DIOTIMES Insights | Leadership, HR, and Business Transformation

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
How AI Has Torn Apart the Traditional Roadmap of Human Resource Management

2026 at the Epicenter of Disruptive Innovation Just a few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, fundamentally reshaping not only HR but the entire way businesses operate. It transformed how and where people work, and almost completely restructured labor markets—particularly in Korea—toward experienced, mid-career talent. Productivity improved, too. It was a painful period, yet some argued that it merely accelerated a transformation that was long overdue—an unwelcome virus forcing passive organizations into a necessary corner. A new

Top 10 Universities in Korea | DIOTIMES University Ranking 2026

Korea’s top universities are not defined by recent performance alone. Their competitiveness is the result of long-accumulated history, institutional identity, geographic positioning, and strategic adaptation to social and industrial change. The Top 10 universities in the DIOTIMES University Ranking 2026 each originate from different traditions, yet all share one commonality: their strengths are structurally embedded and verifiable through data. 1. Seoul National University Seoul National University is located in Seoul and operates as a National Corporation, established and governed

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
The Rise of the Employfluencer: How Employee Experience Shapes the Future of Work

A well-nurtured “employfluencer” can be more valuable than ten top performers. I recall a story from a promising startup CEO I once coached. After a dispute with the company, one employee quit and flooded an anonymous company review site with scathing posts about the firm. According to the CEO, the reviews were filled with distorted facts and the harshest possible comments. Overnight, his company’s reputation was destroyed—it became one of those places “you should never work for.” Even after requesting

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
How the MBA Changed in the 21st Century

At the beginning of the 21st century, the MBA was already a global institution with over a hundred years of history. But as the new millennium unfolded, the business world began to change faster than ever before—driven by technology, globalization, and social transformation. Business schools had no choice but to evolve with it. From the dot-com era to the rise of artificial intelligence, from the 2008 financial crisis to the ESG revolution, the MBA has been redefined again and again.

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
The History of the MBA: From Harvard to Global Leadership

The MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is often seen as a modern necessity for ambitious professionals. Yet this credential is more than a degree; it is a living institution that has continually adapted to the demands of business and society for more than a century. To understand why the MBA still holds relevance today, we must first look at its origins, how it has evolved, and how it has become a truly global phenomenon. As someone who earned my

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
What is an MBA and Why It Still Matters in 2026

The MBA, or Master of Business Administration, has long been seen as the pinnacle of business education. More than a century after its birth at Harvard Business School in 1908, the MBA remains one of the most recognizable and aspirational degrees worldwide. But in 2026, when online learning platforms, specialized master’s programs, and real-world startup experience compete for attention, a fundamental question arises: Does the MBA still matter? As someone who earned my MBA at IE Business School in Madrid,

[Byung-Ik Jung’s Consulting Insights]
Why University Internationalization Often Fails in Korea

The establishment of international colleges has become a hot topic in Korean higher education. What was once attempted only by a handful of universities is now seen as a survival strategy by almost every institution. Across the country, schools are rushing to create “International Colleges” in the hope of attracting foreign students and ensuring financial stability. Yet, despite the enthusiasm, very few cases can be called truly successful. The key question is: what differentiates the few international colleges that succeed

[Jee Suk Kang’s Education Insights]
Korean Universities in Global Rankings 2025

Global university rankings have long been a subject of fascination and debate. In Korea, they serve as both a mirror of academic competitiveness and a tool for benchmarking against the world’s best. Recently, I examined the latest results from three of the most widely referenced systems—QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), and the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU)—to understand how Korean universities are positioned in 2025. What stood out immediately was that only 13 Korean universities consistently appear within the

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
How Did My Friend Become a Leading Business Figure in China?

Lessons on Nurturing Professionals in an Age of Uncertainty, from Dalian An Unexpected Gift of Friendship A close acquaintance of mine once told me about traveling across France at the personal invitation of football legend Guus Hiddink. He had designed the entire itinerary like a tactical masterstroke and covered every expense for his dearest friends. While my own experience didn’t involve Europe’s romantic scenery, I was recently blessed with something equally unforgettable—an invitation to Dalian, China, from an old friend

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
Humility, Respect, and Communication: HR Leadership Lessons from My Father’s Career Notes

It has been 35 years since I received what I still call “My Father’s Career Notes.” I was then a young second lieutenant in the Korean Army, heading to my first assignment at a frontline unit in the dead of winter. My father, himself a former army officer, handed me a handwritten memo containing seven principles—his way of guiding a son about to face the world. At that moment, the words seemed ordinary. But after more than two decades of