National talent, global talent
A university union for next-generation global leadershipGukin 국인
Every year about 50 incoming university students become Gukin. Together they go through domestic training, overseas training in Japan and global mentoring, and join a network of 1,070 that has grown for 23 years.
Founded 2004 · 23 cohorts · 1,070 members
Members from 52 universities
- 서울대
- 연세대
- 고려대
- 이화여대
- 서강대
- 성균관대
- 한양대
- 한국외대
- 경희대
- 중앙대
- 동국대
- 홍익대
- KAIST
- 서울시립대
- 건국대
- 숙명여대
- 경인교대
- 서울교대
- 교원대
- 단국대
- 도시샤대
- 연세대 (원주)
- 인제대
- 포항공대
- UNIST
Gukin's three pillars
01 / 03
Education volunteering
Giving is at the core of Gukin. Through Global Mentoring in Japan and volunteering at home, members share their time and talent to create growing value and a positive impact.
02 / 03
Friendship
Beyond cohorts and divisions, juniors and seniors spend time together. Through domestic and overseas training, Global Mentoring, and ongoing gatherings, they build relationships that last a long time.
03 / 03
Value creation
Gukin designs and runs its own projects. Our divisions in domestic mentoring, global mentoring, internal coordination, and arts & media create social value.
The road to Gukin
From application to full member
It starts with one application in November and, after two training programs, becomes a membership for life.
Nov
Apply
Any incoming student with an early-admission offer can send in an application.
Dec–Jan
Selection
Document screening, then interviews in early January with the final result the same day.
Jan
Domestic training
Three days together — leadership, history and economics — and a cohort is born.
Jan
Overseas training
Four days in Kyushu, Japan — the consulate general, company visits and a youth leaders' forum.
After training
Full member
Global mentoring, four groups and a network that lasts a lifetime.
What we do
All year round, six ways in
From recruitment and training to global mentoring in Japan, activity groups and the alumni network.
Flagship program
Education volunteering in 5 Japanese cities
Every July and August, 100+ Gukin members teach Korean language and culture to Korean-Japanese and local students at Korean and Hangul schools across 5 Japanese cities. Now in its 18th edition, it is Gukin's flagship program.
- summer edition
- 18th
- mentors so far
- 100+
- sent to Japan
- 7 teams
Seoul → Tokyo · Osaka · Kyoto · Nagoya · Shizuoka
Gukin in numbers
23 years on, and still going
- Members
- 1,070
- Universities
- 52
- Cohorts
- 23
- Global Mentoring
- 18th
As of 2026.11.07 · updated hourly
Intro film
Gukin in three minutes
From the domestic camp to Global Mentoring in Japan, a year at Gukin, in one short film.
Cohort 24 recruitment
Ready to become part of Gukin?
Applications for the next cohort open every November. Existing members can log in to the community anytime.
If you don't have access yet Activate your account, or contact an admin for help.