The National Association of Faculty Councils of National and Public Universities (hereafter, the Association) has elected Han Sang-wook, Chair of the Faculty Council at JBNU (College of Education, Division of Science Education (Physics Education)), as its 29th Standing Chair. His term begins on March 1.

The Association held its 10th meeting on January 23 at Gangneung-Wonju National University and conducted a vote to elect the Standing Chair. It announced that Professor Han, who received a majority of the votes among three candidates, was elected as the next Standing Chair.

Professor Han proposed plans to operate the Association democratically and systematically, focusing on the Standing Committee, the Joint Chairs' meetings, and the Policy Committee. He also made the enactment of a National University Act to advance higher education and the resolution of issues directly related to professors' rights and interests—such as funding for teaching, research, and student guidance, as well as faculty allowances—key pledges, earning the support of faculty council chairs from member universities.

Professor Han stated his intention to continue the Association's role in advancing social justice and defending university autonomy against the government's coercive abolition of direct elections for university presidents and the introduction of performance-based annual salary systems. He pledged to pursue multifaceted efforts to protect the autonomy and public mission of national and public universities and to safeguard professors' rights and interests.

Regarding the 'Making Ten Seoul National Universities' policy, he emphasized, 'For shared development to be possible, the project's benefits must not be limited to a few universities but must spread to all national and public universities,' adding, 'The project can succeed only if education and research networks among universities are formed and a national-level support system to back them is established.'

On the RISE project, he referred to the provision Article 3-2 (Co-growth of Universities and Local Regions) of the Higher Education Act, which was sponsored by Representative Moon Jeong-bok, and stated, 'This bill must not become a basis for local governments to infringe upon universities' autonomy and public mission.' Regarding discussions on integration among national universities, he added, 'Although there are advantages to integration, it must proceed in a way that respects the will of the members and upholds principles.'

Professor Han said, 'Although 80 years have passed since the establishment of national universities, the National University Act, which would provide a legal basis for national universities, has been proposed to the National Assembly five times but has still not been enacted,' adding, 'Since national universities are a core pillar for the government's pursuit of balanced national development and co-growth, I will actively push for the enactment of the National University Act in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the National Assembly, and related organizations.'