Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) inaugurated the “Graduate School of Architecture” on the afternoon of Monday, August 31, at the Comprehensive Welfare Center, with the aim of leading future architectural paradigms and cultivating professionals equipped with practical skills.

The opening ceremony was attended by Kookmin University President Jeong Seung Ryul, along with leading figures from the domestic and international architecture communities, academic officials, and current students, who gathered to celebrate the new beginning of the Graduate School of Architecture. Following the opening ceremony, the event proceeded with a tour of the newly constructed graduate school facilities and a visit to the opening commemorative exhibition.

Kookmin University’s Graduate School of Architecture was established with the goal of proposing “AI Craft” as a new direction for architectural design in response to an environment where artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the ways we think, produce, and shape cities and architecture. AI Craft refers to an architectural approach that goes beyond merely using artificial intelligence as a tool to increase design efficiency; rather, it reconnects the relationships between thought and production, algorithms and materials, and information and place.

The curriculum is broadly divided into the Architectural Design track and the Architecture track. The Architectural Design track trains professional architects by integrating an understanding of cities, society, technology, and the environment through design studios, while the Architecture track focuses on training professional researchers and experts through research and practice in various fields, including architectural history, theory, design, structure, environment, and construction. In particular, the Architectural Design major offers both a two-year and a three-year program, depending on the applicant’s major and prior academic background. The curriculum is structured so that holders of a four-year Bachelor of Architecture degree can enroll in the two-year program, while holders of a bachelor’s degree in architecture-related fields or non-architecture majors can enroll in the three-year program to receive systematic, specialized design education.

The program also meets international standards for professional architectural education. The Architectural Design major is operated as a professional degree program accredited by the Korean Architectural Accreditation Board (KAAB). This program is a professional degree course aligned with the architectural education accreditation systems of the Canberra Accord member accreditation bodies and the UNESCO-International Union of Architects (UNESCO-UIA).

The curriculum will be centered on progressive design studios. It is structured to begin with an understanding of basic forms and spatial composition, progress through the analysis of urban contexts and users, and the integration of technical elements—such as structure, materials, and the environment—with design, ultimately addressing sociocultural needs and sustainability. The goal is to ensure that students acquire not only creative design skills but also the professional practical competencies required in the real-world architectural field.

Meanwhile, Kookmin University has been progressively strengthening the expertise of its architecture education. Following the establishment of a three-year Master of Architecture program in 2016 and the acquisition of the architectural education accreditation program from the Korea Architectural Education Accreditation Board in 2024, the university expanded its specialized architecture education system by establishing the Graduate School of Architecture in 2026.

Professor Jang Yoon Gyoo, the inaugural dean, stated in his opening remarks, “We will build a top-tier educational environment so that students can experience world-class research and education right here in Korea,” adding, “We will establish ourselves as Korea’s leading specialized graduate school with world-class capabilities and take the lead in global architectural education.” President Jeong Seung Ryul remarked, “The opening of the Graduate School of Architecture will serve as a significant milestone for Kookmin University in cultivating the creative, interdisciplinary talent required by future society,” adding, “The university will also actively support students by providing the best educational infrastructure so they can develop their expertise and competitiveness.”