* photo by President room
Kim Dal-ung
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On May 18, 2005, nine of The KNU Times reporters visited Kim Dal-ung, president of Kyungpook National University (KNU). Before this time, he was introduced on the school website and in The Kyungpook University Times published in Korean, but The KNU Times, which is published in English for foreigners, didn't have the opportunity to introduce him. So this time, The KNU Times has become an intermediary between Kim Dal-ung and both foreign and Korean students of KNU by engaging in a frank conversation with him. The KNU Times hopes this interview will help you to decide your own way and to realize your dreams. |
When The KNU Times reporters entered the president's office, President Kim greeted us by shaking hands and then the reporters sat around on a sofa, tense with a feeling of suspense. Contrary to our preconception that he might be a tricky person to face as he is the chief of an institution and many students feel a little distant from him, he talked smoothly with delight and the conversation created a harmonious atmosphere. He was kind enough to sincerely prepare answers to our questions, which we submitted a few days |
before, in the vortex of his busy work schedule. In the context of celebrating the Foundation Day of KNU, the 59th anniversary, on May 28th, we started the conversation brightly. |
Reporter: KNU has been a mainstay as a local university and has contributed to the local community for a long time, about 60 years. What is your ideal university and are there any differences between your ideal and KNU?
President Kim: Well, the university should create good students by providing good education, research, and volunteer opportunities. Now KNU exists to create professionals, not amateurs. I want to foster students who have youthful enthusiasm. To improve their good abilities, KNU is providing extra diverse programs which provide an education that can't be learned in formal classes. Here, the students' participation is more important. And some people worry about Korean parents' excessive interest in education, but it is the positive driving force of Korea, I think. So it is also important that the university makes the |
* photo by knuin.cyworld.com
Administration Building
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best use of that power by providing some appropriate programs. From this point of view, we have the Overseas internship program, Career ability improvement program for women, Sandwich course program, and so on. |
Also, the school should be able to use research funds positively. Compared with Seoul National University, almost all other national universities are relatively poorly supported by the government. In Japan, Tokyo University and Kyoto University are growing together by competing with each other. In Korea, however, there aren't any national universities competitive with Seoul National University. Therefore we need more financial support from the government in order to develop competent students.
* photo by yahoo
Foreign students
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And then, to get over the weaknesses of being a local university, the university should be ready to welcome good students from all over the world. KNU should attract all the talent of the world and grow continuously with that talent. These days, many students just want to study in other countries. But, why do we think only about going abroad? We are not the frog in the well. The frog just wanted to get out of the well, but now things have changed. It is time to bring good students from other countries to Korea. |
Finally, education is the very thing that can add great value. With an education industry, culture industry, medical industry, and service industry, most of the industries based on knowledge come from the university. So KNU is trying to cooperate with companies now such as through the Sandwich course program. The Sandwich course program gives students the opportunity to work in their chosen service field during a semester or vacation.
Reporter: These days, many students like to enter universities located in or around Seoul. And also companies are inclined to select those students for industrial loans. So, please recommend some way for KNU students to compete with them as local university students.
President Kim: I think students have to acquire a cosmopolitan outlook. KNU has an Overseas internship program, and it is a unique program in Korean universities. When I contracted this program with dr.Linda Bayer, president of internship and a strategy analyst, who wrote ¡¸The blessing and the curse¡¹, the terms of contract specified "only for KNU". And also we have the Global challenger program. So I recommend to students to take advantage of these programs to widen their mental vision. I expect students' active participation.
And another thing to do is putting your heart into your own major. Be a "little hero" in your field. I think all of the KNU students have great ability to achieve their goals, but their ambition and will to meet every challenge is lacking. Do your best at what you like to do and be a great expert.
Also, always keep honesty and diligence in your mind. It is the best virtue for all ages. |
* photo by pr.knu.ac.kr
Washigton internship program
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Reporter: From a few months ago, there have been controversial issues about the combination among national universities. Could you tell us about your own thinking on that problem?
President Kim: Merger and abolition of national universities is very important to KNU. Because it will have a favorable influence upon whether KNU will receive an educational budget from the government or not. By improving the circumstances of education, we can invest more into good quality research. Also, the decentralization of power movement originated at KNU and it has played an important role in leading to a regional innovation. And by merger and abolition, we can continue this from now on, too.
Reporter: As you are an alumnus of KNU, are there any differences between KNU students in the past and present students?
President Kim: Compared with those days, students' competitive power has become weak. Students are responsible for uplifting the cultural level of the university. As previously stated, be an ambitious person and create a good community at the university.
And although "competition" is the social trend nowadays, don't forget "human love" and volunteer to help society through it. I expect the students will find themselves on graduation day to be quite different people than on their entrance day.
Reporter: There are many foreign professors and students at KNU, but it was a little neglectful and difficult to share your thoughts and policies because of the language barrier. So do you have something to tell them?
President Kim: First, I am always thankful for their interest in KNU, and we'll continuously expand and improve the facilities and support for them. For example, we'll complete a dormitory around the latter half of this year. I've tried to make a global village where foreign professors, students, and Korean students live together like a family since I took office as president. And I hope they can enjoy Korean culture during their life in Korea. |
* photo by naver
Global village
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Reporter: We really thank you for sharing your precious time for our interview, and we hope your interest in the students of KNU continues.
After the long conversation which lasted about one and half hours, President Kim gave some advice to The KNU Times. He said, "The most important thing reporters should have is professionalism. I saw a photo artist who takes 200 photos at different angles for only one picture in his magazine. He is a real professional, I think. If each one of you keeps this in mind, The KNU Times will develop eternally."
His vision for KNU is especially different from others, and he loves students very much. And he emphasized the importance of taking part in school activities and various programs the school provides all through the conversation. He was the kind of person who looks like a thoughtful father or a kind teacher more than a president. At the end of the interview, he said he wants to be remembered as the person who devotes his life to KNU. And The KNU Times also wants to be a useful bridge among all of the people at KNU. Thanks to President Kim Dal-ung again.
