“I will strengthen the function of proposing sound policy alternatives to improve the quality of university education and enhance universities' competitiveness.”

President Seo Geoseok foreshadowed a change in the role of the Korean Council for University Education at the inauguration ceremony for the 19th President of the Council, held on April 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the Council's main conference room in Gasan-dong, Seoul. He stated that he would strengthen the Council's role in proposing policy alternatives to improve the quality of university education and enhance competitiveness.

Some 300 people attended the inauguration, including Shin Hak-yong, Chair of the National Assembly's Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee; Members of the National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun and Kim Yun-deok (both of the Democratic United Party); Member of the National Assembly Kim Se-yeon (Saenuri Party); Kim Jae-chun, Education Secretary to the Blue House; Park Baek-beom, Director-General of the University Support Office, Ministry of Education; presidents of 201 member universities nationwide; and heads of related educational organizations, who gathered to celebrate the new chair's inauguration.

In his inaugural address, Chairman Seo said, "I feel a heavy responsibility in being entrusted with this important post at a time when the direction for change and development in higher education must be reestablished." He emphasized, "The Council will return to its founding spirit, attend to the difficulties of our universities, and strengthen its function of proposing sound policy alternatives for the advancement of higher education."

He added, "The reality facing our universities is certainly a crisis, but in another sense it is a golden opportunity to raise competitiveness to a higher level. We will turn the current crisis into an opportunity and build the foundation to dramatically enhance the competitiveness of universities in our country."

To that end, Chairman Seo stated, "We will work closely with the government to secure additional university funding, and seek the most reasonable direction to reduce tuition burdens for both students and universities through supplementation and improvement of the national scholarship system." He also pledged, "We will streamline the roughly 3,000 admissions procedures to alleviate the suffering of examinees and their parents."

He went on to say, "To raise the quality of university education, we will refine the evaluation system and ensure fairness and objectivity through evaluations that reflect the unique characteristics of individual universities." He added, "We will enhance university competitiveness through specialization and balanced development among universities, and make every effort to revive regional universities."

Finally, Chairman Seo stated, "To resolve the common issues facing universities, I will pursue a hands-on chairmanship that consults closely with university presidents as well as the Ministry of Education and political circles." He pledged, "Through this approach, we will lay the groundwork for mutual prosperity among our universities and work wholeheartedly so that, one year from now, the Korean Council for University Education will be recognized as having truly changed."

Meanwhile, the new chair, Seo Geoseok, graduated from Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and received his Ph.D. from Chuo University in Japan. He has served as a professor in the College of Law at JBNU since 1982. He assumed office as the 15th President in December 2006 and, following re-endorsement by university constituents, has served as the 16th President since 2010.

He has previously held posts including Chair of the Association of Deans of National and Public Law Schools; President of the Korean Society for Juvenile Law; President of the Korean Society of Comparative Criminal Law; Chair of the Association of Presidents of National and Public Universities; Senior Vice-Chair of the Korean Council for University Education; and Chair of the Education Committee of the National Education, Science and Technology Advisory Council.