Choi Hae-cheon Elected as 29th President of Seoul National University

Choi Hae-cheon, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University, was elected as the final candidate for the 29th president of the university during a board meeting held on November 8.

The board conducted in-depth interviews with three final candidates recommended by the presidential selection committee at the Gwanak campus before voting. Choi secured a majority of votes from the board members, succeeding Yoo Hong-rim, whose term ends in January 2027.

During his candidacy, Choi outlined a vision for the university as a place where students can dream of changing the world and as a 'globally hyper-connected university.' He promised comprehensive reforms across governance, finance, education, and research.

Choi emphasized the need to fundamentally reform the current presidential election system, which often focuses on short-term promises. He proposed that university members first establish a long-term vision and then recommend suitable candidates. Additionally, he pledged to decentralize authority from the administration to colleges and departments, including direct allocation of 10% of indirect costs to departments.

He also presented a detailed plan for enhancing financial resources and research competitiveness. Choi announced the launch of 'SNU Mega Frontier Partners,' aimed at proactively proposing large-scale long-term projects to the government and businesses, with a goal of securing approximately 900 billion won and a total of 2 trillion won in new funding over four years. He plans to establish the 'AI Civilization Transition Research Institute,' investing 3 billion won annually, and to create an environment conducive to research through qualitative assessments reflecting the characteristics of various academic fields.

In terms of education and student welfare, Choi proposed expanding S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) grading for common education courses, increasing dormitory capacity, establishing guidelines for minimum living expenses for graduate students, and providing financial support for exchange students, targeting up to 20% of new undergraduate students, with an annual budget of 15 billion won.

Choi, who has built an international reputation in turbulence and flow control, graduated from Kyungnam High School and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Seoul National University. He obtained his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

Since joining Seoul National University as a full-time lecturer in 1993, he has held various positions, including Vice Dean of the College of Engineering, Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and from 2021 to 2023, he served as Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate School, overseeing university administration. He has also served as the 65th President of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (2021), an advisor to the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, and a specialist at the National Research Foundation of Korea. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and an active member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the Korean Academy of Engineering.

Following the board's decision, Seoul National University plans to request the Ministry of Education to recommend Choi for the presidential appointment. He will be officially appointed as president after the Minister of Education's recommendation, deliberation by the Cabinet, and final approval by the President. Choi's term as the 29th president of Seoul National University will run from February 1, 2027, to January 31, 2031.