Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe Visits SNU ISRC to Discuss Bilateral S&T and Talent Exchange


▲ Faculty members of SNU’s Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center with Japanese Minister Toshiko Abe (fifth from right)

Seoul National University College of Engineering announced that on Thursday, August 28, a delegation led by Toshiko Abe, Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), visited SNU’s Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center (ISRC) to discuss cooperation in science and technology as well as strategies for fostering talent exchange between Korea and Japan.

Minister Abe made the visit following her official attendance at the 2025 APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries held in Gyeongju, before traveling to Seoul to tour the research center.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed Jaeha Kim, Director of Operations at ISRC, on the center’s education and research infrastructure, as well as the current status of its open-fab (open fabrication facility) operations. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with SNU faculty, where the participants explored a wide range of topics, including science and technology education, talent cultivation, and collaborative research.

Minister Abe expressed particular interest in the structure of the center’s semiconductor education programs and engaged in a Q&A session. She remarked, “I look forward to continued expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries in science, technology, and talent development.”

Following the discussion, the delegation toured the center’s cleanroom, observing key semiconductor fabrication areas such as photolithography, etching, deposition, and ion implantation. They also received an explanation of the open-access management model and training environment. The center commented that it is continuously advancing its process infrastructure and operational systems to ensure researchers can conduct high-quality, reliable studies more efficiently.

Professor Hyuk Jae Lee, Director of the Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center, stated, “We hope this visit will further promote academic exchange between universities in Korea and Japan. We aim to foster substantial outcomes through broad-based cooperation and talent exchange.”

Going forward, ISRC plans to strengthen discussions on international collaboration with MEXT and other global institutions, while expanding its global cooperation networks and connecting them to tangible outcomes in education and research.

▲ (From left) Dr. Jaeha Kim, Director of Operations at ISRC, and Japanese Minister Toshiko Abe (MEXT)


▲ Minister Toshiko Abe and her delegation receive a briefing on ISRC’s operational model and talent development programs

[Contact Information]
Shingeun Park, Team Lead, SNU Inter-university Semiconductor Research Center / +82-2-880-5458