Airbnb and Yonsei University partner on research

We’re thrilled to announce that Airbnb and Yonsei University, the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in Korea, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – Airbnb’s first with an educational institution in Korea.

Attendees at the MOU Signing Ceremony included Christopher Lehane, Airbnb’s Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs and Yong-Hak Kim, the President of Yonsei University,

Under the MoU, Airbnb will assist Yonsei to strengthen its research capacity in the sharing economy. Airbnb will also support the university’s researchers, professors, and employees participating in global educational programs. Yonsei will cooperate by introducing Airbnb in internal courses as an exemplary innovational model and promote Airbnb’s efforts in the sharing economy.

Airbnb and Yonsei have been collaborating since 2016 for the “Global ICT Forum”, a monthly event held by the academic circle that studies the sharing economy. The seminars include topics such as “Idea for Academic Competition” and 8 others. The MOU will enable both parties to cooperate on projects based on human exchanges and joint academic research.

Airbnb has partnered with local governments since April 2016 with the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs to promote rural tourism. Signing the MoU with the Chungnam province took place in August 2016 to solve problems related to accommodation shortages ahead of events such as Korea’s National Sports Festival. In January 2017, we signed a partnership with Gangwon province to provide lodging support in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.  

Airbnb welcomed 1 million visitors to Korea in 2016, of which more than 500,000 were foreign travelers.

[From left: Chris Lehane, Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs at Airbnb, Kim Yong-Hak, President of Yonsei University]

[Front row from left: Mike Orgil APAC Director of Public Policy at Airbnb, Chris Lehane Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs at Airbnb, Kim Yong-Hak President of Yonsei Uni., Kim Yong Seok Senior Vice President for Admin. and Development at Yonsei Uni., Lee Bong Gyou Dean of Graduate School of Information at Yonsei Uni.]