Inauguration of Yang O-bong as the 29th chairman of KCUE

□ The Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) held the inauguration ceremony of Yang O-bong as the new Chairman of KCUE at the Nine Tree Premier ROKAUS Hotel Seoul Yongsan on March 14 at 4 pm. Presidents of 20 universities, including the new executive members Byun Chang-hoon (KCUE Vice Chairman and President of Daegu Hanny University), Lim Kyung-ho (KCUE Vice Chairman and President of Kongju National University), Lee Ki-jeong (KCUE Vice Chairman and President of Hanyang University), and the previous KCUE Chairman Park Sang-gue (President of Chung-Ang University) honored the event with their presence. Kim Heon young, the 24th KCUE Chairman and former President of Kangwon National University, Hong Won-hwa, the 26th KCUE Chairman and President of the National Research Foundation of Korea, and Oh Seok Hwan, Vice Minister of Education, delivered congratulatory messages. Kim Young-ho, Member of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the Education Committee, and Lee Bae Yong, National Education Commissioner and 15th KCUE Chairman, sent pre-recorded congratulatory messages that were played on the screen.

 

□ In his inaugural address, Chairman Yang said, "Universities are facing an unprecedented challenge. The sharp decline in the school-age population, the financial crisis of universities, and the increasingly intense global competition are serious threats to the survival of universities. He added, "Universities should strive to cultivate high-caliber talents, sharpen their competitive edge in research, and remain committed to local and national development."

 

□ "As Chairman of KCUE, I will make every effort to expand funding for higher education. Special efforts will be made to ▲extend the sunset date of the Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education Support, ▲create a virtuous cycle of regional development through the establishment of RISE in 2025, and ▲protect universities from any potential disadvantages from raising tuition fees at their discretion within the legal limit," he continued. "I will work to maintain streamlined communication with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the views of university presidents are fully reflected in higher education policy."

 

□ Born in 1962, Yang O-bong graduated from Korea University with a degree in chemical engineering and received his master's and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He joined the faculty of the College of Engineering at Jeonbuk National University to teach chemistry in 1995 and became President of the university in 2023. His career highlights include: visiting researcher at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, director of the Jeonbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, member of the National Research Council of Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences under the Prime Minister's Office, member of the Jeonbuk Regional Innovation Council, president of the Korea Photovoltaic Society, expert member of the National Council on Climate and Air Quality, member of the Saemangeum Committee under the Prime Minister's Office, and founding president of the Glocal University Council. He currently serves as co-chairman of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Citizen Support Committee, chairman of the 32nd KBS Jeonju Broadcasting General Bureau Viewer Committee, chairman of the Council for the Advancement of Medical Schools, and co-chairman of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province RISE Committee. His term as KCUE Chairman is one year from March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.