[Meet the President] Gyeongsang National University fosters global pioneers

K-campus

Published: 09 Feb. 2023, 15:51 Updated: 03 Mar. 2023, 18:24

[Meet the President] Gyeongsang National University fosters global pioneers

As head of Gyeongsang National University, which is among Korea’s 10 so-called flagship national universities and the only one of its kind in South Gyeongsang, Kwon Soon-ki sees it as his mission to drive regional growth through education and research. [PARK SANG-MOON]

At the center of Gyeongsang National University’s Gajwa Campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, is a large stone engraved with the word “pioneer” in Chinese characters, a symbol of the university’s motto. Kwon Soon-ki, who’s now serving his second four-year term as the school’s president, comes to work every day, contemplating ways to put that ideal into practice.

As head of South Gyeongsang’s best university, Kwon sees it as a mission bestowed upon him by local society.

“Did you know that one-third of the country’s 100 largest companies during the 1980s was founded by graduates of a tiny elementary school in Jinju?” Kwon asked during a recent interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily in his office.

“If you go there, you’ll find a pine tree planted by the founders of Samsung, LG and Hyosung, which visitors rub for good luck and fortune,” Kwon said.

“I think that entrepreneurial spirit lives on in Jinju to this day, and it’s our job to keep the flame burning.”

In the interview, Kwon explained why he thought Gyeongsang National University was a better option for international students than schools in Seoul, and how universities outside the capital area can survive the storm of shrinking enrollment.

The following are excerpts from that conversation.

How would you introduce your school to prospective international students?

Gyeongsang National University is among the country’s 10 so-called national flagship universities, representing the South Gyeongsang region. Our motto is pioneer — to take on new challenges and create the uncreated. We specialize in life science, aircraft mechanical systems, new nanomaterials and chemistry. We’re also surrounded by four national industrial zones that focus on aviation, offshore plants, high-tech machinery, petrochemicals and the fusion of nanotechnology, which allows us to closely cooperate with related industries. As a participating university of the Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Platform, we strive to help college graduates from Ulsan and South Gyeongsang remain in the region and lead innovation in their local communities, rather than move to the Seoul metropolitan area in search of better career opportunities.

An aerial view of Gyeongsang National University's Gajwa Campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang [GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

Why would you recommend studying in Jinju compared to Seoul?

Tuition is really cheap at Gyeongsang National University. Living in South Gyeongsang, and Jinju in particular, is also cheap, not to mention safe. There are many part-time jobs available for international students in Jinju as well. People in Jinju show great interest and affection toward foreigners, so, unlike in big cities, international students can feel a sense of inclusiveness here. There’s also a very famous lantern festival held every year on the Nam River.

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, a lantern festival held along Jinju’s Nam River every autumn [JINJU CITY GOVERNMENT]

What are some benefits offered to international students at Gyeongsang National University?

All international students are eligible to live in the school dormitory. If they apply, they’re automatically accepted. We have Korean language and culture courses offered within our curriculum, and there are many types of scholarships provided to undergraduate students who maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and have a TOPIK [Test of Proficiency in Korean] level of at least 4. Through our Future Global Leaders Project, we invite high-performing students from developing countries to study for a master’s or Ph.D. degree while receiving scholarships.

The traditional Korean hanok-style Etiquette Training Institute, where Korean culture classes are offered to international students in the university [GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

In 2021, your university announced that it merged with Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology. Is the merge completely over?

We’re done with the formalities, but we still have a lot left to do in terms of making this merger actually work, such as combining similar departments and colleges.

The Pine Tree of the Rich, which was planted by the founders of Samsung, LG and Hyosung, all of whom graduated from Jisu Elementary School in Jinju [JINJU CITY GOVERNMENT]

Looking back, was it the right choice?

We have to make it be. It’s not like we can turn back time if we realize we made the wrong choice. Our job is to pull together and make sure that merging the two universities was the right choice.

School officials at Gyeongsang National University unveil new block letters of the university’s headquarters on Chilam Campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, on March 2, 2021, after the school merged with Gyeongsang National University of Science and Technology [GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

As the nation’s population crisis grows dire, many universities outside the greater Seoul area seem to be struggling with a lack of student applicants. What’s your take on the issue and how must it be solved?

The fourth industrial wave, Covid-19 pandemic, Korea’s shrinking population and its toll on rural regions are requiring innovation in the role of universities and educational methods. I believe there are four fundamental limitations that all universities in Korea must overcome. First is the limitation of age. At a time when many people are living up to the age of 100, universities must be able to provide customized education for the entire life cycle. Second is the limitation of regions. We must build a cooperative system among universities that allows students to receive credits wherever they want, not just at their home universities. Third is the limitation of national borders. Universities must attract high-performing international students and help domestic students study in a global environment. Fourth is the limitation of majors. We must tear down the barriers between humanities, natural sciences and social sciences and devise a way to connect and integrate different majors with flexible curricula. Moreover, national flagship universities should provide educational programs focused on the needs of local society, allowing students to lead regional growth after graduation.

The entrance of Gyeongsang National University’s Gajwa Campus. [GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

What advice do you have for foreigners wishing to pursue a degree in Korea?

Come to our university! Other than that, study Korean and Korean culture. If you want to attend a Korean university, and if you hope to quickly adjust to a new life in Korea, my personal advice is to get at least a Level 3 on the TOPIK test. Living in Korea, let alone studying in a Korean institute of higher education, can be a bigger challenge than you think. But if you boldly take on the challenge with confidence, studying in Korea will serve to be a big turning point or stepping stone in your life. If you successfully complete your study abroad in Korea, job opportunities in Korea will open up and you’ll go on to become a great leader when you return to your home country. Gyeongsang National University will support you along the way.

President’s bio

Kwon Soon-ki is the 11th president of Gyeongsang National University. His four-year term began in June 2020. This is his second time serving as the president of Gyeongsang National University, with his first term lasting from 2011 to 2015. Kwon was a professor of nano and advanced materials at the university from 1987 to 2020.

He is currently the chairman of the Material Component Development Project Review Board at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering Korea. Previously, he was the director of Gyeongsang National University’s Samsung OLED Center and dean of the school’s College of Engineering.

Kwon earned his bachelor’s in chemistry education at Seoul National University and a master’s and Ph.D. in chemistry from KAIST.

About the university

Name
Gyeongsang National University

Type
National

Established
1948

English slogan
A university that pioneers the future and shares values

Location
Gajwa Campus: Jinju, South Gyeongsang
Chilam Campus: Jinju, South Gyeongsang
Tongyeong Campus: Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang
Changwon Industry-Academy Campus: Changwon, South Gyeongsang
Naedong Campus: Jinju, South Gyeongsang

Campus size
1,660,408.9 square meters (410.3 acres)

Undergraduate colleges and departments
Colleges: 17
Schools and departments: 109

Graduate schools
11

Students (2022)
Undergraduates: 17,194
Postgraduates: 2,434
Total: 19,628

Full-time academic staff (2022)
969

Administrative staff (2022)
649

Employment rate (2021)
51.1 percent

English website
gnu.ac.kr/eng/main.do

International students

Number of students (2022)
Undergraduates: 151
Postgraduates: 184
Short-term students (language learning, exchange program, etc.): 96
Total: 431

By country
Vietnam 28.07 percent
China 22.27 percent
Mongolia 11.14 percent
Other 38.52 percent (30 countries)

Department with the most international students (2022)
Department of Korean Language and Literature

Dormitory acceptance rate (2022)
All international students are eligible to live on campus.

Average tuition of self-funded undergraduate students per semester (2022)
1.64 million won ($1,300)

International Office website
gnu.ac.kr/international/main.do

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]