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Research

BK21 Project

BK21 Project
BK21 Program Overview

The Korea University Phase 4 BK21 Psychology Education and Research Group aims to advance psychological science research and talent development with a focus on addressing social inequality and promoting sustainability. Its vision is to grow into a globally recognized education and research group that contributes to alleviating social imbalances and advancing sustainability through psychological science.

Vision and Activities

"The Korea University Phase 4 BK21 Psychology Education and Research Group is grounded in the recognition that individual psychological imbalances are closely intertwined with broader social inequalities and cannot be studied independently or in isolation. Building on this perspective, the group seeks to develop into a world-class psychology education and research hub that integrates research and training across multiple levels, from biological mechanisms underlying homeostasis, to individual psychological imbalance, and further to their dynamic interactions with social imbalance.

Drawing on psychology’s strong tradition of interdisciplinary integration and scientific methodology, the group introduces an education and research paradigm that bridges disciplines and connects academic inquiry with real-world practice. By fostering a balanced and reciprocal exchange between basic and applied psychological research, the group aims to cultivate both psychological science researchers who address social inequality and sustainability, and practice-oriented experts equipped with evidence-based, practical problem-solving capabilities.

Ultimately, the group promotes scientific research on sustainability grounded in psychological theories and empirical findings, supports the development of educational programs and policy-relevant research to enhance sustainability, and systematically shares its educational and research outcomes with local communities. Through regular engagement with the public and the collection of feedback on research findings, the group seeks to establish a virtuous cycle that connects education, research, and practice."

Excellence

"The education and research group has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance across both. Educational competitiveness has been significantly strengthened through integrated bachelor’s–master’s and master’s–doctoral training pathways, interdisciplinary curricula incorporating AI, big data, and programming, and the expansion of field-oriented extracurricular programs.

Participating faculty members have published extensively in leading international journals, demonstrating high research productivity and quality. Interdisciplinary research, including studies integrating AI, neuroscience, and solutions to social challenges, is actively pursued, and international research networks have been substantially expanded through global collaborative projects and international training programs.

In addition, the group has achieved meaningful impact by ensuring that research outcomes are applied in real-world and societal contexts through industry–academia collaboration, problem-solving research, public lectures, and broader social engagement. Overall, the education and research group has steadily achieved excellence across education, research, and social contribution, firmly establishing itself as a leading institution shaping the future of psychological science."