Kwon Deok-cheol, former Minister of Health and Welfare (former Industry-University Cooperation professor at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and Director of the Regional Development Research Institute), donated 10 million won to the development fund to support JBNU's competitiveness and the training of future scholars.

The Jeonbuk National University Development Foundation held a donation ceremony on December 16 at the President's Office in the University Headquarters. Attendees included President Yang Oh-bong, key university officials, and former Minister Kwon. The foundation presented an appreciation plaque to Kwon in gratitude for his contributions to the university's development.

A native of Namwon in Jeonbuk, former Minister Kwon passed the civil service examination and served in key bureau chief and vice minister positions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare from 1988. He was appointed Minister of Health and Welfare in December 2020 and is recognized as one of the country's leading public health administration experts who devoted himself to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2022, he served as a Distinguished Chair Professor at the Translational Mechano-Bio Technology Convergence Research Center at JBNU and as a professor in the Industry-University Cooperation. He is currently active as a counsel at Sejong Law Corporation, a major domestic law firm.

Former Minister Kwon said, "While lecturing at a university in the Jeonbuk region and providing advice to cities and counties, I came to realize that the role of universities is very important for regional development. I hope this fund will become a small seed that helps students realize their dreams."

He also urged students, "In a fiercely competitive society defined by AI and big data, I hope you cultivate curiosity to learn new things, the confidence and courage to continually challenge yourselves and take risks, flexible thinking, an optimistic and positive attitude, collaborative skills, and a disposition of listening and consideration."

The donation will be used to support student self-development programs (such as short-term overseas training) and scholarships to help students pursue their dreams, with a particular emphasis on nurturing regional talent.

President Yang Oh-bong expressed gratitude for the valuable intention to support regional society and university development, saying, "We appreciate the professor's spirit of giving. We will carry on this spirit and spare no effort to support regional talent so they can grow into global leaders who lead the AI era."