Korea University 21^st President Dr. Dongwon Kim 

Inauguration Ceremony Held 

          - Teach students with a problem-solving curriculum with the principle of convergence

- Diversification of knowledge production and delivery agents

- Expansion of the beneficiary of knowledge benefits and revolutionary improvement of the knowledge delivery method

- Completing the 120th-anniversary project in 2025is the most important mission

The Korea University Foundation held the inauguration ceremony for Dr. Dongwon Kim, the 21st president of Korea University at 11 AM on February 28th in Korea Univeristy Inchon Memorial Hall. Dr. Dongwon Kim (Business’ 78) obtained a bachelor’s degree in KUBS and a master’s and Ph.D. in labor relations from the Univeristy of Wisconsin, United States. Since then, he has devoted himself to research and mentoring for 26 years as a professor at Korea University. He has also held various positions at the university including the head of the Office of General Affairs, head of the Office of Planning & Budget, Dean of the Graduate School of Labor Studies, Dean of Business School, and Dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration. Also, he has been active in various organizations including the president of the International Labor and Employment Relations Association, vice chairman of the Association of KU Economic Scholars, government-related agent, and external director for a large corporation.

 Jaeho Kim, the chairman of the Korea University Foundation said “President Dongwon Kim has proposed strategies to promote finance, education, research, and administration to overcome the crisis in front of us and make a quantum leap toward the future. It is most important to implement these crisis management strategies together.” He continued “We have to shake off the helplessness that has permeated us since the Pandemic. We do not have time to hesitate. Above all, we must devote ourselves fully to educating the main players of the future industrial revolution such as AI, big data, robotics, and blockchain. Universities have a mission to educate new talent with creativity and innovation for the future of Korea. Therefore, talents for the 21st century cannot be made with 19th and 20^th-century educational methods. As President Kim emphasized, education should now shift from the supplier-centered to the demand-centered approach. The reforming process for creative and integrated education may be painful, but education will die if we fail to achieve this.” He added to the new president and KU members by saying, “Reform cannot be made only with the president himself so all members must cooperate and be together. Please follow the leadership and give full support to our new president”.

Dr. Dongwon Kim, the newly appointed 21st president of KU said in his inauguration speech “Through its history, Korea Univeristy has already contributed to society as an entity that solves many national problems. Now, Korea University is facing a new challenge toward the great honor to become a university that contributes to the future of humanity beyond the national society.  As the 21st president, I hope that Korea University will reflect on its original mission and role, achieve a university revolution that overcomes the current crisis, and open a new Renaissance era for the university. We KU will lead the way and pioneer that path. He also emphasized three directions in which KU should move forward.

 Firstly, he said, “We will drastically change the content of the knowledge produced and transmitted by universities. Only through openness and convergence can we provide solutions to complex social problems. We will therefore reorganize the production and flow of knowledge based on the principles of convergence and teach future generations through a problem-solving curriculum. Secondly, “We will further diversify the producers and transmitters of knowledge reflecting the increasing complexity and social diversity. The future university should foster fundamental and pure academic studies to seek the veritas of the university’s essence, while at the same time producing practical experts who can be immediately deployed in industry and society. Universities, industries, and society should work together to contribute to national development and global competitiveness. The world is rapidly integrating and we have experienced that no pandemic or trade barrier can block the irresistible wave of globalization. We will actively recruit world-class scholars as professors to create and spread knowledge that transcends national boundaries and select more outstanding foreign students of more diverse nationalities to teach them as global leaders.

  Finally, he mentions expanding the target for knowledge beneficiaries and improving methods of knowledge dissemination saying that “In order to respond to the rapidly changing economic and social environment, we will develop and operate generation-specific educational programs that each age group needs, especially for educational demands of middle-aged people in an aging society. We will open degree and non-degree courses that are useful for career transition or startup and promote social contribution programs in the form of talent donations for social minorities and small businesses according to each department and college. Also, he proposed the blueprint saying “The outbreak and progression of COVID-19 has brought about a revolution in knowledge delivery methods, extreme counterpoints between the limitations of face-to-face education and the possibilities of online education. KU will make every effort to maximize the target and effectiveness of knowledge delivery by using new educational methods and advanced technology as much as possible. We will build an innovative metaverse platform to operate degree programs, micro degrees, and non-degree programs so that Korean language users from all countries and regions around the world can share the benefits of KU’s knowledge content. 

 ▶ Full text on inauguration speech (Click to see)

New president Dongwon Kim said “Along with the successful execution of this vision, the key task to be completed during my term is the 120^th-anniversary project of KU founding. I hope to make this 120th anniversary a leap for Korea University to the world’s most prestigious university by gathering the strength of all its members. Based on the principle of ‘Strong KU’, I will resolve the long-awaited projects of each campus and department, and upgrade research and educational infrastructure. I will succeed and take this 120^th-anniversary commemorative project as the most precious mission of my life which is to start a new 120 years towards the future of humanity beyond 120 years of history.

Myungho Seung, the president of the Korea University Alumni Association, said “As well as being a respected scholar, he has achieved many successes with rich experience and expertise in university administration and an innovative mind and bold driving force. It makes us have high expectations for our university’s bright future. President Dongwon Kim who has studied the system of ‘university’ more deeply than anyone else, is expected to present a long-term vision for the future of the country and humanity based on deep insights into the direction and fundamental values that universities should pursue in the future. He added “His emphasis on ‘service leadership’ with an attitude to respect and listen to others shows a model of the leader needed in this era. Efficient administration which breaks away from authoritarianism and old practices will be the basis to become the ‘Stong KU’. It is very delightful and honorable to have an excellent president with diverse capabilities as our university is growing as a global prestigious university and preparing for a new leap at a very important time.” 

At the event, the Chairman of the Korea University Foundation Jaeho Kim, president of the Korea University Alumni Association Myungho Seung, former presidents Yoondae Eo, Pilsang Lee, Kisoo Lee, Byungcheol Kim, Jaeho Yeom and Jintaek Jung, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Seunggyu Kang attended. Congratulatory videos from the president of Waseda Univeristy Tanaka Aiji, president of the University of Wisconsin Jennifer L. Mnookin, president of Yonsei Univeristy Seunghwan Seo, president of KAIST Kwanghyung Lee and president of POSTECH Moohwan Kim followed.