Nguyen Xuan Mung, left, a Vietnamese-born professor at Sejong University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, and Mugahed Al-antari, right, a professor from Turkey at Sejong University’s Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Courtesy of Sejong University
Two professors at Sejong University recently obtained Korean citizenship through the Ministry of Justice’s Multiple Citizenship for Outstanding Talent (MCOT) initiative, which grants citizenship under eased requirements to outstanding individuals in fields such as science, the arts, sports and research.
The program aims to support world-class scholars in settling and working long-term in Korea by allowing dual citizenship, thereby helping them contribute to the country’s development and innovation landscape.
Nguyen Xuan Mung, a Vietnamese-born professor in Sejong University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, has devoted more than a decade to advancing research and education in Korea.
“This naturalization is more than just obtaining citizenship — it’s the moment I became certain that Korea is my second home,” he said. “It is a recognition of the challenges I faced and the efforts I made here.”
Following his naturalization, Nguyen said he now feels a strong sense of responsibility to contribute directly to Korea’s scientific advancement as a citizen, not merely as a foreign researcher.
Another scholar who gained Korean citizenship is Mugahed Al-antari, a professor from Turkey in Sejong University’s Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. A globally recognized expert in AI-based medical technology, he obtained Korean citizenship in 2024 through the same program, in recognition of his academic achievements.
He currently leads the Artificial Intelligence Smart Solution Laboratory at the university and spearheads international collaborative research. He also serves as the principal investigator for a Korea-Turkey joint research project developing an AI-powered smart diagnostic platform.
Sejong University emphasized that the diverse cultural and academic backgrounds of its foreign faculty members are injecting new energy into the university’s research environment.
By actively utilizing the government’s MCOT initiative, which allows dual nationality, the university seeks to provide a stable environment where world-class scholars can devote themselves to teaching and research while firmly establishing their roots in Korean society and academia.