Lee Kijeong, New KCUE President: "Universities Will Rise as Centers of Innovation Beyond Crisis"

Officially Takes Office as KCUE President at the '2026 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony' on March 4

Presents Key Tasks: Rationalizing Regulations, Strengthening Autonomy,

and Fostering a Mutually Beneficial Higher Education Ecosystem

Lee Kijeong, President of Hanyang University, officially took office as the 30th president of the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) on March 4.

President Lee stated, "I will open the way for universities to overcome crises and rise again as centers of innovation leading the nation's future," adding, "KCUE will serve as the hub for coordination and connection throughout this journey."

Yonhap News Agency

At the '2026 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony and Annual General Meeting' held at the Westin Josun Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, on this day, President Lee presented several key tasks: strengthening the financial foundation for higher education, ensuring consistency in policy implementation systems, rationalizing regulations and strengthening responsible autonomy, establishing a shared foundation for educational and research innovation in the AI era, creating a mutually beneficial higher education ecosystem, and shifting the direction of internationalization.

President Lee emphasized, "A financial structure focused on short-term projects cannot guarantee the university's mid- to long-term innovation," and stated, "We will continue discussions with the government and the National Assembly, making it clear that higher education funding is a strategic investment for national competitiveness." In particular, he mentioned that tuition fees should not be a source of conflict, adding, "We will shift to a productive framework where enhancing the quality of education and sharing costs rationally are sought together."

He also stressed the importance of consistency in higher education policy. To this end, he plans to establish a framework for close cooperation among the central government, local governments, and universities.

Rationalizing regulations and university autonomy were also addressed. President Lee said, "The driving force behind universities is creativity, not regulation," and added, "We will review and improve uniform regulations and assessments that hinder innovation."

Furthermore, he stated, "We will build a shared foundation for educational and research innovation in line with the AI era," and added, "Instead of each university trying to survive alone, we will support growth on a shared infrastructure, and establish educational models and ethical standards for the responsible use of AI."

He also proposed measures to create a higher education ecosystem where metropolitan and regional universities, as well as national and private institutions, can coexist. The plan is to expand shared and collaborative models such as joint curricula, credit exchanges, and industry-academic cooperation consortia, with KCUE serving as a hub connecting local governments, companies, and universities.

Regarding the recruitment of international students, he said, "We will support shifting the focus of internationalization from mere recruitment to helping students settle and succeed," adding, "We will expand practical international cooperation such as joint curricula and dual degree programs."

President Lee emphasized, "Reform is not a matter of speed but of direction," and said, "KCUE will not simply represent the positions of universities but will become an organization that develops its own answers to the roles society expects from universities."

President Lee graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in English Language and Literature from Hanyang University and obtained master's and doctoral degrees in linguistics from the University of Minnesota. He has served as a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Hanyang University since 1994 and has been the university's president since 2023.

He has served as Chair of the English section for the College Scholastic Ability Test, Chair of the Organizing Committee for the World Congress of Scholars of English Linguistics, Director and Vice President of the Asia Pacific Association for International Education, Chair of Hanyang University's Internationalization Committee, Chair of the Ministry of Education’s Internationalization Certification Committee, Senior Vice President of the Korean Association of Private University Presidents, Director and Vice President of KCUE, and is currently serving as a director of the International Student Exchange Program and as an advisor on the Naval Development Advisory Committee. His term as president runs from March 1, 2026 to February 29, 2028, for two years.

The new executive board also includes Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University; Jeon Minhyeon, President of Inje University; and Jeong Taejoo, President of Gyeongguk National University, who have taken office as vice presidents.

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