Sangwook Ahn of Pukyong National University Appointed as EU 'Jean Monnet Chair'

60,000 Euros in Support Over Three Years, Fostering Education and Research Outreach

Studying Supply Chains and Energy Transition Between the EU and East Asia

Sangwook Ahn, Professor at Pukyong National University, has been appointed as a 'Jean Monnet Chair' by the European Commission.

Pukyong National University (President Bae Sanghoon) announced on August 18, 2026, that Professor Ahn of the Division of International and Area Studies has been selected as the recipient of the EU Jean Monnet Chair for 2026.

The Jean Monnet Chair is an international academic program through which the European Commission, via Erasmus+, supports EU-related research and education at universities worldwide. Over the next three years, Professor Ahn will receive a total of 60,000 euros to conduct EU-related education, research, academic, and outreach activities.

Sangwook Ahn, Professor at Pukyong National University.

The name of Professor Ahn's project is 'BEACON (Building EU－Asia Cooperation Outside uNcertainty).' The project analyzes the EU as a rules-based normative actor amid geopolitical uncertainty and the restructuring of global supply chains, exploring the potential for cooperation between the EU and East Asia, focusing on global supply chain transformation, energy transition, and multilateral trade.

The research findings will be disseminated through regular lectures at Pukyong National University, as well as domestic and international academic events, policy dialogues, and public and media activities.

The European Commission evaluated one of BEACON's major strengths as its connection of climate governance, energy transition, and trade issues with the EU's rules-based regulatory model.

The ability to expand EU research and education beyond the Seoul metropolitan area, using Busan as a base, was also assessed as an important factor in the selection process. Professor Ahn’s role as president of the Korean Association of European Studies, which enables the utilization of a nationwide European studies network, was also highlighted as a strength.

Professor Ahn stated, "In an era of rising uncertainties such as geopolitical conflict and supply chain restructuring, cooperation between Korea and the EU, which share rules and multilateralism, is becoming increasingly important. I aim to strengthen the academic and policy networks between Korea and the EU and to seek collaborative strategies enabling both sides to jointly address uncertainty."

In Korea, previous recipients of the Jean Monnet Chair include Professor Moon Woosik of Seoul National University (2007), Professor Lee Jaedeuk of Pusan National University (2010), Professors Kim Namkuk (2012), Park Sunghoon (2013, 2019), and Lee Jaeseung (2018) of Korea University, and Professor Kim Sihong of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2016).

Professor Ahn, who earned his PhD in France, currently researches EU economics and trade, energy security, climate change, global supply chains, and EU–East Asia relations at Pukyong National University. He also serves as president of the Korean Association of European Studies, which includes approximately 400 researchers in Europe-related fields.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.