Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has amended its University Regulations and changed the method for selecting candidates for presidential appointment to an open recruitment process.

JBNU reviewed the amendment to the University Regulations, with the core provision 'selection of candidates for presidential appointment through open recruitment,' at the Academic Affairs Council held on August 23. The amendment was approved unanimously by the attending committee members, and the result was promulgated on August 24.

The University Regulations amended and promulgated that day revise Article 4, 'Election of the President,' to state that 'the selection of candidates for presidential appointment shall be made through an open recruitment process, and detailed matters shall be separately determined in accordance with faculty agreement.' The amendment clarifies that candidates for presidential appointment will be selected by open recruitment. Previously, the regulations provided that 'the election of the President shall follow separate provisions established within the scope of applicable laws and regulations.'

Accordingly, JBNU will select candidates for presidential appointment by open recruitment starting in 2014. This means that, for the first time in 24 years since the introduction of the direct election system in 1990, candidates for presidential appointment will be chosen by a method other than direct election.

To amend the University Regulations, JBNU conducted a 'vote on revising the method of selecting presidential candidates' from July 18 to July 24. A majority of voters agreed to select presidential candidates by a method agreed upon by university members rather than by direct election.

Thereafter, in August JBNU prepared the amendment to the University Regulations related to 'selection of candidates for presidential appointment' and, after collecting opinions from university members for ten days, proceeded through review procedures by the Academic Affairs Committee and the Regulations Deliberation Committee.

President Seo Geo-seok said, 'The amendment to the University Regulations for selecting candidates for presidential appointment proceeded smoothly thanks to the active participation and cooperation of university members.' He added, 'We will prepare detailed measures that reflect the opinions of university members so that a President of Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) who will lead groundbreaking development can be selected.'