On June 26, 2026, a delegation from the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Sendai led by Consul General Mr. Park Seon Cheol paid a courtesy visit to Tohoku University and met with President Teiji Tominaga. Consul General Park was appointed to Sendai’s consulate-general in March of this year. The meeting served as an opportunity for formal introductions and there was a meaningful exchange of views on further developing academic and student exchange. Executive Vice President Toshiya Ueki and others were also in attendance.
During the meeting, President Tominaga welcomed the delegation, explained Tohoku University’s designation as Japan’s first ‘University for International Research Excellence’, and introduced its strengths (including its world-class research environment for semiconductors and materials science with one of the largest clean rooms in the country). Next, they discussed common challenges facing both nations such as their low birthrates and aging populations, as well as regional revitalization. Touching on Korea’s national ‘Glocal University 30’ project aimed at nurturing the country’s regional universities, Consul General Park noted that Tohoku University’s reforms to harmonize internationalization with local characteristics are deeply congruent with Korean policy.
EVP Ueki explained that Koreans make up the university’s fourth-largest group of international students by nationality, and that many outstanding Korean faculty members work across its campuses in a variety of fields. President Tominaga also highlighted the university’s high-quality living environment (with facilities like University House), which makes it an appealing destination for Korea’s exceptional students and researchers. Consul General Park praised the university environment as extremely attractive and indicated his desire to share its appeal with Koreans widely.
After meeting with the president, EVP Ueki showed Consul General Park the Katahira Campus monument commemorating the Korean poet Kim Kirim and explained its background. The delegation also toured NanoTerasu and the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies the same day.
This visit is expected to deepen cooperation and exchange between Tohoku University and the Republic of Korea.
Group photo: President Tominaga (3rd from right, Consul General Park Seon Cheol (3rd from left), EVP Ueki (2nd from right), Vice Consul General Lee Byung Ho (2nd from left)
Meeting between Consul General Park and President Tominaga
Consul General Park listens as EVP Ueki explain the monument to Kim Kirim
Contact:
Global Strategy Office
TEL: 022-217-6311
Email: kokusai-c*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace * with @)