Boeing Day 2025, jointly hosted by Korea Aerospace University (KAU) and the global aerospace leader Boeing, was held on the afternoon of November 26 at the Vision Hall on campus. Celebrating its 12th year since launching in 2014, Boeing Day has established itself as a major event dedicated to nurturing future talent in the aerospace field, featuring special lectures by Boeing Korea e x e cutives and a student idea competition.

During the opening ceremony, Will Shaffer, President of Boeing Korea, delivered a congratulatory message via video. He remarked, “Boeing Day has become a hub for creativity and collaboration, and we have high expectations for the innovative ideas and challenges that KAU students will bring to the future of aerospace.”

KAU President Hee-Young Hur expressed gratitude for Boeing’s continued support, saying, “I hope this competition serves as a valuable opportunity for students to explore diverse challenges in the aerospace era and to develop creative thinking and a spirit of innovation.”

Following the remarks, Alain Garcia, Head of the Korea defense division for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) and Boeing Global Services (BGS), delivered a keynote lecture on current technological trends in the aerospace and defense industry.

This year’s student idea competition was held under the theme:

“(Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Korea–Boeing partnership) Innovative next-generation aerospace technologies to counter unpredictable threats—from air to space.” Participants proposed a wide range of ideas, exploring possibilities such as next-generation mobility safety, survival and operation technologies in space environments, and designs for future aerospace infrastructure. A total of 49 teams entered the competition, with 11 teams advancing through two preliminary rounds to participate in the final presentations and exhibition.

Boeing Korea employees also took an active role, offering in-depth guidance during mid-term reviews. Ten Boeing employees served as final judges, providing industry-based feedback on technical feasibility, implementability, safety, and more.

The grand prize went to Team AC/DC, composed of students Se-Hyung Lee, Sang-Jun Lee, Tae-Hoon Kang, and Young-Seo Yoo. The 1st–3rd place teams were awarded scholarships and the opportunity to join the “NASA–Boeing Exploration Program,” which includes visits to the Boeing Factory in Everett, Washington; NASA space facilities; and the University of Houston. Scholarships were also awarded to the 4th–6th place teams.

KAU continues to strengthen students’ creativity, problem-solving ability, and global communication skills by jointly operating extracurricular programs each year with Boeing and Airbus—two of the world’s foremost aerospace and defense companies—turning students’ innovative ideas into real-world outcomes.