Korea University College of Engineering Dean Donates 100 Million Won of Personal Funds for Research Building

[Financial News] A sitting university dean has donated 100 million won of his personal funds to strengthen national technological competitiveness and expand advanced research space.
Korea University said on the 15th that Jang Gil-su, dean of its College of Engineering, handed over 100 million won in research-building construction funds at the university’s main building in Seongbuk District, Seoul, on the 14th. The donation is seen as a catalyst for highlighting the lack of infrastructure at private universities’ engineering research sites and encouraging investment in engineering colleges from various sectors of society.
Dean Jang Gil-su assessed the situation, saying, "National competitiveness depends on engineering, and the achievements of engineering colleges are directly linked to financial support." He added, "The shortage of research infrastructure at engineering colleges in private universities is currently very serious." He continued, "As with the Technocomplex, the Industry-Academia-Research Comprehensive Research Complex that served as a stepping stone for a leap forward 30 years ago, support from all sectors through an engineering investment committee is urgently needed." He also said, "We will certainly repay investment in Korea University’s College of Engineering by creating new value for the nation’s future."
Dean Jang also explained the reason for his donation, saying, "As a member of the class of 1986 marking the 40th anniversary of entering university this year, this is my expression of gratitude and a small investment in my alma mater, which became a home for my growth."
Building on the donation, KU plans to construct a new research building with a total floor area of approximately 3,000 pyeong on its natural sciences campus. The university aims to secure the latest research equipment and laboratory space, focus on developing next-generation convergence technologies spanning multiple disciplines, and establish research competitiveness on a global level.
KU President Dong-One Kim responded, saying, "It is highly meaningful and rare for a sitting professor to donate to the university where he works." He added, "In keeping with this valuable gesture, we will prepare for the research building’s construction without a hitch so that KU can be reborn as a world-class research hub."
After graduating from Korea University’s Department of Electrical Engineering and earning a doctorate from Iowa State University, Dean Jang has taught at KU since 2000. An expert in South Korea’s power systems, he currently serves as a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK), chair of the Korean National Committee of CIGRE, and president of the Power Engineering Division of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers (KIEE).

[email protected] Kim Man-ki Reporter