support.

Q. Before enrolling, how did you prepare to study AI?

Seung-min: I mostly taught myself. I learned Python in middle school, so I had no trouble using Colab in high school. My learning style is to try things out, identify where I get stuck, and then dig deeper to understand the problem. While implementing a model, I would consult Google and official documentation to grasp the principles one step at a time. In high school, I had at least a basic exposure to a variety of architectures such as CNN, RNN, and GAN*, which became a solid foundation for me.

* CNN, RNN, GAN: Representative deep learning neural network models

Geun-hyung: I remember spending my extracurricular hours and free time practicing Python programming and reading papers that attracted my interest. Every year, I worked on Python projects like a festival booth queue system or a news keyword relationship analysis tool, which gave me hands-on coding experience. As I progressed through high school, I explored deeper topics, getting an early taste of what I would study at university.

Q. Can you share a memorable class?

Seung-min: I remember learning about the least squares method in Professor Baek Seung-jun’s class. It was fascinating to see a mathematical concept directly linked to solving real-world problems.

Geun-hyung: At Korea University, first-year students in the College of Informatics take Mathematics for Computer Science I, which begins with linear algebra instead of calculus. It felt fresh compared to high school math, fun but also challenging. Since my classmates were in the same situation, we asked questions together and helped each other through the material.

Q. What AI topics have you found most interesting?

Seung-min: CNNs interest me because they mimic the structure of the human optic nerve in processing image data. I also remember struggling to understand the self-attention mechanism when I first encountered Transformer models in high school. Now that I’m in the Department of Artificial Intelligence, I plan to tackle it again after the semester ends.

Geun-hyung: In my final year of high school, I became interested in GNNs for processing graph-structured data. I found it fascinating that they can effectively handle irregular, non-Euclidean data, similar to the neural networks in the brain. I want to study this area in more depth.

Q. What goals do you hope to achieve through your major?

Seung-min: I want to research AI in conjunction with brain and cognitive science. I find the complementary relationship between the human brain and AI very compelling, and I’m particularly interested in areas like BCI and neuromorphic computing*. I’m currently active in the neuroscience student society Neuron, and considering completing the Interdisciplinary Major in Brain and Cognitive Science.

Geun-hyung: I hope to pursue graduate studies in the BCI field through the Interdisciplinary Major in Brain and Cognitive Science. Before that, I’d like to join an AI-related academic club or work as an undergraduate research assistant. Since this is just the beginning, I’m approaching it with the mindset that there’s still plenty of time to explore.

* BCI and neuromorphic computing: Technologies that bridge the gap between the human brain and computers.

Q. What is a memorable moment from your time in the department?

Seung-min: Even though our department is fairly large, the atmosphere is incredibly close-knit. We’re even planning a small-group band activity. I have a feeling I might end up being the leader.

Geun-hyung: Whether it’s MTs or other departmental events, as the first cohort of the new department we’ve had to organize everything ourselves. Sometimes it’s a bit rough around the edges, but preparing and enjoying the process together has been a special experience, unique to being in the very first class.

Q. Do you have any advice for future students aspiring to join the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Korea University?

Seung-min: AI is no longer a technology of the future, as it’s already at the center of our world. We need to understand and use it well. What’s critical is multidisciplinary collaboration, connecting knowledge from various fields. Our department offers the perfect platform for such cooperation and experimentation. Being in a newly established department comes with challenges, but it also means unlimited possibilities. So to potential future students: join us in pioneering this new academic field.

Geun-hyung: School life can sometimes feel long, and there are moments when you feel worn out. Whenever things have gotten complicated in my head, I’ve reminded myself to “focus on the present moment” and have taken it one step at a time. Those steps brought me here, and over the past few months I’ve been genuinely happy both in my studies and in the time spent with people. To new students, I look forward to welcoming you here next year.