Big Bang’s G-Dragon appointed as special professor at South Korean university

Big Bang frontman G-Dragon has been appointed as a special professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) under the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

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South Korean media outlet The Korea Herald reported on the K-pop idol’s appointment at the university earlier today (June 5), sharing that G-Dragon’s involvement at KAIST is “aimed at expanding the global competitiveness of Korean culture by incorporating the latest science and technology developed at KAIST into K-content”, according to the institution.

Referring to G-Dragon as Professor Kwon, a KAIST representative told the outlet about his plans to “collaborate on digital twin technology research for Hallyu artists, research on convergence of K-culture and technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and metaverse, and develop artist avatars using the latest technologies”.

This would include volumetrics, motion capture and haptics, per the university. This research will be conducted at the as-yet-unopened KAIST-Galaxy Corporation Enter-tech (Entertainment and Technology) Research Center, set to be a new branch of the department. On top of that, G-Dragon will also serve the university as its global ambassador in a bid to promote the institution’s work overseas.

The star will also be hosting lectures on “leadership” open to both undergraduate and graduate students at the university in the next two years, which will include personal anecdotes of his experience as “a world-renowned artist”. The institution added that his “artistic experience will help students grow as creative and interdisciplinary talents”.

“I am honoured to be a visiting professor at KAIST, a school that produces many scientific geniuses. I look forward to the great synergy between the best science and technology experts and my entertainment expertise,” the South Korean musician said about his new partnership with the university, per The Korea Herald. 

KAIST is a national research university located in Daejeon, South Korea, established by the South Korean government in 1971 as the nation’s first public, research-oriented science and engineering institution. The university is home to over 10,000 full-time students and 1,300 faculty researchers.

On top of his work with the university, G-Dragon will also be returning with new music sometime this year, as confirmed by his label Galaxy Corporation in April. The Big Bang rapper is expected to drop new music sometime in the second half of the year, after which he will be carrying out “global activities”. Other details are to be announced at a later stage.

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