Three students who recently graduated from SUNY Korea shared their thoughts about SUNY Korea. Two out the three students started their own business after graduating from SUNY Korea, and one student has been accepted by one of the largest accounting and consulting firm.
Here is a short interview with the students about what SUNY Korea means to them.
Youngho Kim graduated in 2022 with a degree in Computer Science. He started his own business named TMR Founders.
Why did you choose SUNY Korea?
The biggest reason was that I could experience the curriculum of an American university in Korea. When I first decided to enroll, I worried a lot, but SUNY Korea provides the same professional courses that I have experienced in the United States, and the environment gave a familiar international feeling as I was in Korea. Even though I had the chance to go to a university in the States, I felt that I could experience various cultures with the same education here, so I decided to join SUNY Korea.
What experiences from SUNY Korea helped you start a business?
Students can apply to lab courses starting from their second to third year. In my junior year, I joined the Computer Science professor's research lab and finally got the chance to turn my thoughts into reality. I was able to experience certain technologies for the first time, such as autonomous driving and the recognition of objects through cameras. The professor participated in our research as closely as my tutor, and I was able to write 3 to 4 thesis papers. This experience helped me develop the confidence to create anything, and that's how I decided to start a business.
What do you think is the unique strength of SUNY Korea?
The phrase ‘minority elite member’ comes to mind. There are many talented professors compared to the number of students. One professor will work on a new project every semester with 5 to 15 researchers. I think it's a big advantage that I can experience new technologies and companies outside of class with the professors.
Soomin Seo is the founder of Livable and graduated from SUNY Korea Department of Technology and Society in 2020
I went to a high school abroad, and when I was thinking about going to college, I wanted to continue my foreign academic classes, but at the same time, I wanted to go to Korea because I was abroad for a long time. While I was searching for a university, I chose SUNY Korea after seeing a promotional article that said I could study foreign academic studies in Korea.
I think my study in Technology and Society helped me start my own business. I am currently operating an IT service, and a lot of the knowledge comes from what I learned in this major. One example is cases where I develop services by converging technologies and maintaining communication with developers. In addition, the school provided a lot of support for the start-up after graduation, to the extent that I received help from the president when preparing for my start-up.
All faculty, staff, and team leaders provided various support in different fields. The high faculty-to-student ratio gave more detailed and practical support. Also, I think it could become a strength if students actively participate well in school events as they can achieve more opportunities.
Ji Hun Gwak majored in Technology and Society and graduated in the year 2022. He has been hired at Deloitte Anjin LLC.
In addition to communicating in English like any American university, SUNY Korea has linguistic and cultural strengths that cannot be experienced in ordinary high schools or universities in Korea, such as writing essays or having a presentation daily. Of course, these days, native English instructors and English-speaking classes are common, but I think the biggest appeal of SUNY Korea is communicating with professors and colleagues in foreign languages in everyday life.
I think it is to find the meaning of learning rather than getting good grades or achieving a graduation certificate. I remember participating in Professor Neil Dreamson's graduation project and thinking deeply about what I wanted to learn and what I learned from this class. Through that process, I still remember the professor's words: 'Design your own life beyond class with a sense of ownership'. Having a good job and grades are important, but I think it is more important to have the purpose mentioned above.
As Miss Universe Korea 2024, Ariel Han’s journey started at SUNY Korea FIT, where she studied Fashion Business Management before heading to New York to continue her education. Her time at FIT gave her a deep dive into the fashion industry—starting behind the scenes and now owning the spotlight on the runway. Can you introduce yourself? Hi. I am Ariel Han, Miss Universe Korea 2024. I pursued an AAS degree in Fashion Business Management at SUNY Korea FIT in Spring 202
Charis Asante-Agyei, one of the first graduates of SUNY Korea and our very first alumnus to become a university professor, now teaches at Lewis & Clark College. During his years at SUNY Korea, Charis distinguished himself not only through academic excellence but also by his commitment to service, including a memorable “Africa Mission 2016” community service trip to Burkina Faso, where he organized a science camp for children. Read the second part of his History Maker
Yena Kwon, a Spring 2022 graduate of SUNY Korea's FIT program, has recently secured an exciting position as a Digital Marketing & Media Trainee at Christian Dior Couture, LVMH group in New York City. In this interview, Yena shares her inspiring journey—from studying at one of the top fashion schools to landing her dream role at one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands. Can you introduce yourself? Hi! My name is Yena Kwon, and I am a recent graduate of th
Habin Lee, the recent PETE Award winner and FIT graduate, shares her inspiring journey from SUNY Korea FIT to New York. In this interview, she discusses her experiences, inspirations, and vision for the future as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. Habin highlights her dream of studying in New York and launching her innovative athletic wear brand, Ranea, showcasing her dedication and creativity in the industry. Introduce yourself My name is Habin Lee. I am a graduate of FIT
Meet Prince-David Malendele, a 2021 SUNY Korea graduate and current Associate Staff Mechanical Engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). In this interview, he shares his journey from SUNY Korea to BNL, highlighting his research achievements, career aspirations in superconducting materials, and his significant role in the Electron-Ion Collider project. Introduce yourself. My name is Prince-David, and I graduated from SUNY Korea in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Mec