QISCA Newsletter - May 2026
- koreaquantumclubs
- 7 hours ago
- 8 min read
QISK & QISCA Joint Meeting
May 1st, 2026 (Fri)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 1st, 2026, a joint meeting between the Quantum Information Society of Korea (QISK) and the Korea Quantum Students Association (QISCA) was held at Space 21, Kyung Hee University. During the event, Professor Seokkyun Son (Department of Physics, Kyung Hee University), the Executive Director of General Affairs at QISK, was officially appointed as QISCA's faculty advisor, and the two organizations discussed collaborative strategies to foster university student talent in the quantum information sector.
In the panel discussion, representatives from academia and the student body exchanged views on various topics, including building a club cooperation system, operating regional seminars, organizing hands-on research and practice programs, linking internships, and expanding global exchanges. Notably, QISK expressed its willingness to support QISCA's Networking Day, issue letters of appointment for executives, and provide speakers for seminars. They also mentioned they would review potential linkages with the RISE project and the operation of a QISK Fellowship.
Furthermore, QISK proposed cooperation in providing internship information and promotional efforts, emphasizing the need to build a more systematic education and career support framework based on future surveys of members' areas of interest. Based on concrete project proposals, both institutions agreed to continue their collaboration and strive toward revitalizing the domestic quantum information talent ecosystem.
Hosting of the 2nd National Undergraduate Quantum Conference
May 15th, 2026 (Fri)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 15th, 2026, QISCA co-hosted the 2nd National Undergraduate Quantum Conference (QFK 2026) at the National Assembly Members' Office Building alongside Representative Min-hee Choi, Chairperson of the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee. Held under the theme "Designing the Future with Next-Generation Quantum Talent," the event attracted over 300 participants, including National Assembly members and their aides, government officials, domestic and international researchers, industry experts, and undergraduate/graduate students.
Representing over 800 members from approximately 35 universities nationwide, QISCA planned and managed the entire event. Utilizing the main conference hall, seminar rooms, and lobby of the National Assembly Members' Office Building, the event featured academic lectures, industry talks, a career forum, graduate school information sessions, poster presentations, and corporate booths.
In the academic session, Professor Soonwon Choi from MIT, Professor Gyuboong Cho from Rice University, and Dean Eunseong Kim of the KAIST Quantum Graduate School presented their latest research achievements. In the industry session, Seonghyuk Kim (Vice President at LG Electronics and President of the Korea Quantum Industry Association), Hyuncheol Jung (CEO of NORMA), and Changgeun Lee (CEO of KeyPair) shared the current status and future of the quantum industry.
Additionally, a career forum—featuring QISK President Donghun Lee, Quantinuum Japan CEO Shuya Kekke, ID Quantique CEO Sangyoon Eom, Megazone Cloud CQO Dongho Kim, Orientum CEO Seunghyun Bang, and QISCA Vice President Wonjung Baek—discussed talent cultivation in the quantum field, global expansion, and strategies for developing the industry ecosystem. Alongside this, Sungbin Lee (Ph.D. student at Harvard University) and Chanmin Park (Ph.D. student at KAIST) led information sessions on domestic and international graduate school admissions.
Undergraduate poster presentations and corporate booths were also operated at the venue, giving students the opportunity to share their research outcomes and directly interact with representatives from companies and research institutes. QFK 2026 was highly evaluated as a flagship event that contributed to the development of the domestic quantum ecosystem and the nurturing of next-generation talent, successfully fulfilling QISCA's role as a nationwide quantum information science platform connecting academia, industry, government, and students.
The 1st Meeting of QISCA Promoters
May 15th, 2026 (Fri)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 15th, the Korea Quantum Students Association (QISCA) held its first promoters' meeting to deliberate and resolve key agendas for its incorporation as a non-profit organization.
During the meeting, Vice President Wonjung Baek was appointed as the representative of the promoters, and QISCA’s founding purpose was officially established as building a pipeline for quantum talent and nurturing future professionals. The committee also approved five core business directions: building a quantum talent network, hosting large-scale conferences, supporting internship opportunities, linking joint academic research, and providing career mentoring for middle and high school students.
Furthermore, the corporate name was confirmed as the "Korea Quantum Students Association (QISCA)". President Sungbin Lee was appointed as the CEO, and Gayeon Kim was appointed as the General Affairs Executive. During the review of the articles of incorporation, various revisions were discussed to enhance organizational transparency and stability, such as expanding the presidency, establishing new membership procedures, refining club qualification limits, and realizing a realistic election quorum.
Based on these discussions, QISCA decided to prepare a revised draft of the articles of incorporation to be submitted at the next promoters' meeting, thereby putting the legal incorporation process into full swing.
Meeting with MIT Physics Professor Soonwon Choi
May 23rd, 2026 (Sat)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 23rd, QISCA held a special meeting with Professor Soonwon Choi from the MIT Department of Physics. This exclusive session, arranged for QISCA members for about an hour following his public lecture, served as a meaningful time for exchanging in-depth advice on quantum science research and career paths.
Professor Choi emphasized the difficulty of predicting the impact of future technologies, noting, "You cannot know the destructive power of a technology before it exists." Regarding the AI era, he shared insights into the relationship between technology and society, explaining that the core question is not the technology itself, but rather "to what extent we will delegate authority to AI."
When advising on a researcher's career path, he stressed the importance of quickly establishing a 'Home Base'—one's own specialized field—during graduate school. He explained that having firm expertise in a specific area naturally allows a researcher to expand their scope through joint research later on, and that this core expertise becomes a crucial evaluation factor during the faculty hiring process.
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of interest and motivation in research, stating, "You must enjoy it to sustain the long research journey that spans graduate school, a postdoc, and an assistant professorship." At the same time, he advised that if one determines that a graduate program does not align with their aptitude, quickly seeking a new path is also an important choice.
This meeting provided realistic insights into the life and career of a researcher for students dreaming of a future in the quantum field, offering a valuable opportunity to contemplate their direction as future scientists.
Seoul Science High School Seminar
May 18th, 2026 (Mon)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
A short-term quantum information science career exploration seminar held at Seoul Science High School successfully concluded on May 18th.
Hosted by QISCA, the seminar was operated as a large-scale event with approximately 120 students in attendance, accounting for about one-third of the entire student body. Amid high interest in quantum information science, the students filled the lecture hall, demonstrating their passionate enthusiasm for future technologies.
The lecture introduced the basic concepts of quantum information science alongside major research fields such as quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum simulation. It also provided a glimpse into the future shaped by quantum technologies through domestic and international industry trends and real-world research cases.
Furthermore, QISCA President Sungbin Lee and Vice President Wonjung Baek participated as speakers, supporting the students' career exploration by sharing their own undergraduate research experiences, the process of applying to overseas graduate schools, and methods for designing a career in the quantum field. The ensuing Q&A session featured active participation, reaffirming the high level of interest in quantum science.
Moving forward, QISCA plans to continue expanding its education and mentoring programs for middle, high school, and university students nationwide, contributing to the cultivation of next-generation quantum talent and the revitalization of the domestic quantum ecosystem.
Daejeon Daeshin High School Seminar
May 27th, 2026 (Wed)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 27th, 2026, QISCA held a quantum information science career exploration seminar at Daejeon Daeshin High School. This event was organized to enhance students' understanding of quantum science and technology—designated as a national strategic technology—and to support their future career planning.
Approximately 200 students attended the seminar, which featured introductions ranging from the basic concepts of quantum mechanics to major research fields like quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing, as well as industry trends. The seminar also shared how quantum technology is utilized in academic and industrial settings by explaining actual research cases conducted by domestic and international universities, research institutes, and companies.
During the lecture, various admission pathways, research activities, and cases of entering overseas graduate schools were introduced. A Q&A session was also held to help students concretely design their career paths in advanced science and technology fields.
This seminar provided high school students in the Daejeon area with a valuable opportunity to encounter the field of quantum information science, serving as a stepping stone to discover future quantum talent and expand the community's foundation. QISCA plans to continue expanding its quantum education and career mentoring activities for middle and high school students across the country.
Meeting with Bright Quantum
May 27th, 2026 (Wed)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 27th, 2026, QISCA held a meeting with Donghan Lee, CEO of Bright Quantum. Bright Quantum is a domestic quantum startup developing single-photon source technology used in quantum computing and quantum communication, with its research and development based in Daejeon.
During the meeting, QISCA shared its recent achievements. In particular, it introduced student-centric talent cultivation activities, including co-hosting the QFK 2026 conference with the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, building a nationwide quantum talent network, and operating quantum career seminars for high schools.
Subsequently, the two organizations discussed collaborative measures to foster talent in the quantum field and revitalize the industry ecosystem. QISCA explained its role as a platform connecting students, researchers, and companies, and proposed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the future.
In particular, the parties exchanged views on practical industry-academia collaboration models, such as linking internships between Bright Quantum and QISCA members, providing recruitment information, running company visit programs, and hosting technical seminars. Both sides formed a consensus on establishing a virtuous cycle where outstanding students can experience the quantum industry field, and companies can discover future talent.
This meeting served to lay the groundwork for cooperation aimed at connecting QISCA's talent cultivation activities with the industry and expanding research and employment opportunities for students.
Meeting with NORMA
May 29th, 2026 (Fri)
By Sungbin Lee (SQRT)
On May 29, 2026, QISCA visited Norma's headquarters for a highly productive meeting with their key representatives, including CEO Hyun-chul Jung and Team Leader Soo-jung So. Representing QISCA, President Sung-bin Lee and Vice President Won-jun Baek were joined by nine other members to discuss our shared vision for the future.
We kicked off the meeting by celebrating the successful outcomes of QFK 2026. We also highlighted QISCA’s recent milestones, including our ongoing academic advisory partnerships with MIT Physics Professor Soonwon Choi and Q-Center Director Kihwan Kim. The conversation naturally flowed into exploring a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Norma.
We proposed several practical avenues for collaboration, such as career placements, mentorship programs, technical seminars, and internships. In response, CEO Jung shared an inspiring perspective: rather than settling for a standard MOU, he suggested we work together to build a dynamic new partnership model that offers genuine, hands-on opportunities for students.
The engaging discussions continued over dinner, shifting toward corporate sponsorship and talent development. Norma expressed a strong interest in recruiting student researchers for their Pauli Propagation Surrogate (PPS) project. Building on this momentum, both parties agreed to broaden our collaborative efforts through future internships, joint corporate research initiatives, and direct employment pathways.
Moving forward, QISCA will begin coordinating with the Ministry of Science and ICT and other relevant institutions, while Norma will take the lead on securing sponsors and preparing the necessary materials. We are excited to finalize the detailed operational plans during our upcoming follow-up meeting in early June.
Comments