Professor Sung-pil Park, the Dean of the KAIST Graduate School of Future Strategy, was honored with a commendation award from the Prime Minister of South Korea for his outstanding contributions to strengthening intellectual property (IP) competitiveness in South Korea on September 6. This recognition comes as the value of intangible assets, with intellectual property at its core, surged to over 90% of the global corporate asset value in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily, Dean Park stressed the urgent need for IP experts in the protection of intellectual property rights in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the artificial intelligence era. 

Dean Park has played a crucial role as the director of KAIST's Master in IP Program (MIP), fostering global IP experts and contributing significantly to IP legislative policies. MIP, established in 2010, has trained over 600 individuals across various sectors, solidifying its reputation as South Korea's leading intellectual property education institution.

Dean Park emphasized the importance of extending these models at the government level, particularly in the digital transformation era. He believes that government support for IP talent development is essential, and professionals will be invaluable in protecting IP values globally in the digital and AI-driven future.

Dean Park’s dedication and substantial contributions to the field of intellectual property have not only earned him the Prime Minister's commendation, but have also positioned South Korea as a stronghold in the global intellectual property landscape.