Following a faculty statement on the rejected presidential appointment, KAIST's student body—including undergraduate and graduate students—has joined in condemning the leadership vacuum at South Korea's premier science university.
The undergraduate and graduate student councils issued a joint statement on January 6, strongly criticizing the current situation. "The rejection of the presidential appointment cannot be taken lightly, as it comes after a year-long delay in the selection process," the statement said.
"The KAIST president is not merely an administrative head but a position that sets the direction for South Korea's science and technology," the student councils said. "This decision is an irresponsible choice that has thrown the future of Korean science and technology back into uncertainty."
The statement came after the board of directors failed to appoint a new president at its meeting on December 26. KAIST had nominated three candidates following the expiration of President Lee Kwang-hyung's term in February last year: incumbent Lee, Professor Kim Jung-ho of the School of Electrical Engineering, and Lee Yong-hoon, former president of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).
However, no vote was held for months, and at the December 26 board meeting, no candidate secured a majority of votes from registered directors. This marks the first time in KAIST's 55-year history that a presidential appointment has been rejected.
Concerns are mounting within the university. The KAIST presidential selection process is known to be influenced not only by the board but also by political circles. The student councils demanded that "the board explain in detail the circumstances that led to the rejection and apologize for reaching a conclusion that members cannot accept." They also called for reforms to "the closed presidential selection system."
The KAIST Faculty Council also issued a statement the previous day, expressing concern that "the current situation could pose a significant burden on KAIST's stable operation and pursuit of mid- to long-term development strategies."
President Lee will resign effective January 16 following the rejection of his reappointment. KAIST will operate under an acting leadership system starting January 17, with Provost Lee Kyun-min, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, serving as acting president. The search for new presidential candidates is expected to take at least three months, meaning the acting leadership arrangement will likely continue for some time.
