Ryu Hong Lim Eliminated as Seoul National University Narrows Presidential Candidates to Four

[Financial News] Four professors—Kang Joon-ho, Kim Hyun-cheol, Lee Jae-young and Haecheon Choi—have been shortlisted as preliminary candidates in Seoul National University’s 29th presidential election. Ryu Hong Lim, the incumbent president seeking a second term, failed to clear the first hurdle and was excluded from the field of candidates for the next president.
According to Seoul National University’s Presidential Recommendation Committee and other sources on the 10th, the committee selected four preliminary candidates after hearing presentations and conducting question-and-answer sessions with the 12 candidates running in the 29th presidential election. The four are Kang Joon-ho, a professor at the College of Education; Kim Hyun-cheol, a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies; Lee Jae-young, a professor at the College of Humanities; and Haecheon Choi, a professor at the College of Engineering.
After formally announcing his bid for a second term, Ryu stepped down from his presidential duties on the 1st, and Seoul National University was operated under an acting vice president for education. As he was not selected as a preliminary candidate, Ryu resumed his duties as president on the same day.
A total of 12 candidates entered the presidential election. In addition to the four preliminary candidates and Ryu, the contenders included Jang 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; and Cha Sang-kyoon, an emeritus professor at the Graduate School of Data Science.
The 12 candidates presented their visions for university management and their positions as candidates for president to the recommendation committee. Each candidate was given 40 minutes, including time for a presentation and a question-and-answer session.
A weighted scoring system was introduced for the preliminary selection. Committee members chose four preferred candidates and assigned them different scores from one to four. The four candidates with the highest combined scores were then selected as preliminary candidates. Kang, Kim, Lee and Choi ranked among the top four in the evaluation.
The preliminary candidates will present their policy platforms and plans for university management at public presentation sessions on the 17th and 22nd. A policy evaluation panel composed of faculty, staff and students will conduct a policy evaluation on October 7 and select the final three candidates.
After the recommendation committee recommends the final three candidates to the Seoul National University Board of Trustees, the board will elect one presidential candidate through a vote. The candidate chosen by the board will be appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Minister of Education, and the 29th president will begin the term in February next year.

[email protected] Jung Ji-woo Reporter