On the 23rd of last month, a special stage was set at the 'Global K-Culture Center' opening ceremony held at George Mason University in Incheon Global Campus (IGC), Songdo International City, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. A discussion on the theme of 'Sustainable Growth of Hallyu' took place. Over 500 participants, including university students and professionals in the K-content, media, and video sectors, showed high interest in K-Culture. Professor Lee Kyu-tak of George Mason University, who heads the Global K-Culture Center, explained, "Hallyu has already absorbed various cultures and established itself as a global code." The Global K-Culture Center serves as a 'research hub' supporting the expansion of K-Culture, beloved worldwide, into content across education, academia, and culture.

Research institutes and industry-academic cooperation groups affiliated with foreign universities in IGC are achieving research outcomes in various fields, advancing as a 'global research hub.'

IGC is the first joint campus of foreign universities to open in Korea. Starting with Stony Brook University (SBU) in 2012, George Mason University Korea, Ghent University Global Campus, and the University of Utah Asia Campus opened in 2014, followed by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) of the State University of New York in 2017.

The 'Marine UGent Marine Convergence Research Institute,' which opened at Ghent University Global Campus in August last year, serves as a bridge for marine research cooperation between Korea and Belgium. Ghent University is conducting joint research in marine bio, environment, food, and energy fields through agreements with CJ CheilJedang, Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, and Korea Environment Corporation. Additionally, it has achieved unique outcomes, such as developing 'Kim Chocolate' in collaboration with Belgian Kakao Lab and Hanyang University ERICA Campus.

An official from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority stated, "The Marine UGent Marine Convergence Research Institute is playing a pivotal role as a bridgehead for the 'Blue Bio Cluster' by initiating joint research for the protection of Incheon's marine ecosystem and global marine resources."

Last year, George Mason University Korea established the 'Korea Serious Game Institute (KSGI)' to research conflict resolution, security, and gaming. This institute is conducting projects connecting academia and industry using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR).

Following the development of a VR-based cultural heritage preservation program, it conducted research on 'Trust and Influence of Robots' in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). It also hosts the 'Global eSports Tournament' annually, opening a new chapter in global youth exchange. This tournament is regarded as a 'public diplomacy platform' linking academia, diplomacy, and industry based on eSports.

The 'Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia (PACSC Asia)' at George Mason University is responsible for nurturing global leaders for peace and conflict resolution. This year, it co-hosted the 'Korea-U.S.-Japan Youth Leadership Workshop' with the U.S. Embassy in Korea, operating a program to enhance conflict resolution capabilities using AI serious games, which received positive feedback.

The University of Utah Asia Campus is serving as a hub for Korea-U.S. cooperation through its industry-academic cooperation group. It supports the global expansion of domestic medical device companies by linking with the Medical Innovation Center of its main campus in the U.S., aiding the development of the domestic bioindustry. In fact, the domestic company 'Medicell,' which received consulting support, is undergoing the FDA approval application process. Various projects, including planning international joint research and development (R&D) tasks, connecting the startup ecosystem between Korea and the U.S., and supporting domestic companies' global market entry, are also being pursued.

Additionally, SBU and FIT have collaborated with Intel, the U.S. Department of Defense (DARPA), and others to carry out a total of 13 international cooperative R&D projects in neuromorphic computing, AI, and fashion fields.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority is actively pursuing the second phase of the IGC project. It plans to accelerate the creation of a global innovative education ecosystem by attracting new prestigious universities and advanced research institutes. To this end, it is conducting a feasibility analysis of the IGC second phase project by December and is carrying out a service to prepare development strategies necessary for activating industry-academic cooperation. Last year, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority laid the foundation for the second phase project by signing memorandums of understanding with two foreign universities for campus establishment.

Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon, stated, "It is expected to greatly contribute to strengthening national research capabilities centered around each university and research institute in IGC."

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