Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) appointed Lee Kwang-hyung, the institute’s professor emeritus of the bio and brain engineering department and the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy as its 17th president.

The state-funded university recognized Lee’s academic achievements and passion for nurturing entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary research.

His four-year term as president begins on Feb. 23, upon approval of the ministers of education and science.

Lee joined KAIST as a faculty member in 1985 and is known to be a pioneer in interdisciplinary studies and champion of entrepreneurship. His students include Kim Jung-ju, founder of Korea’s largest game company Nexon, Lee Hae-jin, founder of internet giant Naver, and Yeong-dal, founder of security equipment maker IDIS.

Lee pledged to orient the technology and science-focused research university more towards creating global values for sustainability and prosperity in the country and solving the problems facing mankind under the ‘QAIST’ initiative standing for Question, Advanced research, Internationalization, Start-up, and Trust.

By Kim Je-lim, Lee Jong-hwa and Lee Soo-min

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