Korea University Business School (KUBS)
Since its establishment in 1905 as Korea’s first business school, KUBS has played a pioneering leadership role in business education, research, and internationalization. Today, KUBS serves all stages of advanced business learning through its undergraduate program (2,100 students), research-based graduate programs (MS, PhD; 256 students), practice-oriented degrees (MBA, MIM, DBA; 715 students), and executive education.
KUBS is distinguished by the strength of its faculty, with 96 full-time members—the largest in Korea—who are committed to advancing research excellence and producing work of both academic rigor and societal impact. Faculty members consistently publish dozens of articles annually in top-tier journals, reflecting sustained scholarly achievement. The School’s reputation is further reinforced by global rankings, including QS, THE, and FT (e.g., QS 2026 Subject Ranking: Marketing, 33rd; THE World University Rankings 2026: Business & Economics, 57th; FT Executive MBA Ranking 2025: 61st). Notably, for 14 consecutive years, KUBS graduates have been identified as the most preferred hires by Korean companies in annual surveys—an especially meaningful distinction.
In the domain of internationalization, KUBS has demonstrated a distinctive trajectory. Long before global engagement became widespread in Korea, KUBS pioneered global internship programs and international student exchange initiatives. Its global network has since expanded significantly to include partnerships with over 130 universities across 40 countries. Moreover, KUBS was the first institution in Korea to earn AACSB accreditation for all degree programs in 2005 and EQUIS accreditation in 2007, and it remains among the very few schools in the country to have continuously maintained both, thereby affirming its international standing.
Guided by its mission, “Business for Society—Inspiring Next Leaders,” KUBS continues to innovate in order to expand the horizons of business education and transcend disciplinary boundaries. The School has established key initiatives such as the Startup Station, the ESG Research Institute, and the Center for Digital Transformation and Business, while incorporating ESG and AI value chain tracks into its curriculum. Furthermore, to foster creativity and interdisciplinary thinking, KUBS has cultivated an environment enriched with artistic and cultural elements, including installations by internationally renowned artist Ufan Lee, as well as dedicated art and culture spaces and collaborative work zones.
Finally, KUBS is widely recognized for the strength and influence of its alumni network, whose members have made significant contributions to business and society at both national and global levels. Distinguished alumni include Myung-bak Lee (17th President of Korea), Euisun Chung (Chairman and CEO of Hyundai Motor Group), Hyeon-joo Park (Founder and Chairman of Mirae Asset Financial Group), and Kyungshik Lee (Former Governor of the Bank of Korea).