[2026 UNIST Matriculation] “Design Questions the World Has Never Seen!”

The future belongs not merely to those who seek answers, but to those bold enough to ask questions the world has yet to imagine.

The 2026 UNIST Matriculation Ceremony took place at the UNIST Gymnasium on February 24, 2026. Held at the UNIST Gymnasium, the event was filled with excitement and optimism as the Class of 2030 commenced their academic journey.

This year, a total of 491 incoming students—460 in science and engineering and 31 in business administration—were officially welcomed to UNIST in the presence of their family and professors who held witness to this important milestone.

The 2026 UNIST Matriculation Ceremony took place at the UNIST Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

President Chong Rae Park delivered the matriculation address, sharing an inspiring vision for the Class of 2030 in the age of artificial intelligence. “In a world where AI can generate endless answers, the true competitive edge lies in the depth and originality of the questions we ask. At UNIST, I hope you will grow not into individuals who merely seek correct answers, but into pioneers who design questions the world has never seen.”

He further encouraged students to embrace uncertainty and challenge as integral part of growth. “Do not avoid failure,” he advised. “Face it willingly, and transform each experience into the foundation for your next leap forward.”

Below is the complete commencement address by President Chong Rae Park:

Dear New Students, Distinguished Families, and Esteemed Guests,
Welcome, and congratulations on your admission to UNIST!

Through years of rigorous preparation and sustained effort, you have earned your place at UNIST—a world-leading university in science and technology, grounded in inquiry, discipline, and responsibility. Within our community, we refer to our members UNISTars, reflecting our belief that each individual carries a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to humanity’s future. The identity we ask every member to uphold is clear, We Are All Pioneers! To our students, it is my privilege to welcome you into this academic community.

To your parents and families—whose trust and unwavering support have brought you to this moment—I extend my sincere gratitude.

Dear UNIST Freshmen,
From this day forward, you enter a world without predetermined answers.

The campus is not merely a place of instruction. It is an advanced outpost of innovation—a living nexus of science and technology where imagination is tested, refined, and brought into reality, and where the most urgent challenges of our time are confronted with courage and intellect.

Allow me to pose a question that will shape your years here:
Are you seekers of answers—or architects of questions?

Many of you have excelled at solving problems presented to you. But your time here requires more than proficiency in solutions. In an era when AI can generate millions of answers in mere seconds, what distinguishes scientific leadership today is not the volume of information possessed, but the depth of inquiry pursued. Established paths offer certainty. Advancement requires engagement with the unresolved. UNIST encourages you—even challenges you—to venture toward roads not yet paved. That is where ‘Creative Disruption’ begins.

Today, we speak of Vibe Coding, where a few prompts can direct AI to construct complex systems. Technological barriers are lowering, personalization is reshaping daily life, and the pace of change continues to accelerate.

UNIST has long prepared for this moment. What we call the UNIST Vibe reflects a culture shaped by sustained effort—grounded in originality and a commitment to excellence. Even within our name lies the aspiration to be both ‘UNIque’ and among the ‘beST.’ The university you now join continues to advance as a global platform for education and research. For nine consecutive years, UNIST has ranked first in Korea in the Leiden Ranking for research impact. We are home to 9 Highly Cited Researchers—second nationally only to Seoul National University. Your classrooms and laboratories are connected to the global scholarly community. Now it is your responsibility to contribute to that tradition. Pursue your work with intellectual independence. Cross disciplinary boundaries where necessary. Combine imagination with disciplined execution. Let your questions guide your development.

UNIST is committed to educating individuals capable of designing problems worth solving.

We are committed to shaping you not as consumers of knowledge, but as architects of problems worth solving. Narrow expertise may be replicated. Those who understand first principles and accept accountability for consequences define their time. In an age when AI can generate almost anything, the defining question becomes, Should we? And if so—to what end? AI may design aircraft, yet only human judgement can determine whether that design safeguards human life. You will encounter decisions of that magnitude.

Therefore, let me offer this guidance: Fail—courageously. Rise—deliberately.
Turn failure into insight. Let experiences refine your questions. A life without attempts is a life without failure—but also without growth. The discipline formed through adversity will shape your competence and your character. UNIST will support you through that process.

At UNIST, you will learn from scholars at the forefront of their fields. Alongside our distinguished faculty, three collaborating professors join this academic community.

Professor Sedol Lee, the legendary Go master, will help you cultivate independent thinking and personal identity in the age of AI, drawing upon his historic matches with AlphaGo. Professor Ji Young Lee, a mentor to countless students, will awaken the ethical awareness and social responsibility that technology alone cannot provide.
Professor Ayoung Kim, internationally acclaimed media artist, will blend artistic imagination with advanced technology to offer insights that resonate deeply with the world.

Together, they represent UNIST’s pursuit of AI-driven transformation—not simply learning technology, but using it to create new possibilities. This is the pioneering spirit of UNIST and the direction your work should follow.

Walk alongside AI—but think independently. Build a durable intellectual foundation. Upon it, construct perspectives that are distinctly your own. Do not measure your education solely by credentials accumulated, but by the originality and integrity of your thought. When originality and individuality converge, you cultivate a strength uniquely your own. Through such work, UNIST strengthens its place among the world-leading institutions.

Dear UNIST Freshmen, write your own narrative.

In a period of intense technological competition, what ultimately matters is the set of values guiding your work. Your questions will determine your direction. At UNIST, you will develop the intellectual strength to identify problems not yet fully understood. In doing so, you will shape a story grounded in purpose and connection. The world responds not only to innovation, but to meaning.

Your journey as UNISTars will not always be smooth. There will be moments of frustration. You may feel discouraged by repeated experimental failures or overwhelmed by complex equations. Yet scientific progress has always advanced through persistence. Do not fear difficulty. UNIST will provide the stability necessary for you to continue, to reflect, and to grow.

Above all, do not forget the purpose that brought you here. From this day forward, you begin the work of shaping humanity’s future through disciplined learning. My colleagues and I will stand beside you in that work.

May your first question contribute to UNIST’s continuing history.
May your efforts serve the broader future of humanity.

Once again, I warmly congratulate you on this brilliant beginning.
Together, let us build a future beyond imagination.

We Are All Pioneers!

Thank you.