"A Current Professor Leads by Example" — Jang Gil-soo, Dean of the College of Engineering at
(From left) Jang Gil-soo, Dean of the College of Engineering at Korea University, and Kim Dong-won, President of the university
To build a research building at Korea University (President Kim Dong-won) that will become a cradle for future engineering talent, a current college dean took the lead. On the 14th, Jang Gil-soo, Dean of the College of Engineering at Korea University (Electrical Engineering ’86), donated 100 million won to Korea University as a “Research Building Construction Fund.”
Currently, Korea University plans to build a research building with a total floor area of about 3,000 pyeong on the natural sciences campus. The goal is to secure research space and build infrastructure for next-generation convergent research and the development of innovative technologies, thereby strengthening Korea University’s global research competitiveness.
Dean Jang Gil-soo (Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) said, “National competitiveness depends on engineering, and the achievements of engineering colleges directly affect financial support, but the current problem of insufficient research infrastructure in private university engineering colleges is serious.” He added, “Just as the Techno Complex was a turning point for Korea 30 years ago, broad support through an ‘Engineering Investment Committee’ is urgently needed, and investment in Korea University’s engineering college will be rewarded through value creation for the nation’s future.” He continued, “My small donation is also a valuable investment in the College of Engineering and a token of gratitude to my alma mater, which has been the cradle of my growth as a member of the class of ’86, marking its 40th anniversary of admission this year.”
President Kim Dong-won said, “It is a very meaningful and rare act for a faculty member to donate to a university where they are currently employed.” He added, “Honoring the precious intention behind this donation, we will do our best to prepare for the construction of the research building so that Korea University can rise as a world-class research hub.”
The donation ceremony was held on the 14th at 2:30 p.m. in the President’s Office on the first floor of Korea University’s main building, with Korea University College of Engineering Dean Jang Gil-soo, President Kim Dong-won, and Director of External Affairs Shin Ho-jung in attendance.
Meanwhile, Dean Jang Gil-soo of the College of Engineering graduated from Korea University’s Department of Electrical Engineering, earned his Ph.D. at Iowa State University in the United States, and has been serving as a professor at Korea University since 2000. As an expert in the field of power systems, he is a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, chairman of the Korean Committee of CIGRE, and president of the Power Technology Division of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers.