The Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) announced on the 3rd that it will hold the inauguration ceremony for its 30th chairman, Lee Ki-jung, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 4th. Presidents from 129 of the nation's 196 four-year universities are expected to attend. Lee's term is two years.
National Assembly Education Committee Chairman Kim Young-ho and National Education Commission Chairman Cha Jung-in will deliver congratulatory remarks at the event. Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin will send a video message.
Born in 1959, Chairman Lee graduated from Hanyang University's Department of English Language and Literature and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in linguistics from the University of Minnesota. He has served as a professor in Hanyang University's English department since 1994 and has been president of Hanyang University since 2023. He previously served as chief examiner for the English section of the College Scholastic Ability Test, chairman of Hanyang University's internationalization committee, chairman of the Ministry of Education's internationalization certification committee, senior vice chairman of the Korean Council of Presidents of Private Universities, and as a board member and vice chairman of KCUE.
"I will further solidify the financial foundation for higher education," Lee said in his inaugural address. "I will make clear that higher education funding is not mere expenditure but strategic investment in national competitiveness, and continue discussions with the government and National Assembly."
Lee outlined key priorities for overcoming challenges facing universities: ensuring consistency in higher education policy implementation, rationalizing regulations while strengthening responsible autonomy, building a common foundation for education and research innovation in the AI era, and creating a higher education ecosystem where the capital region and local areas, as well as national and private universities, can thrive together.
The event will also feature a lecture titled "AI Applications in Universities" by outgoing KCUE Chairman Yang Oh-bong, president of Jeonbuk National University, along with a dialogue session with the Education Minister.