'AI-Native' Youth Entrepreneurship Gets a Boost as KU and Big Tech Join Forces

[Financial News] As an emerging generation of so-called 'AI natives' becomes increasingly adept at using artificial intelligence (AI), academia and industry are joining forces to reshape university education and help youth-led startups expand overseas.
Korea University (KU) announced on the 14th that it will host the '2026 KU AI Forum' on the 18th at Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall on its Seoul Campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Now in its third year, the forum will focus on breaking down the barriers between the humanities and engineering and examining how university education and youth employment should evolve through AI technology.
Executives and officials from IT companies and startups at the forefront of industry will take part in the event and share ways to invigorate the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. Speakers will include Hye-min Cho, a lead at Google Korea; Dae-wook Kwon, principal AI researcher at NCsoft; Moon-ok Cho, vice president of Yeogi Eottae; Hae-in Son, head of education at Upstage; and Hye-min Lee, CEO of Finda. Alongside professors from KU and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), they will analyze the market competitiveness of AI-based startups and present concrete strategies for Korean startups seeking global expansion.
The forum will also showcase learning methods suited to the new era and business ideas developed directly by students. Author Song Gil-young will deliver a special lecture titled 'Redefining Learning in the AI-Native Era,' examining how future generations should approach life and education. In addition, around 40 teams of KU undergraduate and graduate students will present practical AI ideas, ranging from learning-support tools discovered in university life to concepts that could lead to employment and entrepreneurship.
The event, held with the participation of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT, is open to students, researchers and members of the public interested in AI technology and entrepreneurship, regardless of their field of study. For those unable to attend in person, KU will provide a live online broadcast through its YouTube channel.  

[email protected] Man Ki Kim Reporter