Seoul National University President Candidate Yu Hong-rim: "University Autonomy and Bold Innovation Are Necessary"

Final Candidate for President: Professor Yoo Hong-rim of the College of Social Sciences
"Still Bound by Bureaucratic Regulations and Practices After Incorporation"
Aiming to Improve Legal Provisions and Introduce Industry-Academic Vice President
Proposes Establishing SNU Research Fund and Undergraduate Basic College

Professor Yoo Hong-rim, College of Social Sciences, Seoul National University (Source: Professor Yoo Hong-rim's SNS)

"We solemnly declare a great transformation of Seoul National University and must lead genuine innovation."

Professor Yoo Hong-rim of the College of Social Sciences, who was selected as the final candidate for the next president of Seoul National University, emphasized in the co-authored book published last August that "universities must become flexible connection platforms and incubators of collective intelligence." Regarding the future vision of universities, he said, "They should be free education-research-contribution communities where members courageously challenge themselves in their respective positions, and institutions trusted by society." This is also the future vision Professor Yoo has for Seoul National University.

He stated, "Universities must become vibrant academic communities that respect the values of diversity, openness, and voluntariness," but diagnosed that "currently, Seoul National University is trapped in a 'rulebook,' and even after corporatization in 2011, bureaucratic regulations and practices continue to bind us." Professor Yoo declared that if he becomes president, he will set the vision of practical autonomy for Seoul National University and 'Corporatization 2.0,' and create innovation through data literacy and online education for organic change within the university.

To this end, he plans to improve legal regulations that hinder education and research, such as the Higher Education Act and the Seoul National University Act, and move away from the Ministry of Education's approval system to autonomously and flexibly manage faculty quotas. He also presented a blueprint to boldly innovate Seoul National University and secure public trust by serving social roles through a national think tank and leading advanced research.

Professor Yoo has emphasized cooperation among universities, industry, and government for Seoul National University's innovation. His goal is to contribute to national competitiveness by establishing convergent research platforms such as the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Institute, the Advanced Bio Convergence Research Institute, and the National Future Strategy Institute. To improve research capabilities, he has also prepared a plan to raise about 200 billion KRW for the university's own research fund, the 'SNU Research Fund.' He plans to reorganize governance by introducing a 'Vice President for Industry-Academia Cooperation' responsible for industry-academia collaboration and startups, alongside a Senior Vice President overseeing education and research administration, and a Vice President for Finance managing finances, development funds, and revenue-generating projects.

To cultivate future talents, Professor Yoo intends to establish an 'Undergraduate Basic College' responsible for common core competency education. This will create a curriculum for freshmen lasting one to two years that teaches problem-solving skills, critical thinking, digital literacy, and more. He plans to significantly expand interdisciplinary and double majors and diversify teaching methods including face-to-face, online, and metaverse classes. Additionally, he plans to secure autonomy in student selection, restructure the admissions system, and introduce an in-depth evaluation system. He promised to increase faculty base salaries by 6% and introduce an education support allowance (1 million KRW per month), raising the average annual salary per faculty member to about 160 million KRW during his term.

Professor Yoo entered Seoul National University’s Department of Political Science in 1980, earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University in the U.S. in 1994, and was appointed professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations in 1995. He has served as head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, dean of the College of Social Sciences, and president of the Korean Political Thought Association. He ranked first in the policy evaluation vote conducted by the faculty and student policy evaluation group organized by the Presidential Recommendation Committee. The new president will be appointed by the president of South Korea upon recommendation by the Minister of Education and will serve a four-year term starting February 1 next year. This is the first time in 21 years that a president from the College of Social Sciences has been appointed since former President Chung Un-chan.

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