On Jul.11, Professor Jeong Seung-Ryul was appointed as the new president of Kookmin University (KMU). Professor Jeong Seung-Ryul had become a member of the faculty in the Department of Information Management at KMU in 1997 and has held several critical positions, including Dean of the Graduate School of Business IT, Vice President for External Relations, Vice President for International Affairs, Vice President for Planning & Budgeting, Director of Career Development, and Executive Vice President for Planning. THE KOOKMIN REVIEW conducted an interview with Professor Jeong Seung-Ryul at TEAGARDEN MuseumMyungwon, discussing his future plans and objectives as KMU's 13th president.

1.Congratulations for being appointed as KMU’s 13th president. Could you say a few words on being appointed?

Given the challenging landscape of higher education and the current state of the university, I currently feel a substantial sense of responsibility. While KMU has achieved significant development and progress, there is fierce competition among universities, and KMU finds itself at a critical juncture where it can either continue to grow or decline. Nevertheless, every member of KMU shares the desire for the university to improve and become one of the top institutions nationally. As a result, I am committed to giving my best effort, drawing from my experience, capabilities, and passion. However, I would like to emphasize that achieving this goal isn't solely dependent on my efforts. It requires the dedication of every member of our school. I kindly request all members of the university to put forth their best efforts in their position.

2.What led you to choose the role of the new school president?

I have been working at KMU for the past 27 years since 1997, and I have identified myself as part of the Kookmin community for nearly half of my life. Thus, contributing to the growth of KMU has always held great significance for me. During my tenure at KMU, I held various positions that allowed me to engage in school management. Therefore, I believe assuming the role of school president is a valuable opportunity to apply the knowledge and expertise gained from my previous experiences, and also to contribute to the ongoing development of KMU.

3.How would you define 'innovation,' and which core values do you think KMU students need to focus on to foster a culture of innovation?

When you put more effort into tasks than before, they become improvements. However, there is no guarantee that these improvements will help you stand out in a competition. Sometimes, you have to introduce fundamental changes in your approach or thinking, and this is innovation. Innovation succeeds when you can empathize with its necessity and validate its feasibility and results. In this sense, I would say that the core values KMU students must possess include Humanities, Communication, Globalization, Creativity, and Professionalism, all of which are equally important.

4.Are there any specific goals you would like to accomplish during your term in office? What types of projects would you like to implement to achieve them?

First of all, I would like KMU to be one of the top universities in Korea. This goal is shared for every school president. To be more specific, I strive for our school to rank at least 13th in the assessment of national universities and secure a place within the top 500 global universities. Additionally, I aim for KMU to be the top result when searching for the most entrepreneurial university in Korea on ChatGPT. While I'm eager to lay a foundation for this achievement, the critical question is 'how' to attain it. To achieve a goal like this, a balanced implementation of various projects is imperative, such as enhancing educational competitiveness, bolstering research excellence, and enhancing the overall learning environment. However, I would like to prioritize educational competitiveness first. The ultimate metric of educational competitiveness rests in employment outcomes. That is, I want KMU students to secure the jobs they want. To quantify this, I hope 72% of KMU students will get a decent job after graduation. To achieve this objective, I intend to establish a proactive employment support system that reaches out to students. While some students actively seek professional assistance, others who may not come forward on their own often struggle to enter the job market even after becoming seniors. Therefore, my plan is to identify these students at the right moment and involve them in the employment process by offering credits to those who participate in the employment support system. This approach will initiate a positive cycle where students explore and gain experience in their fields of interest. Another approach for enhancing educational competitiveness and increasing KMU students’ employability is to mandate project-based learning by emphasizing practical education. Furthermore, I’m exploring the strengthening of professor evaluation and the expansion of interdisciplinary majors to elevate KMU's educational standing. This will provide students with a wider range of academic choices. Lastly, I hope to establish a KMU global campus in Silicon Valley to cater to the needs of both our students and society, fostering talented international students in the process.

5.Some people say that universities today are often viewed as merely a means to secure a job, even though their primary purpose is supposed to be academicfocused. What are your thoughts on this critical viewpoint, and which value do you believe is more important between academia and employment?

I believe the question hinges on the assumption that employment is of a lower standing, while academia holds a higher position. In my opinion, the fundamental role of universities is to enhance students’ problem-solving skills and nurture them as exemplary members of society. Consequently, an effective gauge of a university's educational quality could be its students' employment rate. The fact that universities focus on adapting educational curricula and systems to align with companies' needs does not necessarily imply inadequate teaching of academic courses. While there might be criticism regarding universities emphasizing employment, I believe that quality education leads to favorable employment. Therefore, I would like to say with confidence that I will strive to provide the best possible support so that our students can attain their desired jobs.

6.If there is an image of KMU students that you find desirable, what would it be?

Do you know the motto of KMU? It is 'KMU Students who Challenge Themselves: Practical and Convergent Students of Talent who Change the World with Community Ethics.' Firstly, I would like to discuss 'practical talent'. Being practical means having the ability to acquire what we need and solve the problems we face throughout our lifetimes. Similarly, KMU students should embody the talent of seeking practicality. To be practical individuals, they should prioritize field training education over merely studying from textbooks. Secondly, there is the concept of 'convergent talent'. You are living in a time where having knowledge in various fields is necessary, rather than focusing solely on one subject. To keep up with the current global trends, KMU is nurturing students with five core capabilities: Professionalism, Creativity, Globalism, Communication, and Humanities. Possessing professionalism and creativity can lead to becoming practical individuals. Moreover, by developing a sense of globalism and strong communication skills, students can share their empirical knowledge with people from other countries and expand their horizons. Additionally, when your proficiency in humanities intersects with increasingly advanced technology, a synergy effect will emerge. Thirdly, what I place great emphasis on is 'community ethics'. The heart of a community revolves around enhancing people's lives and considering the well-being of future generations. We can find these community ethics in the patriotic spirit of Shin Ik-Hee, the founder of KMU, and in the entrepreneurial spirit of Kim Sung-Gon. My wish is for KMU students to not only possess the five aforementioned capabilities but also to embody community ethics. Lastly, there's the 'challenge spirit'. To truly 'change the world' as the motto states, KMU students should not fear failure and should continue to embrace challenges. They should also strive for fundamental change and continuous progress. I sincerely hope that KMU students will take on more challenges and mature into practical and convergent talents who contribute to changing the world. By doing so, they will be recognized as honorable individuals.

7.Please share a few words with the KMU students who are anticipating the arrival of the new president.
 

One of my favorite sentences is from the Doctrine of the Mean, chapter 23: “Even if your work is small, don’t ignore it and do your best. By doing so, you will be a wise person and leave an impression on others. Eventually, things will turn for the better.” Essentially, striving to do my best in everything can set a positive example for others. As a result, it could contribute to making the world a better place. Many seniors feel impatient because they have to get a job. So they often say, “What should I do? I’m so worried...” To avoid being hasty, students need to gradually change small habits, such as doing their assignments faithfully and waking up early. While it might be difficult at first, after a few years, you’ ll likely become a more competent person than those who did not put in the effort. Secondly, meditate for 5 to 10 minutes each day. I consider meditation crucial because many individuals fail to self-reflect amid their hectic schedules. Moreover, some people are unsure of what they truly want. Instead of spending time on smartphones before going to sleep, we should contemplate our way forward. In my case, I meditate whenever I have free time. On my way to work, I always think about how I can be a wise president to lead KMU to prosperity. Lastly, I would like to address compassion. While passion typically means enthusiasm, it also refers to suffering and ‘Com’ refers to the sharing of something.
Thus, compassion signifies the sharing of pain with others. True to this meaning, we should empathize with others’ sorrow and show consideration to prevent them from getting hurt. Through this attitude, we can also foster a sense of community among us.

8.How would you like to be remembered by KMU students and faculty after four years of your tenure?
 

It’s simple. I want to be remembered as the greatest president who elevated KMU to the ranks of the nation’s leading universities. Also, since KMU serves as both a learning environment for students and a workplace for faculty members, I hope the faculty can say, “KMU has become a better place to work, thanks to the 13th president, Jeong Seung-Ryul.” Furthermore, I wish for students to think, “I am so proud of KMU, where I have gained immense knowledge that I am now applying in my professional life. All of this has been made possible thanks to President Jung Seung-Ryul, who implemented various educational policies for our benefit.” If my dream comes true, it would bring me profound happiness.

Kim Seo-Hyun, Oh Mi-Kyung
Editor-in-Chief, Reporter
 aprilkim404@kookmin.ac.kr
ilavu1038@kookmin.ac.kr