Graduate School Graduate School

Introduction to BK21 Program

Korea's flagship talent-fostering program for the past two decades

Brain Korea(BK) 21 was launched in 1999 as a creative talent-fostering program aimed at improving the educational environment and R&D capabilities of Korea's graduate schools. Since its establishment, BK21 has contributed to raising the country's research expertise and competitiveness to a global level while laying the groundwork for nurturing and fostering future academic generations; the history of BK21 is entwined with the history of higher education advancement in Korea.

BK21 differs from other research funding programs in that it directs most of its funds toward supporting master's and doctoral program students and young aspiring researchers who will lead the way in academia in the future, providing them with a robust educational and research environment where they can fully immerse themselves in research. Currently, the 4th BK21 Program(2020-2027) is underway. It is worth noting that the 4th BK21 Program has newly established a budget for Graduate School Innovation Support, and this effort is expected to further strengthen the foundation of the research-oriented university ecosystem through institutional innovation in graduate schools, mainly driven by university headquarters.

BK21 Project Divisions&Teams

Future-Oriented Talented Leading Program

Program type Divisions(Teams)
Applied science	Graduate Program for Agrobiotech Glocal Education	Ilkeun Kong	click
	GNU Graduate Education and Research Program for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers	Hwang Wook Ryol	click
Basic science	Graduate School for Molecular Materials Chemistry	Yun-Hi Kim	click
Social science	Working Group for Training Human Resources in Conflict Resolution and Community Mental Health Management	Yang Nan-Mee	click

Innovation-Oriented Talented Leading Program

Program type		Divisions
New industries	Bio-health /Innovative new drug	Center for Human Resource Development in the Bio-Health Industry	Byoung-Kuk Na	click
	Big data	GNU Bio&Medical Big-data Research Center	Hyeon-Su Ro	click
	Advanced materials	Education and Research Program of AI Convergence Engineering for Industrial Intelligence  in Gyeongsangnam-do	Lee, Seonah	click
	Artifcial intelligence	GNU Intelligent Advanced Materials Center for Research Pioneers	Nam, Sang-Yong	click