Korea University Holds The Inauguration Ceremony Of The 21st President Of Korea University, Dr. Kim Dong-one
The Korea University Foundation conducted the inauguration ceremony of the 21st president of Korea University, Kim Dong-one, at 11am on February 28 in the auditorium of KU’s Inchon Memorial Hall.
Chief Director of the Korea University Foundation Kim Jae-ho exclaimed, “President Kim Dong-one presented strategies to be pursued in the fields of finance, education, research, and administration to overcome crises that we face and achieve a quantum jump toward the successful future. It is most important to work together to implement these measures to overcome crises.” He also urged, “Let’s shake off the lethargy that has unknowingly prevailed among us since the pandemic. We have no time to hesitate. We must put all our efforts into cultivating talents who will play a leading role in the future industrial revolution, which is represented by artificial intelligence, big data, robots, and blockchain. Universities have a mission to produce new talents equipped with creativity and innovation for the future of the country, and nurturing 21st century talents is impossible with 19th or 20th century education methods. As President Kim emphasized, current supplier-centered education should now shift to consumer-centered education. The process of reform for creative convergence education will be painful, but without it, education will reach a dead end. Finally, he passed along a request to the new president and KU community, “Reform can never be completed by the president alone, so all KU members must cooperate and participate. I hope you will follow the new president and actively support him.”
In his inaugural address, Dr. Kim Dong-one, newly inaugurated as the 21st president of Korea University, said, “Throughout the past years, Korea University has already contributed to society by solving numerous challenges at the national level. Now, Korea University is undertaking to embark on a new project to achieve the great honor of being a university that contributes to the future human society transcending its national society. As I take office as the 21st KU president, I hope that Korea University will accomplish a university revolution to overcome the crisis that we face and usher in a new era of university renaissance while reflecting on the original mission and role of the university. Korea University will take the lead in paving the way.”
President Kim pointed out three directions for KU to move forward. First: “We will drastically change the content of knowledge that the university produces and delivers. Since only openness and convergence can provide solutions to complex social problems, we will reorganize the production and flow of knowledge based on the principles of convergence and consilience, and educate our students with a problem-solving-oriented curriculum.”
Second: “Reflecting the reality of increasing complexity and diversity in society, we will further diversify the subjects of knowledge production and delivery. While pursuing their original goal of truth exploration by promoting basic and pure studies, future universities should also be able to produce practical professionals who can be immediately enter business and society. This university-industry-society cooperation will contribute to developing and increasing the global competitiveness of the country. The world is rapidly integrating, and we know from experience that no infectious disease or trade barriers will stop the irrepressible wave of globalization in the long run. To create and disseminate knowledge across national borders, we will actively recruit world-renowned scholars as professors and select more excellent foreign students of various nationalities and develop them into world leaders.”
Finally, talking about the expansion of knowledge beneficiaries and improvement of knowledge transfer methods, he explained, “To respond to the rapidly changing economic and social environment, we will develop and operate generation-specific education programs that meet the needs of each age group, especially the educational needs of the middle-aged in an aging society. We will establish both degree and non-degree courses that are useful for career change or entrepreneurship and create social contribution programs in the form of talent donation for social minorities and small businesses in each college and department.” He presented a blueprint for future education at KU, “The emergence and progress of COVID-19 brought about a revolution in knowledge transfer methods that extremely contrasted the limitations of face-to-face education with the possibilities of non-face-to-face education. Korea University will endeavor to maximize the number of recipients and effectiveness of knowledge transfer by employing new educational methods and cutting-edge technologies. By building an innovative metaverse-type platform to operate degree, micro-degree, and non-degree courses, we will enable Korean speakers from all countries and regions around the world to share the benefits of Korea University’s knowledge content.”
President Kim continued, “Along with the successful implementation of this vision, the major task to be accomplished during my tenure is the 120th anniversary project. I would like to make the 120th anniversary of KU an opportunity to gather the strength of all KU members and take a leap forward to a world-class university. Under the banner of ‘Strong KU’, we will solve the long-cherished projects of each campus, college, and department, and upgrade our research and education infrastructure to the next level. I will accept the 120th anniversary project, which will be the start of a new 120 years of mankind beyond the previous 120 years of history, as the most important mission of my life and will certainly complete it successfully.
Seung Myung-ho, president of the Korea University Alumni Association, noted, “The new president not only has laudable aspects as a great scholar, but also has rich experience and expertise in school administration. He has accomplished many achievements with his innovative mindset and bold initiative, and he encourages us to look forward to the bright future that KU will open up in the future. The new president of KU, Kim Dong-one, 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 nation and mankind based on his in-depth and keen insight into the direction and fundamental values of the university.” He continued, “President Kim’s attitude of respecting and humbly listening to others based on the philosophy of ‘serving leadership’ exemplifies the type of a leader needed in this era. Efficient administration far removed from authoritarianism and old practices will be the basis for the birth of a renewed and invigorated KU. It is a great pleasure and honor to have the right person with outstanding capabilities as the president at a very important moment for KU, which is growing into a globally prestigious university, to prepare for a new leap forward.”
The event was attended by chief director of the Korea University Foundation, Kim Jae-ho; president of the Korea University Alumni Association, Seung Myung-ho; former KU presidents, Euh Yoon-dae, Lee Phil-sang, Lee Ki-su, Kim Byoung-chul, Yeom Jae-ho, and Chung Jin-taek; and senior secretary for Civil Society at the Office of the President, Kang Seung-gyu; and video congratulatory speeches were also delivered by president of Waseda University, Aiji Tanaka; president of the University of Wisconsin, Jennifer L. Mnookin; president of Yonsei University, Seo Seung-hwan; president of KAIST, Lee Kwang-hyung; and president of POSTECH, Kim Moo-hwan.
The new KU President, Kim Dong-one, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Korea University and then master’s and doctoral degrees in labor-management relations from the University of Wisconsin in the US. Since then, he has prodigiously engaged in research and teaching for the past 26 years as a professor at Korea University. At KU, he has experienced various administrative positions by serving as vice president for Administration and Finance, vice president for Planning and Budget, dean of the Graduate School of Labor Studies, dean of the Business School, and dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration. He has also been active in various organizations by serving as the chairman of the International Labor and Employment Relations Association (ILERA), vice chairman of the Korea University Business Association, a member of a government-related organization, and outside director of a large company.