The Korean Management Institute at GWSB
Founded in 2017 and housed in the Department of Management at the George Washington University School of Business, KMI brings together professionals, policymakers, academics, and students interested in U.S.–Korea relations.
Founding
Founded in 2017 through the shared vision of Linda Livingstone, then Dean of the GW School of Business and now President of Baylor University; Professor Ki-Chan Kim, co-founder of Human-Centered Entrepreneurship; and Ayman El Tarabishy, KMI's Lead Faculty and Founding Executive Director.
Mission
KMI provides a platform for research on key current issues, offers cutting-edge executive development, and supports rigorous study-abroad and online programs — strengthening positive U.S.–Korea dialogue with a focus on SMEs and entrepreneurship.
From Korea to the World
Founded in 2017 at the George Washington University School of Business during the deanship of Linda Livingstone, the Korean Management Institute was created to build a bridge between Korea, Washington, D.C., and the world.
The Institute was established through the founding support of Hyundai Mobis and the collaborative leadership of Dr. Ki-Chan Kim and Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, with the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) helping to facilitate the partnership. Dr. El Tarabishy served as the Institute's Lead Faculty and Founding Executive Director.
KMI advances global research and dialogue around MSMEs, entrepreneurship, innovation, management, and human-centered economic development. Since its founding, the Institute has brought together scholars, entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers, diplomats, and students to exchange ideas and explore what Korea's remarkable economic and entrepreneurial journey can teach the world.
Today, KMI is taking that mission into a new frontier through its groundbreaking research on the Origins of Korean Entrepreneurship — connecting Korea's history, ideas, relationships, and human-centered values with the future of MSMEs, innovation, and entrepreneurship globally.
Innovation is our tradition
Platform
A research platform leveraging a strong international network and interdisciplinary agenda, promoted through internal and external communications.
Development
Cutting-edge, first-rate executive development seminars and programming with an integrative approach to program design.
Study
Rigorous, academically challenging study-abroad and online programs developed and delivered by KMI faculty and staff.
A documented history
KMI will work to further strengthen previously established reputations and relationships between GWU and South Korea by providing a bridge for existing programming and by centralizing the University's connection to South Korea.
The George Washington University has played an important role in the relations between Korea and the United States. Executives of the largest Korean companies — such as Hyundai, Daewoo, and Samsung — either studied at GWU, earned degrees, or were recipients of honorary degrees. Former President Lee Myung-bak spent a year and a half as a visiting scholar at the George Washington University.
GW International – Asia and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences also hold existing collaborations in South Korea with Ewha Womans University (Seoul), Hallym University Medical Center (Seoul), Korea University (Seoul), Seoul National University (Seoul), and Yonsei University (Seoul).
Korean Presidents & GWU
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee (1875–1965) graduated from George Washington University with an A.B. degree in 1907. He received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 1949 and an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1954. He became the first president of South Korea, ruling from March 1948 to April 1960. Rhee, a professed Christian, was identified strongly with the conservative, anti-Communist side in Korean politics and geopolitics, and led South Korea throughout the Korean War. His presidency ended in resignation following popular protests against a disputed election. He died in exile in Hawaii.
While at GW, he was a member of the YMCA Club and the Enosinian Society, a debating club. He was noted to be a graceful after-dinner speaker and a regular attendant at morning chapel. The 1907 yearbook had this description of him:
There is a young fellow named Rhee,
From the realm of Korea is hee.
Lest perchance you should stray,
He is careful to say,
“I am neither a Jap[sic] nor Chinee[sic].”
Thus spoke our Syngman when he came to America from Korea, less than three years ago. Now he has most of us beat a block at our own language, as is shown by his feat of winning his A.B. in two and one-half years. He is an active member of the University Y.M.C.A Club and of the Enosinian Society, a graceful after-dinner speaker, and — greatest distinction of all — a regular attendant at morning chapel. He intends to return to Korea on completing his studies, and will be a minister of the gospel in his home city of Seoul. Peng ani gasio, Syngman!
GW confers an honorary Doctor of Laws on President Rhee
The University called a Special Convocation in honor of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Korea, and awarded him the degree of Doctor of Laws. The Convocation was held in Lisner Auditorium. In addition to the University trustees and faculties, guests included representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the Senate, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and other Washington officials, as well as officers of University alumni groups and of Washington cultural and civic groups.
University president Cloyd H. Marvin cited President Rhee as a “son of the George Washington University… man of sincere attitude, in whom discerning understanding and Christian character are united; patriot and leader whose almost eternal patience, quiet will, and deep spiritual power have wrought for himself and his countrymen, through demanding periods of stress, a disciplined courage and a steadfast understanding that sacrificial service is necessary for public weal.”
Lee Myung-Bak
The George Washington University President Steven Knapp presented His Excellency Lee Myung-Bak, president of the Republic of Korea, with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from GW. The honorary degree was conferred in a ceremony at GW's Jack Morton Auditorium before an audience of distinguished guests including United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Kathleen Stephens, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo, and other members of the diplomatic corps, as well as GW trustees, students, alumni, faculty and staff.
President Knapp noted that President Lee has strong ties to GW, having served as a visiting scholar in 1999, studying and teaching international business. He recounted President Lee's rise from poverty as a child to his success as CEO and then Chairman of Hyundai, Mayor of Seoul, and finally his election as president of the Republic of Korea in 2007.
“You rose from humble circumstances to become a trailblazer in business and a visionary leader of the Republic of Korea. From the corporate boardroom to The George Washington University to your country's highest office, you have demonstrated a global vision, a commitment to education, and a dedication to service.”
He also spoke of the great historic relationship between the Republic of Korea and GW, which has spanned more than a century. It began in 1892, when Suh Jai P'il received his medical degree from GW, becoming the first Korean to graduate from an American medical school. Dr. Syngman Rhee, the founder of the Republic of Korea, is another famous GW alumnus, graduating in 1907. More than 100 years later, over 800 students — the largest concentration of GW alumni outside of the United States — reside in the Republic of Korea. Over 250 students from the Republic of Korea were enrolled in GW this last academic year.
During his speech, President Lee talked about his strong connection to GW and his experience on campus. He discussed his vision for the Republic of Korea based on Green Growth and educational and economic opportunity, a more peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula, and greater engagement in the world community.
Dae-Whan Chang Receives GW's Alumni Achievement Award
Dae-Whan Chang, chair and publisher of the South Korean-based Maekyung Media Group, was honored with the university's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award — the highest annual recognition given by the George Washington Alumni Association to a GW graduate.
An alumnus of the Elliott School of International Affairs, Dr. Chang, M.A. '76, is one of South Korea's most respected thought leaders. He is the founder of the World Knowledge Forum — the largest annual business forum in Asia — and has served as chair and publisher of Maekyung since 1988.
He was recognized at a special ceremony that featured remarks from Elliott School Dean Michael Brown and GWAA President-elect Jeremy Gosbee, B.A. '98, M.A. '02. The full class of 2015 award recipients were honored at a Sept. 24 dinner during the university's annual Alumni Weekend celebration.
“This is one of our most long-standing programs at the university — older than our alumni association itself, in fact,” Mr. Gosbee said. “We're thrilled to be honoring a representative of the Elliott School who has a career of distinction that is extremely worthy of recognition.”
Dr. Chang served as chair of the Korean Association of Newspapers from 2005–2010 and currently is a commissioner of the Global Commission on International Governance. His efforts to grow the World Knowledge Forum — which he describes as a small-scale version of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Switzerland — showcase his interests in media, global economics, and international relations.
“Many things are happening in Asia. Economic action is happening. I think Asia will provide lots of new opportunities, a new paradigm.”
Dr. Chang has worked to raise GW's profile in South Korea, Dr. Brown said. He was a keynote speaker at the GW Global Forum in Seoul in 2012, an event that featured remarks from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, M.B.A. '71, and then-Wired Magazine Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson.
Past recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award include 16-time NBA champion Arnold “Red” Auerbach, Nobel Prize winner Julius Axelrod, and Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea, who graduated from Columbian College in 1907.
GWSB's academic mission is to be a preeminent business school recognized for scholarly research, teaching excellence, and innovative curricula — focused on the responsible management of organizations in the global environment.
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