"Changing the Future with Chemical Engineering."

Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Division of Chemical Engineering (Head: Professor Min Ji-ho) marked the 70th anniversary of its founding this year and held an anniversary ceremony and a commemorative academic conference on the 3rd.

The commemorative event, held at Jinsudang at 6:00 p.m. that day, was attended by Kim Yu-seok, President of the Division of Chemical Engineering Alumni Association (CEO, Jeongwoo Hwain), Min Ji-ho, Head of the Division of Chemical Engineering, as well as faculty members, professors emeriti, alumni association executives, and undergraduate students, who celebrated the 70th anniversary together. President Kim Dong-won and Song Cheol-gyu, Dean of the College of Engineering, conveyed congratulatory messages via video.

The ceremony, which began with an introduction to the division's 70-year history, included congratulatory speeches and remarks by representatives of graduate and undergraduate students. The alumni association also pledged a development fund for the advancement of the Division of Chemical Engineering, adding further meaning to the celebrations and expressions of gratitude.

Also, starting at 2:00 p.m. that day, a pre-ceremony event for the 70th anniversary featured a joint academic conference in a hybrid on-site and online format, organized jointly by the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (Jeonbuk Chapter, Gwangju–Jeonnam–Jeju Chapter), the Korean Society of Industrial Chemistry (Jeonbuk Chapter), and the Korean Society of Biotechnology (Jeonbuk Chapter, Gwangju–Jeonnam Chapter, Chungbuk Chapter), under the theme "Changing the Future with Chemical Engineering."

Through the conference, participants shared the latest technologies across chemical engineering based on the division's three majors—energy, nano, and bioengineering—and provided an opportunity for the three related societies to engage with one another.

The JBNU Division of Chemical Engineering was established as the Department of Chemical Engineering in October 1951. The Department of Industrial Chemistry was established in 1985, and the two departments were merged and have been operated as the Division of Chemical Engineering since 1994. To date, the division has graduated over 4,200 students and has trained chemical engineers essential to national industry and local communities through the attraction of various major government-funded projects.

In the 2021 Best Colleges rankings published by the U.S. magazine US News & World Report, JBNU was ranked 169th out of 1,748 universities worldwide, recognizing its global competitiveness.

In the "Industry‑Perspective University Evaluation" conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea, the division received the highest grade (A++) three times, in 2013, 2017, and 2021, and was recognized as a leading domestic department that faithfully implements curricula demanded by industry.

In his congratulatory speech, alumni association president Kim Yu-seok said, "Although we are currently facing unprecedented restrictions due to the COVID-19 situation, just as our division has overcome many difficulties over its 70 years, this too will be a passing moment in our lives." He added, "I hope all alumni overcome this wisely and adapt well to the new normal after COVID."

Min Ji-ho, Head of the Division of Chemical Engineering, said, "Based on 70 years of effort and achievements, the Division of Chemical Engineering is beginning its second challenge," adding, "We will strive to enhance the division's educational and research capabilities to cultivate competitive interdisciplinary talents."