Emory University and Yonsei University reaffirm longstanding partnership during presidential visit
September 9, 2026 Sophia Neitsch
During the delegation’s visit, Yonsei University President Dong-Sup Yoon and Emory University’s then-Interim President Justice Leah Ward Sears signed a new strategic partnership agreement between Yonsei and Emory. Photo by Paul Breezly, Atlanta Event Photography.
Emory University and Yonsei University (South Korea) recently reaffirmed a partnership built over decades of collaboration as Yonsei President Dong-Sup Yoon visited Emory’s Atlanta campus to strengthen institutional ties; explore new opportunities for research, education and global engagement; and renew a strategic partnership agreement.
The Aug. 3 visit brought Yoon and senior university leaders to Emory for discussions focused on research, innovation and the future of the partnership between the two institutions. Facilitated by Emory Global Engagement, the delegation’s visit included meetings with health sciences and biomedical engineering faculty, a meeting with then-Interim President Justice Leah Ward Sears and the signing of a new strategic partnership agreement, and a Yonsei-Emory luncheon reception. The reception convened faculty, staff and university leaders to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The agreement marks the third time Emory and Yonsei have renewed a strategic partnership, reinforcing a relationship that has evolved over decades and continues to expand across research, education and global engagement.
A distinguished partnership
Building on a legacy of collaboration, Emory and Yonsei share a distinguished history of partnership. The institutions have established numerous agreements supporting student exchanges, faculty engagement and a Yonsei Korean Language Fellow at Emory. Their longstanding ties were also shaped by the late Emory President Emeritus James T. Laney, who taught at Yonsei University in the 1960s and later served as U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Yonsei honored his enduring contributions by establishing the Laney Professorship in 2012.
Emory and South Korea more broadly also share a historical relationship dating back nearly 130 years. From the arrival of Emory’s first international student, who came from South Korea in 1893, to today, South Korean students have become Emory’s third-largest international student group. Emory also has a strong alumni community in South Korea, including a Seoul chapter with more than 1,000 members.
Research has been another cornerstone of the relationship. Through Emory Global Engagement’s Halle Institute for Global Research and Learning, Emory and Yonsei faculty have participated in 13 collaborative research grants, including fields such as public health, biomedical engineering, Korean culture, environmental sciences, cancer research and artificial intelligence. The recent visit also highlighted opportunities to explore additional areas of collaboration and scholarly exchange across a range of shared interests.
“For decades, Emory and Yonsei have partnered to catalyze research, amplify opportunities for learning and discovery, and foster meaningful connections among students, faculty, and researchers. We are grateful for this visit and look forward to deepening our collaboration in ways that advance our shared priorities, strengthen our institutions, and address challenges and opportunities that increasingly require global engagement,” says Jane Gatewood, vice provost for global engagement.
Interested in hosting an international delegation at Emory University? Reach out to Emory Global Engagement at global@emory.edu.
