Stronger Together: PMBA 2026 Mid-Year Party

The PMBA Mid-Year Party, organized to promote connection and exchange within the Sungkyunkwan University SKK GSB Professional MBA (PMBA) program, has been held at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. As one of the program’s key semi-annual events, the Mid-Year Party provided a valuable opportunity for PMBA students to step away from the rigors of their academic and professional lives and to engage in meaningful interaction and fellowship. The event featured a range of thoughtfully tailored programs and banquet sessions that respected each cohort's unique identity while encouraging natural integration across classes, further strengthening unity and a shared sense of belonging within the PMBA community. Reflecting on the experience, Jaehyeon Lee (PMBA 2026), Vice President of the 18th cohort, shared, “All my days at SKK GSB were an honor for me as I was able to learn from excellent faculty, work with outstanding peers, and share insights with one another. Our cohort's slogan was ‘Late Nights, Big Dreams.’ I always remember the warm conversations we had and the intense exchanges of ideas with professionals from various industries, which gave me inspiration.” Scott Han (PMBA 2027), Vice President of the 20th cohort, remarked, "The tailored programs for our official mid-year and year-end events allowed each cohort to mingle more effectively, making this a highly meaningful occasion that strengthened the solidarity among PMBA students." He added, "Leveraging the close-knit network established this year, I hope we can continue to deliver enhanced programs and deeply memorable experiences for future prospective students." Building on the strong connections reinforced through this event, the SKK GSB PMBA will continue cultivating a visionary academic and business network.

WIL: SKK GSB's Premier Network for Women Leaders

The Executive MBA program’s women alumni and student community, Women in Leadership (WIL), has announced a new chapter for the community. WIL is a premier network of female leaders driving business across industries. By connecting accomplished alumnae with current students, WIL creates opportunities to share professional expertise, industry insights, and real-world experience. Through mentoring, networking, and meaningful dialogue, members benefit from practical perspectives, supporting both personal and professional growth. Built on a culture of mutual respect and collaboration, WIL fosters lasting relationships in a community where women leaders learn from one another, support each other, and grow together. On June 26, WIL renewed its activity with a networking gathering. Here, women leaders shared insights into how to grow as leaders in the workplace. Participants also exchanged practical advice on managing personal wealth and engaged in thoughtful discussions on navigating workplace politics. WIL President Na-ok Hwang shared plans to organize gatherings covering a wide range of topics including finance, art, and sports; and to welcome participation from women across the SKK GSB community beyond the Executive MBA program. Become a member jelike@nate.com

Aid Fragmentation and Corruption

Prof. Travers Child of SKK GSB, together with Prof. Austin Wright (University of Chicago) and Prof. Yun Xiao (University of Gothenburg), has published an article in the highly-regarded Review of Economics and Statistics examining more than 30,000 foreign aid projects across Afghanistan. The study investigates whether “aid fragmentation”—the extent to which multiple donors operate simultaneously in the same sectors and locations—affects corruption. The findings show that aid can improve governance when responsibility is concentrated among a small number of donors. However, when many donors run overlapping projects, accountability becomes blurred and opportunities for corruption increase. The resulting policy implication is not to reduce aid, but to improve coordination among aid organizations. In fragile and conflict-affected settings such as Afghanistan, effective coordination may be just as important as aid budgets in determining whether development assistance strengthens governance or creates opportunities for corruption.

PMBA Summer Green Gala 2026

The Professional MBA Summer Green Gala was held on June 13, bringing together members of the PMBA community from all of the program's 21 cohorts. Alumni and current students gathered for a day of golf, networking, and exchanging insights from their respective industries. This annual PMBA tradition serves as an opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni while expanding professional networks across industries and cohorts. The gathering also reinforced the strong sense of community that defines the PMBA program, enabling alumni and current students to strengthen existing relationships and build new connections. Reflecting on the event, Sangjoon An (PMBA 2026) shared, "This year's event brought together PMBA alumni and current students, which made it much more than a golf outing. It became a meaningful opportunity for genuine alumni networking."