뉴스센터

Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello, my name is Jinkyu Hyun; I also go by Elias. I’m a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering. At 15, I was accepted into KMLA (Korean Minjok Leadership Academy), which I attended briefly before making one of the toughest decisions of my life: stepping away from high school all together in the face of personal struggles and health issues. This period of extenuating circumstances was one followed with deep reflection and personal growth, and honestly, some academic stagnation. Luckily, I found my momentum in reclaiming intellectual independence, took the Korean GED, and studied for the Korean CSAT. Ultimately, that journey led me to enroll at SUNY Korea to pursue my goal of becoming an aerospace engineer.

What made you choose SUNY Korea and your major?

When I was around six, I had the opportunity to study in Vancouver, Canada for around two years. That experience gave me a strong foundation in English and planted dreams of studying in an international and global environment, although I had not realized this till much later. Though my academic journey ultimately took me through the Korean admissions process, the SUNY Korea campus – being both a global extension and close to home – positioned itself as a natural and appealing choice. I decided on Mechanical Engineering because I have always been interested in the making of things. From a young age, I was obsessed with LEGOs – I think I probably had the biggest collection out of anyone I knew. In particular, the LEGO Technic series, 과학상자 (a Korean educational mechatronics kit) was another source for my growth of passion and skill in building mechanical objects. Thus, Mechanical Engineering felt like the best path, combining my early interests and constant growth into my future career.

How did you first hear about SUNY Korea, and what attracted you to apply?

After returning from Vancouver, my family settled in Songdo. Unknowingly, I drove directly into the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) when I began swimming at the on-campus pool. This further attracted me to apply given my family and I heard great things about SUNY Korea — highlighting its fully English-taught programs and intensive academic atmosphere. What stood out even more was the opportunity to gain hands-on engineering experience, a hard-to-find aspect in the Mechanical Engineering program of many Korean universities, as well as the chance to make global connections within a diverse community.

What has your academic journey been like so far? Any classes or professors that really stood out?

As I am finishing my first year at SUNY Korea, I think naturally, my MEC courses have stood out the most. MEC101, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, gave me a firsthand taste of the hands-on engineering experience that had initially attracted me to SUNY Korea. We started with a simple line-following car, then moved onto working on our freshmen engineering projects. My team and I crafted a functional remote-controlled vehicle equipped with features like a solar-tracking panel, omnidirectional movement, and custom software for Bluetooth control. At the end, we were given the opportunity to present our work in front of Mechanical Engineering faculty and peers. I think most fondly of Professor Bradter, who was a constant source of support, even late into the night. He spent countless after-hours with students, helping us construct parts for our projects and guiding us in our approach to engineering problems. Along with this, MEC226, Modern Machining Practices, gave me the opportunity to work with both modern and traditional machining tools.
Another memorable course was WRT101, especially because this was basically my first time learning academic English writing. Professor Santos was a mentor who fostered both literary growth and confidence. I remember preparing for my first paper, when an important interview had gotten cancelled, and I unfortunately lost contact with my source. I was hoping for a response, but alas, none came. Thankfully. Professor Santos helped me restructure my essay to work with what I had, and with a bit more research and work I was able to successfully submit my first paper – just in time.
Like many university students, I was required to take courses outside of my major to fulfill general education and earn credits. CAR151, Career & Life Design I: Introduction, was one of those courses I took because I needed a few extra credits; however, through the semester, it grew to be one of my favorite lectures. It was unlike any other course I had taken previously: it used a seminar-style format, focusing on peer interaction, self-reflection, and practical life skills instead of rigid academics. Through the course, I was able to reflect upon my future goals and, based on those goals, network with professionals already in the field through LinkedIn. Also, with the guidance of Professor Wu, I created my first resumé based on activities I had done over my first year at university.

What’s student life like at SUNY Korea? Can you describe a typical day for you on campus?
A typical day on campus is a mix of academic rigor and genuine connection. The is the intellectual demand of classes, but also the joy of seeing and connecting with other students in the midst of it all. I usually start the day with a 9am lecture, and my favorite place to spend time in between is the major room, where I study and chat with my friends. After lunch at the school cafeteria or the dorm kitchen, I usually exercise or attend my evening lectures. For dinner, I tend to eat on campus or head to nearby malls like Triple Street with my friends to eat out. 
In the evening, I find myself in the major room again, to study into the night. Most club meetings tend to occur late at night as well. Around midnight, I return to my dorm where I can get ready for bed – sometimes my friends and I gather around the dorm kitchen for some tea or go play basketball at a park near campus.

What do you want to achieve during your student life at SUNY Korea?

My main priority at SUNY Korea is, of course, academic excellence — but that's something all university students strive for. On top of that, I want to experience new things, step out of my comfort zone, and make connections with the people around me. SUNY Korea offers a unique academic environment where meeting people from different cultures is easier and natural.
Beyond coursework I aim to translate my academic pursuits and personal interests into tangible actions. I am currently working on starting a solar-related automotive engineering project, bringing together an interdisciplinary team of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science students. Through this project I hope to apply academic knowledge to practical challenges to develop interdisciplinary problem-solving and collaborative skills.
In a few years, I see myself at grad school, maybe even pursuing a Ph.D. My goal is to work in the field of mechanical engineering, particularly the aerospace or defense sectors. However, since I have only finished my freshman year, it is not a stretch to assume my career path and dreams may change over time as I gain more experience and discover new passions.