Columbus’ growing relationship with Jinju, South Korea, continued as Columbus State University representatives participated in the 2026 Jinju K-Entrepreneurship International Forum, held October 18–20.
Patrick Donahoe, CSU’s chief operating officer and a retired U.S. Army major general, and Dr. Daewoo Lee, director of the Korean Institute at Columbus State University, participated in sessions focused on global entrepreneurship, aerospace, and defense.
Their involvement highlighted connections between the forum’s discussions and Columbus’ strengths in aerospace, advanced manufacturing and education. It also continued the engagement between two communities working to build lasting relationships among businesses, universities and local leaders.
Connecting Two Aerospace Communities
On October 19, Donahoe moderated the forum’s aerospace and defense session, which included representatives from Anduril Korea, AeroVironment, Korean Air, LIG Defense & Aerospace and Jinju-based ANH Structure.
Speakers discussed how artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software are changing the industry. They emphasized faster development and closer collaboration between manufacturers, technology companies and smaller suppliers.
For Columbus and Jinju, aerospace provides a practical area of shared interest.
Columbus is home to Pratt & Whitney’s Columbus Engine Center and Columbus Forge. Jinju also has strong connections to aerospace and advanced manufacturing, providing common ground for continued dialogue between the sister cities.
That connection was highlighted September 2–5, when Jinju Mayor Kyoo Il Jo led a delegation of city officials and business representatives to Columbus.
One of the delegation’s first major stops was the Pratt & Whitney Columbus Engine Center. Visitors learned about the company’s Columbus operations while sharing information about Jinju’s aerospace industry.
The September visit gave Jinju leaders a firsthand introduction to Columbus’ aerospace capabilities. Donahoe’s participation in the October forum highlighted an industry important to both communities and provided another setting for international engagement.
Education Sustains Community Connections
Professor Lee participated in the forum’s global entrepreneurship session on October 20, discussing how hands-on learning and international experiences help students develop confidence, judgment and adaptability.
He described CSU students’ experiences in Jinju, including cultural visits and interactions with students at Gyeongsang National University. He also emphasized that exchanges between Columbus and Jinju should lead to continuing relationships involving universities and their surrounding communities.
That message connects education with the broader goals of the Columbus–Jinju partnership.
Student and faculty exchanges can sustain contact between official visits, deepen cultural understanding and create opportunities for future collaboration. They also give students experience navigating unfamiliar environments and responding to unexpected challenges—skills relevant to an increasingly connected economy.
Building on an Established Relationship
The 2026 forum followed a year of expanding engagement between Columbus and Jinju.
In October 2025, Choose Columbus President and CEO Missy Kendrick joined Columbus leaders in Jinju for the sister-city signing ceremony and participated in that year’s entrepreneurship forum. The Columbus delegation introduced the community’s business environment, educational institutions and approach to servant leadership.
Jinju’s September 2026 visit brought the exchange to Columbus. Along with the Pratt & Whitney tour, the delegation explored workforce development at Columbus Technical College, visited local schools and CSU facilities, and met with civic and business leaders.
These visits have introduced leaders from both communities to each other’s institutions, industries and priorities.
For Columbus’ economic-development efforts, those relationships offer a foundation for future conversations about business, education and workforce needs. Continued engagement can help identify where shared interests may develop into practical cooperation.
Lee and Donahoe’s participation in the 2026 forum added to that foundation, keeping Columbus connected to international discussions relevant to its employers, students and community.
As the Columbus–Jinju relationship develops, aerospace, entrepreneurship and education remain promising areas for continued dialogue and collaboration.
