[2026 UNIST Commencement] UNIST Confers Degrees to 883 GraduatesUNIST News Center

The 2026 UNIST Commencement Ceremony took place at the UNIST Gymnasium on Monday, February 23, uniting families, friends, and representatives of the graduating class to celebrate this significant milestone.

During the ceremony, President Chong Rae Park conferred 202 doctoral degrees, 334 master’s degrees, and 347 bachelor’s degree holders. Since its establishment in 2009, UNIST has produced a total of 11,217 graduates in science and technology, including 1,665 doctoral, 2,742 master’s, and 6,810 bachelor’s degree holders.

In his congratulatory remarks, President Chong Rae Park extended heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2026. He urged graduates not to rely on conventional formulas for success, but to pioneer new paths through ‘Creative Destruction.’ He encouraged them to become true ‘Way Makers’—individuals who design the right questions and shape the future through independent, principled judgment.

President Chong Rae Park delivered some valuable life lessons in his commencement speech at the 2026 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, which took place on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The ceremony opened with a vibrant performance by UNISTRA, followed by an academic procession that transitioned into the conferral of degrees. Highlights included a report on academic statistics, the presentations of academic awards, congratulatory addresses from university officials, and remarks from distinguished guests. Appreciation speeches delivered by graduate representatives further enhanced the celebratory atmosphere.

Distinguished guests in attendance included First Vice Minister Hyuk Chae Koo of the Ministry of Science and ICT, to Founding President Moo Je Cho of UNIST, Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Hyo-Dae Ahn of Ulsan Metropolitan City, and Ulju County Governor Soon-geol Lee.

First Vice Minister Hyuk Chae Koo of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) delivered a congratulatory remark at the 2026 UNIST Commencement Ceremony.

At the ceremony, KyeongHwan Gwak from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering was awarded the Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Science and ICT’s Award in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements. The UNIST Chairman of the Board’s Award was presented to SangHyun Lim from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, while the UNIST President’s Award went to MinJong Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

From left are First Vice Minister Hyuk Chae Koo of MSIT and KyeongHwan Gwak from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, this year’s recipient of Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Science and ICT Award.

Additionally, the Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor’s Award and the Ulju County Mayor’s Award were presented to DuHa Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences and YeonJi Lee from the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The LS Group Award was awarded to EunSoo Nam from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering and ChangYeol Lee from the Department of Physics. The Kyungdong Innovator Award was awarded to HyunSu Ye from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Seong-Jun Kim from Department of Chemistry, and SungHan Park from the School of Business Administration.

UNIST recognizes exceptional scholarly achievements at each commencement ceremony through various awards, including the prestigious UNIST Best Research Award, also known as Yebong Award. Established through a development fund donated by the first UNIST President, Moo Je Cho, this award is given to the author of the best doctoral dissertation.

This year’s recipient is Jisu Yoo (Advisor: Professor Moon Kee Choi, Department of Materials Science and Engineering), who has published 11 SCI-indexed papers and received numerous accolades, including a Silver Prize at the Samsung Humantech Paper Awards and a Bronze Prize at the Industry-Academia Technology Paper Contest.

From left are Former UNIST President Moo Je Cho and Jisu Yoo (Advisor: Professor Moon Kee Choi, Department of Materials Science and Engineering), this year’s recipient of Yebong Award.

The Outstanding Paper Awards were presented to JongBeom Kim (Advisor: Professor Sang Il Seok, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering), Jaeho Kim (Advisor: Professor Seulki Lee, Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence), Young-Jin Sim (Advisor: Professor Kyudong Choi, Department of Mathematical Sciences), and HaeChan Park (Advisor: Professor Kyoseung Sim, Department of Chemistry).

Congratulatory remarks were delivered by CEO Sung Kim of Upstage, an AI researcher and entrepreneur, and Vice President Taegi Min of S&H Co. Ltd., a scientist who participated in the development of Naro-1, the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-I (KSLV-I). They encouraged graduates to grow into leaders who contribute to national advancement through challenges and perseverance in their respective fields.

CEO Sung Kim of Upstage delivered congratulatory remarks at the 2026 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, highlighting the arrival of the AI era and the opportunities it presents.

In his closing message, President Park emphasized, “May you turn failure into an asset and take bold leaps forward. Reflect deeply on why technology matters and how it can transform human life. Work together with your peers and become leaders who move the world with responsibility and purpose.”

At the ceremony, President Chong Rae Park conferred 202 doctoral degrees, 334 master’s degrees, and 347 bachelor’s degree holders.

Graduate representatives InJung Chung from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, JongBeom Kim from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, and Suraiya Hahan Liza from the Department of Biomedical Engineering reflected on their academic journeys and research experiences at UNIST.