History Makers. We Change the World!
SUNY Korea successfully hosted its first-ever Alumni Gathering on Saturday, May 16, 2026, bringing together approximately 60 alumni and faculty members for an evening of reconnection, networking, and celebration. Held during the 2026 Spring Festival, the gathering gave alumni the opportunity to experience the vibrant campus atmosphere once again while reconnecting with the SUNY Korea community. The event created a warm homecoming atmosphere as alumni returned to campus to reconnect with former classmates, professors, and staff members. For some attendees, it was their very first visit back to SUNY Korea since graduation. Throughout the evening, alumni shared stories, reflected on their student experiences, and celebrated how far they had come since their time at SUNY Korea. The gathering featured interactive activities including icebreakers, Memory Lane Trivia, and Alumni Spotlights, where graduates shared career stories and experiences after graduation. Faculty members also joined the event, giving alumni the opportunity to reconnect with professors and mentors over light dinner and refreshments. More than just a reunion, the Alumni Gathering marked the beginning of a long-term effort to strengthen alumni engagement and create a lasting alumni network at SUNY Korea. Many attendees expressed excitement for future alumni events and opportunities to continue building the SUNY Korea alumni community together. The official SUNY Korea Alumni Gathering is planned to take place in Seoul in Fall 2026.
On Wednesday, May 20, the Mechanical Engineering Department at SUNY Korea hosted the Mechanical Engineering Open Lab Day. The event introduced students to various research laboratories, engineering projects, and graduate study opportunities through a series of short presentations by professors and lab members. Students were also provided with light lunch snacks and drinks during the event. The event began with a welcome speech by Chair Changwoon Han, who discussed the importance of graduate studies and explained how advanced research experience can help students develop specialized engineering knowledge and future career opportunities. His presentation encouraged students to consider continuing their studies beyond undergraduate education. Several laboratories then briefly introduced their research topics, including green hydrogen gas production, acoustics and signal processing, multiscale CAE systems, and precision engineering technologies. One of the most interesting presentations was Mechanical Systems with Intelligence and Computer Vision & Applications, where the laboratory team introduced their members, projects, and real-life reverse engineering applications. An especially notable example showed how computer vision technology was used to create a 3D graphical model of tunnels on the moon. Although Prof. Seung-Bok Choi was unable to attend the event, the topic of magneto-rheological fluid applications was still briefly introduced and students could contact the professor for further questions. In addition, the Physics-of-Failure Lab presentation was delivered by PhD student and lab leader Juhwan Kim, as the professor gave students the opportunity to present the lab’s ongoing projects and research activities themselves, highlighting the teamwork and student involvement within the research environment. Overall, the Mechanical Engineering Open Lab Day successfully exposed students to a wide range of engineering research areas and demonstrated how modern technologies are applied to real-world problems. Beyond the research presentations, the event also showed that laboratory teams not only work hard on advanced engineering projects, but also maintain a friendly and enjoyable environment through interaction, teamwork, and social activities during the event. Written by Student Reporter, Temirlan Gubashev (Temirlan.gubashev@stonybrook.edu)
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the SUNY Korea Quad transformed into a vibrant celebration of music, food, performances, and community during the highly anticipated SUNY Korea Spring Festival. This year’s theme was “UNISON: All in Sync,” and students, faculty, families, friends, and visitors from across Incheon gathered together to enjoy one of the most exciting events of the year. The campus was filled with energy from the moment guests started arriving. Decorated booths lined the quad, offering a wide variety of activities, games, food, and interactive experiences. Student organizations and clubs worked hard to create fun and welcoming spaces for everyone attending. Visitors enjoyed a wide spectrum, from challenge booths and DIY activities to food stands and play zones, while food trucks served delicious meals and snacks throughout the day. The event was hosted by the incredible MC duo, Sepehr and Yasemin, whose enthusiasm kept the crowd excited from beginning to end. The festival opened with a lively MC performance that immediately energized the whole audience and set the tone for the rest of the evening. One of the highlights of the festival was the wide range of student performances that showcased the talent and creativity within the SUNY Korea community. Dance performances by clubs such as GLO Club and EMEIS brought excitement and powerful stage presence, while live music performances from groups including White Chamber, Dynamics, and the ME Faculty Band entertained the crowd with unforgettable songs and performances. Moreover, the festival featured a stunning fashion show created in collaboration with the Natural Dye Garden Club and SUNY Korea fashion design students. Each piece displayed on the runway was thoughtfully dyed, curated, designed, and sewn by the students themselves, transforming fabric into wearable art. In addition to student performances, the festival featured an impressive lineup of special guest artists who elevated the event to another level. Artists including Moong Myang, BE'O, Car, the garden, CHUU, Dept, KIIRAS, Layone, and Lee Changsub delivered unforgettable performances that had the crowd singing, cheering, and dancing together. From Layone’s energetic rap stage to Lee Changsub’s emotional and heartwarming closing performance, each artist brought their own unique charm and atmosphere to the festival. Their performances became unforgettable moments for everyone in attendance and truly captured the spirit of the event. Overall, the 2026 SUNY Korea Spring Festival was a tremendous success. With amazing performances, delicious food, engaging booths, and a strong sense of community, the festival created lasting memories for everyone who attended. Many left the event happy, full, and excited for what next year’s Spring festival will bring. Written by Student Reporter, Onyinyechi Achi (onyinyechi.achi@stonybrook.edu)
SUNY Korea Distinguished Seminar, titled “Tech on a Slice of Pizza,” was held on Friday, May 15, 2026, in room C105 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The seminar was presented by Seung-Hyun Lee, a Strategic Management professor at the University of Texas at Dallas specializing in international business and nonmarket strategy. The seminar examined how Domino’s Pizza transformed itself from a struggling fast-food chain into one of the most successful technology-driven companies in the restaurant industry. The presentation focused on Domino’s dramatic turnaround during the late 2000s. At the time, the company faced severe criticism regarding the quality of its pizza, and its stock price had fallen significantly to around seven dollars per share. Rather than ignoring public criticism, Domino’s responded with a bold and transparent strategy under the leadership of former CEO Patrick Doyle. The company openly acknowledged customer complaints and introduced a completely redesigned pizza recipe. This honest marketing approach helped rebuild consumer trust and played a major role in improving both sales performance and brand reputation. Another major topic discussed during the seminar was the role of technology and innovation in Domino’s success. Domino’s invested heavily in digital platforms, customer data analysis, and delivery innovation. Examples included the company’s DPX delivery partnership with Ford and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze millions of customer-submitted pizza photos. These technological strategies allowed Domino’s to improve customer experience, delivery efficiency, and product consistency. As a result, the company began to be recognized not only as a pizza chain but also as a technology-oriented business. The seminar effectively demonstrated how strong leadership, transparency, and continuous innovation can help companies recover from crises and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly changing market. It also highlighted the importance of adapting to modern consumer expectations through technology and data-driven decision-making. Overall, “Tech on a Slice of Pizza” was an engaging and informative seminar that provided valuable insight into business transformation, crisis management, and the growing influence of technology in modern business strategy. Written by Student Reporter, Onyinyechi Achi (onyinyechi.achi@stonybrook.edu)
On Wednesday, May 13, students gathered in Academic Building C107 for the “Global Career LinkedIn Playbook” workshop hosted by SUNY Korea CDC. The session, held from 12:20 PM to 1:50 PM, was presented by global career expert Brian Yoo, and focused on how students can effectively use LinkedIn to build their personal brand and expand professional opportunities. Before the presentation began, students were provided with a light lunch and refreshments. Brian Yoo started the workshop with a brief self-introduction and an overview of the topics that would be covered during the session. Throughout the presentation, he emphasized the importance of LinkedIn as more than just a social media platform, describing it as a powerful tool for networking, career development, and self-promotion. One of the main topics discussed during the workshop was how to properly structure a LinkedIn profile. Brian Yoo explained the importance of using strong keywords, maintaining a professional profile, and consistently sharing meaningful posts related to personal interests and career goals. He also encouraged students to think beyond simply listing themselves as students and instead focus on presenting their skills, interests, and future career aspirations. In addition, he emphasized the importance of creating trust and providing value to others while networking. Rather than approaching professionals only to ask for internships or jobs, Brian Yoo encouraged students to focus on building genuine relationships and meaningful conversations. Brian Yoo also discussed the importance of “coffee chats,” explaining that they should feel natural and conversational instead of sounding like requests for employment. According to him, successful networking is based on mutual interest, curiosity, and authentic communication. Along with that, he highlighted the importance of taking a strategic approach to career development and networking. He explained that building a strong personal brand and professional network requires consistency, planning, and long-term thinking rather than relying on random applications or messages. Students learned how thoughtful communication and targeted networking can create stronger opportunities in the future. Throughout the workshop, Brian Yoo shared several real-life examples of people from different parts of the world reaching out to him through LinkedIn, which later led to collaborations, opportunities, and professional connections. These examples helped students better understand the value of networking and how a single message or connection can create unexpected opportunities. Toward the end of the session, students had the opportunity to ask questions regarding LinkedIn usage, career preparation, and networking strategies. Overall, the workshop provided students with practical advice and valuable insights into how LinkedIn can be used to strengthen personal branding, build professional relationships, and support future career development. Written by Student Reporter, Temirlan Gubashev (Temirlan.gubashev@stonybrook.edu)
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