Inha University President Jo Myung-woo Reappointed: "Turning Crisis into Opportunity through Continuity of Work"

Jung Mung-woo, President of Inha University Photo by Inha University

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Jo Myung-woo (62), the current president, has been appointed as the 16th president of Inha University.

The Jeongseok Inha Foundation held a board meeting on the 16th and decided on Jo, who was selected as the final candidate by the Presidential Candidate Recommendation Committee, over former Dean of Business School Park Ki-chan as the next president. The term is four years, starting from the 1st of next month until August 2026.

President Jo completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Design Engineering at Seoul National University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He joined Inha University as a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in March 1997 and served as Dean of Academic Affairs, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Acting President, and then as the 15th president.

He has also served as a director of the Korea Council for University Education, vice president of the Korean Council of Private University Presidents, president of the Gyeongin Regional University Presidents' Council, and the inaugural president of the Incheon Presidents Forum.

President Jo stated, "I understand that my election as president, despite my many shortcomings, signifies the need to turn the current critical juncture of university development into an opportunity through continuity of work, and I will fulfill my responsibilities sincerely."

He emphasized, "The Songdo Science Park Campus, Gimpo Medical Campus, and various large-scale government-supported projects are assets that guarantee our future, but each must be successfully connected to serve as a foundation for progress."

Accordingly, the Songdo Science Park Campus will soon complete land acquisition and present plans for the utilization of revenue-generating land and development.

Additionally, the Gimpo Medical Campus will establish plans through full-scale consultations with Gimpo City in the second half of this year, and projects such as the 4th phase BK21 project, Link 3.0, and Software-Centered University project will be further expanded.

President Jo said, "Through these processes, I will make 2024, the 70th anniversary of the university's founding, a year when the university's development becomes tangible and felt by all. I will achieve results through meticulous planning and bold execution, and based on that, I will confidently gain recognition of our capabilities from all members and steadily continue the latter half of my term."

Meanwhile, during President Jo's tenure, from last year to recently, Inha University has faced internal turmoil during the presidential election process, including failing the Ministry of Education's university competency evaluation, a fire in a campus building, and incidents of sexual assault and fall deaths on campus, leading to demands for President Jo's withdrawal from the candidacy both inside and outside the university.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.