SKKU School of Art Game Design Department Hosts Special Lecture with UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Game-Based Collaboration

On September 24 at 3:00 p.m., the Department of Game Design at the School of Art (Dean: Daniel H. Byun) held a special lecture at Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, Suseon Hall (Room 61315). The lecture featured Hyunji Lee, Head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Korea Office, who spoke on the theme of WFP’s activities and the potential of games to broaden public engagement.

As the UN’s frontline agency for disaster and conflict relief, WFP operates over 5,000 trucks, 20 ships, and 132 aircraft, making it the world’s largest humanitarian transporter. Recognizing the power of interactive media, WFP has been exploring games as a new way to connect with the public.

In partnership with WFP Korea and international UN advisors, the Game Design Department is developing game-based approaches for global users. Games can not only evoke empathy through immersive experiences and convey powerful messages effectively but also encourage participation that may lead to donations—emerging as a new promotional tool for WFP.

This initiative is being advanced as part of Seoul’s RISE Creative Industry Talent Development Project, and is highlighted as a leading case of building an “Empathetic Society.” Within the course Impact Game Project: Social Issues, students are preparing to create offline promotional games, online promotional games, and large-scale exhibition games themed around WFP.

During the Q&A session that followed, students raised diverse questions from a game design perspective. Ms. Lee praised the event, noting, “It was an exciting and unique approach unlike any lecture I’ve experienced before,” and expressed strong expectations for future collaboration and wider impact.