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  Beatrice (Xuan) Mak, a Spring 2023 graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)with a concentration in Knitwear, has been named the first-place winner of a design competition hosted by Roc Nation in collaboration with FIT. The competition was created exclusively for FIT students and aimed to recognize emerging fashion talent through creativity, innovation, and technical excellence. Representing diverse cultures and artistic influences, five FIT finalists presented their original fashion collections at Roc Nation’s headquarters before a live audience. The finalists showcased a range of designs including hoodies, sweatshirts, pants, hats, and accessories modeled on a live runway presentation. Through this collaboration, Roc Nation and FIT highlighted their shared commitment to supporting the next generation of designers and strengthening New York City’s legacy as a global center of culture, creativity, and fashion. Notably, as the first-place winner, she was awarded a $20,000 grant from Roc Nation, and one of her winning designs will be developed and released at retail later this year. Additionally, she received the Critics Award at the AAS exhibition at FIT Korea.    

Korea Foreign School MoU   Fayston Global Campus MoU   SUNY Korea signed Memorandums of Understanding with two international schools, Korea Foreign School and Fayston Global Campus, on April 22nd and April 24th respectively. Through these partnerships, SUNY Korea marks a milestone in strengthening ties with global engagement and building collaborative educational pathways. SUNY Korea and Korea Foreign School will focus on strengthening student recruitment and institutional visibility. Korea Foreign School will identify and recommend high-achieving prospective students who meet SUNY Korea’s academic standards. Under the MoU with Fayston Global Campus, both institutions have committed to fostering academic and community collaboration. The partnership also outlines plans to develop community engagement initiatives that benefit both institutions. These partnerships reflect SUNY Korea’s continued commitment to expanding its global connection and creating meaningful educational opportunities.   

  On April 8, students from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) student club in the Mechanical Engineering Department had the chance to step outside the classroom and into one of Korea’s most recognized industrial spaces during a facility tour of Hyundai Motor Company’s Asan Plant. Organized by the club, the trip gave students a firsthand look at how large-scale automotive manufacturing works in the real world. The group departed from the SUNY Korea main gate early in the morning and traveled by chartered bus to Asan. After arriving at the plant at 9:30 am, students began the guided tour at Hyundai’s PR Center, where they received an introduction to the company, the history of the Asan Plant, and its role in vehicle production. Exhibits and presentations helped provide context before students entered the production areas. From there, the group moved through several key stages of manufacturing. In the Press Shop, students learned about the panel production process. This stage focused on one of the earliest steps in manufacturing: how vehicle body panels are prepared and formed. Next, students moved to the Body Shop, where guides explained the body production and assembly process. Here, participants were introduced to how major structural sections of a vehicle are brought together before final assembly. The final stage brought them to the Assembly Shop, where workers and automated systems installed interior components, electrical systems, and finishing parts before the vehicles reached final inspection. After reviewing all major stages, the tour concluded at 11 am.  One of the most valuable parts of the trip was seeing how each department contributes to the larger manufacturing chain. Rather than viewing engineering as separate subjects, students could see how materials, mechanics, automation, and management all work together inside a modern factory. Events like this show the value of learning beyond the classroom. The Hyundai facility tour gave students more than just a day trip, it gave them a closer look at the careers, technology, and innovation waiting beyond graduation.   Written by Student Reporter, Temirlan Gubashev (Temirlan.gubashev@stonybrook.edu)  

Debt Strikes Back...The Economy Is Running Out of Options As South Korea’s total debt has, for the first time, exceeded 6,500 trillion won, the government has formalized a 25 trillion won supplementary budget framed as a “wartime” measure. While intended to address immediate livelihood challenges, debt has long since become a heavy burden. At its core, debt is a transaction across time—bringing future consumption and investment into the present. However, as this pattern repeats, the economy may gain time for growth, but it also loses the flexibility to respond effectively to crises. The problems of the Korean economy are most clearly reflected in household debt. The ratio of household debt to GDP has already surpassed dangerous levels, with significant structural vulnerabilities. The high share of variable-rate loans has turned the base interest rate into a politically sensitive factor rather than a purely economic tool, as rate hikes directly increase household repayment burdens and suppress consumption. As a result, delayed policy responses have contributed to rising exchange rate volatility and inflation—effectively “interest on delay.” Click here to read the full article