On March 14, at 11:00 a.m. the inauguration of President Yu Ji Soo, who was elected as the 10th university president, was held in the concert hall at this school. This ceremony was held under the supervision of the Kookmin Educational Foundation. The inauguration consisted of an oration by Han Jong-woo, Chairman of the Kookmin Educational Foundation, an inauguration speech by Yu Ji Soo, and welcoming speeches from the President of the alumni association, Yoon Jong-woong, KBS Chairman Son Byung-du, Yonsei University President Jeong Kap-young, and the President of Gil Hospital Song Suk-gu. Around 500 guests came and participated in this ceremony – Woori Bank President Lee Soon-woo, Hyundai Motors President Kim Eok-jo, Samyang Corp. President Kim Yoon, Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association President Kwon Young-su, among others.

In oration, Chairman Han Jong-woo entreated President Yu to develop Kookmin University with great ambition and vision. He also urged professors, faculty, and students to cooperate and support his strategy with affection and understanding.

“There will only remain 3 kinds of universities – a university which can support itself with considerable financial firepower, a university which cannot be regulated because of its high reputation, and a university which has both financial resources and reputation. I will adopt a strategy to raise Kookmin University’s reputation and elevate our brand power,” Yu said in his inauguration speech. He especially emphasized gathering knowledge and capabilities in order to be the leader of the era of consilience for creating new knowledge. “From this time forward, it will be the continuation of the era of consilience, as well as the era of a combination of interrelated knowledge which will not only be a convergence of similar fields but also of different disciplines. All people have to break down the barriers in their minds and also break down the academic boundaries between departments in order for Kookmin University to lead this the era of consilience. It is required for professors to communicate, blend knowledge, and all cooperate together.”

In the succeeding welcoming speech, the President of the alumni association Yoon Jong-woong said, “I will do my best for our university to show its power of unity and have people help each other by reviving the meaning of the slogan: ‘From small beginnings came great things’.” 
 

Yu Ji Soo’s term as president is four years from March 6th, 2012. He has served as professor of Management at Kookmin University since 1987 and then has been director of Financial Regulations, the dean of the business school, the dean of College of Economics and Commerce, and director of research. He also has served as a consultant to Samsung Optical (Samsung Techwin Co.,), director of Korean Production and Operations Management Society, a consultant to Hyundai-Kia auto forum, and the Korean Academy of Motor Industry president. These days, Yu Ji Soo, who is an expert in the auto industry and business management, works as a member of the Korea Auto Forum from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, an advisory professor of the Human Resources Development Center of Hyundai Motor Group, and an advisory professor of the law firm, Yulchon. 

A Seoul National University graduate, Yu Ji Soo went on to earn a Master’s of Business Administration degree at Illinois State University and a Doctorate in Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana & Champaign.

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