During the KFAS Emerging Researcher Award ceremony and overseas scholarship send-off event held on June 22 in Gangnam, Seoul, Choi stated, "When one person grows into a large tree, it allows other life forms to thrive beneath it, ultimately forming a forest. I hope each of you becomes a large tree in your own right, creating an environment where more people can grow together."
The event was attended by over 120 participants, including three recipients of the KFAS Emerging Researcher Award, 33 scholarship students heading abroad, Kim Yoo-seok, the KFAS representative, and other foundation officials.
The newly established KFAS Emerging Researcher Award aims to support early-stage researchers transitioning to independent scholars after obtaining their doctoral degrees. This year, the award was presented to Kim Jin-hwan, a professor at Kyung Hee University’s College of Medicine; Yang Jae-seok, a professor in the Department of Geography at Chonnam National University; and Choi Seok-young, a professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Yonsei University. Each recipient will receive a total of 40 million won in research support.
In his remarks, Choi emphasized that "the standards for talent are changing in the age of AI," urging researchers to consider how they can collaborate with and utilize AI in their respective fields.
He added, "While the contributions of individuals are important, much greater change can occur when people connect and collaborate. The foundation will continue to serve as a platform for talents to interact and cooperate, creating new social value."
Choi also reminded the attendees to remember the spirit of "Eumsusaweon (飮水思源)," which means to reflect on the opportunities provided by society that made their achievements possible, and encouraged them to contribute their talents and capabilities back to the society that nurtured them.
The Korean Foundation for Advanced Studies was established in 1974 by the late Choi Jong-hyun, who believed in "planting trees for ten years and nurturing talents for a hundred years," reflecting a commitment to cultivating exceptional talents without including the company name or founder's title in the foundation's name.
The foundation has supported outstanding Korean students in completing doctoral programs at world-class educational institutions, covering not only tuition but also living expenses for five years, without imposing any mandatory obligations.
Since taking office as the second chairman in 1998, Choi Tae-won has expanded the scope and methods of nurturing talents to align with the demands of the times, moving beyond just training doctoral-level talents to fostering undergraduates' integrative thinking and problem-solving skills through initiatives like "Talent Forest" and "Literary Friends Forest."
Amid the recent competition among global tech giants and governments to secure AI talent, the foundation is recognized for contributing to national competitiveness by cultivating interdisciplinary research talents across basic sciences, humanities, and engineering.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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