Encompassing every aspect of every day life, reliance on softwares are easily found. Not only in computers and laptops, but softwares are found (or hidden) in electric doorlocks, controllers of campus gates, TV sets at home, and, of course, in your smartphones. Sometimes, the meaning of 'soft' is broadened to represent something that makes a system or frame work properly and smoothly. Thus, it is not surprising that many big name companies see their huge demands in the software man power. Now, it is not an exaggeration to say that the 'soft' is the very 'smart'. Recently, and yes, it is still ongoing, there has been a historic patent war between Samsung and Apple. Series of lawsuits regarding the design and software features have been filed, while the two companies are selling more than half of smartphones worldwide. It is expected for Korean companies to have similar conflicts as more top-tier products, not just limited to a smartphone, compete in the world market. 
  The ongoing patent war seems to imply a phenomenal pivoting from a hardware to a software era for Korea. Traditionally, Korea has tried to catch up the first runners in the industry, where developing its own software with creative thinking has been considered to be less profitable than just copying or following the best products already out in the market. But the world is changing. Korean companies need to provide their own best product in the market. The best product does not necessarily mean that the product is composed of the best hardwares. Now, it is required to design the best product that is operated based on the best softwares as well. Creative thinking and interdisciplinary education are becoming more and more important. So called STEAM education, aiming the Science and Technology interpretation through the Engineering and Arts, all based on Math, has attracted a lot of interests in Korea. However, in a higher education system, particularly in national universities, many challenges remain to nurture software manpower in huge demand for companies.
  Thus, the recent decision for Samsung to build the software major/non-major courses for undergraduate students in more than 20 Korean universities, including CBNU, should be welcomed. Note that there is a course opened for students who are not majoring in software-related fields. Students from natural science, liberal arts, social science, and whatever are encouraged to apply for the course. Next big things cannot be made from thinking inside the box. It is urgent to educate university students having basic understanding of softwares and 'soft thinking', regardless of their majors. It is hoped that other major Korean companies will make the similar decision. This will also boost the university's effort to educate the creative, interdisciplinary, and 'soft' human resources who will play key roles in the modern era of Korea.