On December 8, I received a commendation from Jeju Governor Oh Yeong-hun at the Regional RISE Networking Forum held at Cheju Halla University’s Convention Center. The citation (No. 12349) recognized contributions to the successful implementation of the Jeju RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) program.
The Forum
The event brought together around 150 participants from across the innovation ecosystem: the Ministry of Education, national research institutes (KRIBB, KIER, ETRI), industry partners (Google, AWS, ESTsoft), and universities across Jeju. The goal was to strengthen the regional network of government, industry, academia, and research institutions driving Jeju’s innovation agenda.
Governor Oh emphasized that RISE is building a structure where local talent connects directly to industry, particularly in emerging sectors like commercial space, digital transformation, and AI. The forum also saw a new MOU between Jeju Province and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) for bio-industry development using Jeju’s unique biological resources.
Google Korea, AWS, ESTsoft, KIER, and ETRI presented on industry trends and collaboration models. Cheju Halla University and Jeju National University hosted a startup demo day, and Jeju Tourism College showcased student-led digital transformation support for small businesses.
What RISE Means to Us
For Cheju Halla University, RISE has been the framework that connects our AI education programs, industry partnerships, and regional development work. It’s the umbrella under which projects like the AWS Global Space Bootcamp, the ESTsoft AI Training Center, and our broader curriculum reform all fit together.
This commendation is a recognition of what the entire RISE team at Cheju Halla University has built over the past year. Grateful to Governor Oh and the Jeju Provincial Government for the continued support.