Professor Moon Ik-joon of the Department of Chinese Politics and Economics at Kookmin University (President Jung Seung-ryul) and Professor Park Chang-gun of the Department of Japanese Studies were awarded the Minister of Education Award for their contribution to the smooth operation of the Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS).

The Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS), hosted by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ministry of Education, is a project that breaks down the boundaries between universities and majors to create a humanities and social sciences convergence education system and nurture leading talents in the humanities and social sciences. Participating universities include Kookmin University, which is the host university, as well as Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University. To ensure the smooth progress of this project, a workshop for practitioners and an award ceremony for outstanding participants were held in Daejeon on February 3 (Mon) and 4 (Tue). At this award ceremony, Professor Moon Ik-joon and Professor Park Chang-gun of Kookmin University received the Minister of Education Award for their work.

Professor Moon Ik-jun was highly praised for his contribution to the development of future-oriented, convergent talent by participating as the deputy head of the Kookmin University Climate Change Response Project Team, designing the regular curriculum and organically linking the extracurricular programs. Professor Park Chang-geon was recognized for his active role in the deliberation and decision-making and operation of the project team by participating as a member of the Project Operation Committee, Curriculum Review Committee, and Project Management Committee.

In addition, as a result of on-site voting by visitors for outstanding students, Kang Ye-rim, a student majoring in Russian and Eurasian Studies, was selected as the student with the most votes and received the Minister of Education Award.

The winners expressed their thoughts, saying, “We will continue to do our best to foster future-oriented convergent talents for coexistence and mutual prosperity in the era of the climate crisis.”