Seoul National University has named four preliminary candidates for its 29th presidency: Kang Joon-ho, a professor at the College of Education; Kim Hyun-chul, a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies; Lee Jae-young, a professor at the College of Humanities; and Choi Hae-cheon, a professor at the College of Engineering. Incumbent President Yoo Hong-lim, who sought a second term, was eliminated in the first round.
The university's presidential recommendation committee held its fourth meeting on the 9th and selected the four preliminary candidates after hearing presentations from the contenders.
Twelve people had entered the race. Along with the four selected, the field included Chang Pan-sik, a professor at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Lee Joon-ho, a professor at the College of Natural Sciences; Lee Won-woo, a professor at the School of Law; Lee Seok-jae, a professor at the College of Humanities; Yoo Jae-joon, a professor at the College of Natural Sciences; Choi Man-soo, an emeritus professor at the College of Engineering; Cha Sang-kyun, an emeritus professor at the Graduate School of Data Science; and Yoo Hong-lim, a professor at the College of Social Sciences and the current president.
Yoo's elimination ended a bid for consecutive terms, the first attempted at the university in 52 years. The last president to seek a second term was Han Sim-seok, who served as the 11th and 12th president from 1970 to 1975. Yoo fell short in the committee's evaluation.
The committee plans to hold public presentations for the four candidates at the Yeongeon campus on the 17th and at the Gwanak campus on the 22nd. On the 7th of next month, a policy evaluation panel made up of faculty, staff and students will vote to narrow the field to three, who will then be recommended to the board of trustees. The board will select one final candidate. The president is appointed by the president of South Korea on the recommendation of the education minister, and the term would begin in February next year.
