Dear Members of POSTECH,
The blazing sun today reminds me of my first days in Pohang two years ago in early August, walking the campus and its surrounding areas in the summer heat. My term had not begun, but I was already visiting the Ministry of Economy and Finance to secure additional operating funds for our synchrotron and meeting with the Swedish Embassy to request support for what I envisioned would be our students’ participation in Nobel Week. Those days now seem ages ago.
Much has changed since then. I would like to take this moment to share some of those changes and what they reveal about the direction of our university. For clarity, I have summarized them into major areas.
1. Organizational Reform and New Administrative Units
(1) To better manage the university’s growing needs, we introduced a dual-vice presidency system to make our daily operations more efficient, allowing the president’s office to focus on long-term strategy and external outreach (For comparison: KAIST and GIST operate with three vice presidents, while DGIST and UNIST each have two.).
(2) From the Office of Planning, which had grown too large, we created the new Office of External Affairs. Planning now oversees strategic planning, budgeting, campus space, and construction, while External Affairs manages external and international relations, PR, fundraising, alumni, and emeriti affairs.
(3) We created the Finance Committee, ensuring that important financial decisions are made through careful deliberation, replacing past practices of ad hoc decisions.
(4) Our Language Center was reorganized as the POSTECH Institute of Culture and Language, supporting inbound students with Korean language and culture, and outbound students with English and global citizenship education.
(5) We established a new School of Convergence Science and Technology, along with an open curriculum framework, enabling interdisciplinary and double-major programs tailored to student interests.
2. Investing in Faculty Excellence
(1) We implemented a merit-based, “non-accumulative” incentive system, now in its second year. While objectively measuring and comparing academic achievements is never easy, an evaluation framework was developed with faculty input, combining quantitative and qualitative measures across disciplines. Each department defined its own standards through consensus.
(2) Our departmental review system was reformed and now compares each unit with leading programs in Korea and worldwide, not just with peers within POSTECH, and requires long-term strategic plans based on global benchmarks.
(3) We introduced an early-decision system for retirement extension. While many Korean universities offer similar extensions based on the condition of securing external research funding, POSTECH’s system—our existing “University Professor” appointment—extends both rights and responsibilities of faculty to age 70 without such conditions. The new system now allows faculty to secure this extension as early as their early-to-mid 50s, enabling them to pursue ambitious, long-term research goals.
(4) We have raised the research start-up funds for new professors from KRW 250 million—previously on par with other leading Korean universities—to KRW 500 million (and ultimately up to KRW 1 billion when needs are shown), the highest in Korea. To further invigorate their patent activities, we will provide up to KRW 30 million in patent funding. These initiatives have been well received in the academic community, especially among younger scholars, and have also drawn interest from those preparing to join us from abroad.
(5) Whereas a sizeable number of our faculty previously moved to other universities (mostly in Seoul), now there are cases of faculty moving in the opposite direction—joining POSTECH from prestigious institutions in the capital area. Over time, we expect flows to balance. We also continue efforts to recruit mid-career professors from leading universities abroad.
(6) To bring international scholars to our campus, we launched the “Experience POSTECH” program, which has already generated strong positive response and will help introduce our university to more outstanding scientists worldwide. In parallel, we created the “Experience the World” mini-sabbatical program, enabling POSTECH faculty to conduct short-term overseas visits and collaborative research without waiting for their turn for a full sabbatical.
Additionally, native English instructors were promoted to collegiate faculty with enhanced compensation to recognize their contributions and to strengthen the POSTECH Institute for Culture and Language. We also invited distinguished domestic and international scholars as Honors Professors, enriching our teaching and expanding our external networks. I have been personally hosting junior and mid-career faculty at the presidential residence, together with their families, to hear their concerns, foster open communication, and offer encouragement.
Looking ahead: we will reduce teaching loads to enhance quality and introduce more formal, university-wide guidelines for department heads, which until now have been operating largely by informal customs of individual departments.
3. Supporting Students and Admissions Reform
(1) Beginning this year, we are introducing a comprehensive, multidimensional interview process for undergraduate admissions. This is our effort to move beyond Korea’s long-standing entrance exam system and to identify a new kind of excellence: students with creativity, adaptability, and potential to thrive in an AI-driven era. Our aim is to discover “hidden gems” with great promise, not merely those trained in repetitive test-taking. POSTECH has always been ahead of the times, and now we must lead in admissions reform as well. I ask for your support and input as we move forward.
(2) In preparation for this new admissions model, I personally joined the Vice President of Admissions and Student Affairs and his team in visiting high schools nationwide last year. We promoted POSTECH, explained the new system, and listened to feedback—valuable insights that shaped the system we now adopt. This year we will carefully analyze the outcomes and expand outreach again.
(3) We launched the Pathfinder Program to help undergraduates explore careers and experiences outside the classroom. Students now participate in international academic gatherings such as Nobel Week or the International Congress of Mathematicians, major technology expos like CES and ARPA-E, as well as exchange programs and even entrepreneurial ventures. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, also drawing attention from global universities.
(4) Student exchange and research opportunities abroad are expanding through new international agreements, backed by increased financial support. In addition to graduate students presenting their work who are supported by the research grants of their faculty advisor, early-year graduate students will now be able to attend overseas academic conferences even without presenting.
(5) Graduate tuition and funding systems are being reformed. The definition of post-coursework enrollment has been adjusted to course duration, and research-only students who previously paid full tuition now pay one-third, equal to extended enrollment students. We also created a minimum graduate stipend standard, tied to tuition increases, to ensure real benefits grow each year. Because some students felt tuition hikes reduced their net support, this year we froze both tuition and stipend standards to clarify that support is linked to both factors.
(6) We secured 20 slots in the new Top-Tier Graduate Fellowship Program supported by Gyeongbuk Province. This offers outstanding graduate students KRW 5 million per month, with the commitment to work in local research institutions or companies after graduation—a valuable support scheme for those pursuing careers in the region.
(7) Until now, international students came as exchange students or for graduate programs, but for the first time we are introducing a direct undergraduate admissions track for international students. To strengthen our global profile, we must broaden our doors for both faculty and students. I ask all members of our community to extend warm welcome and support to our incoming international undergraduates.
4. Empowering Our Staff
(1) We are developing a coupled scheme for promotion and compensation. By adjusting salary gaps between ranks, we can tune promotion rates and foster a more balanced, pyramid-shaped career structure that encourages motivation and professional growth.
(2) Because such reform will take years, in the meantime we are expanding recognition and awards programs, creating a workplace culture where excellent performance is rewarded and celebrated.
(3) Flexible work arrangements are being piloted, including a four-day workweek during breaks and a 4.5-day system. These would support work–life balance and increase job satisfaction.
(4) With growing international student mobility, we are expanding international experience opportunities for staff across all departments – even for units not directly related to international affairs, so all staff can gain global competencies.
5. Building for the Future
(1) As part of our Second Founding Initiative (POSTECH 2.0), we will construct new education and research buildings, then sequentially remodel existing buildings and facilities. Faculty housing and student dormitories will also be newly built or renovated to create a more comfortable environment. The detailed design for the new education building is complete, with groundbreaking scheduled for next year, to coincide with POSTECH’s 40th anniversary. Depending on finances, the research building will follow soon after, resolving parking shortages and enabling further remodeling.
(2) With the support of government, local authorities, and our foundation, a major new facility—the Scale-Up Ground—will rise across from the Tae-Joon Park Library. This six-story, KRW 70-plus billion project (minimum 17,450㎡) will include research labs, startup spaces, and community facilities. Groundbreaking is planned for December 2026, also marking our 40th anniversary.
(3) In Seoul, we opened the renovated co-working office in Gangnam’s St. Mary’s Hospital complex, available to POSTECH members. Fully equipped, it provides a convenient workspace for faculty and staff visiting Seoul.
(4) To support entrepreneurship for our POSTECH members, we created a startup collaboration space on campus (C5 Building, Room 101, 73㎡). We will continue to upgrade this facility. With Pohang City, we have also secured two floors downtown (466-25, Sangwon-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang, 427㎡) to aid urban renewal and young startups.
(5) To relieve severe parking shortages, new parking gates and systems have been installed in select areas until additional parking spaces can be secured. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation.
In addition, we will gradually expand the four essential research infrastructure facilities required of a leading research university: animal labs, instrumental analysis facility, computing clusters, and hazardous materials/waste management. Finally, new meeting facilities are being created to reflect POSTECH’s stature when welcoming guests. We are remodeling the President’s Office space on the 3rd floor of the Administration Building to create a University Board Room and upgrading Meeting Room A into a more practical meeting space.
6. Expanding Global Engagement and Partnerships
(1) Compared to other Korean universities, POSTECH has far fewer international exchange agreements (about one-tenth of Seoul National University’s). To address this, we are expanding aggressively, focusing not on the number of agreements but on meaningful collaborations. We are strengthening ties with Southeast Asia and Central/Eastern Europe, while also expanding cooperation with Western Europe. For the first time, we signed a bilateral student exchange agreement with UC Irvine, enabling equal exchange with a U.S. university—an unprecedented step. Several students have already participated in exchange this summer. We are also deepening ties with University of Chicago in materials science, with a joint symposium planned this fall. Discussions are underway with other leading North American institutions, including MIT, UCLA, UC San Diego, Northeastern University, Purdue University, Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Georgia, and University of British Columbia.
(2) We are also working closely with embassies (U.S., Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Israel, and more) to support international engagement and student recruitment. Several ambassadors have already visited POSTECH and given lectures.
(3) To realize our AI-native University initiative, we signed an agreement with Microsoft Korea. POSTECH members will have access to Microsoft Azure at no cost, and together we will build an AI platform to be integrated across admissions, education, research, administration, HR, finance, facilities, communications, and ERP—establishing a model for AI-driven higher education.
(4) Overseas hubs are being developed. We opened a POSTECH co-working office at KIC-DC near Washington, D.C. and are pursuing collaboration with KIC-Silicon Valley. We are also considering space at the Cambridge Innovation Center near MIT, depending on demand from our community.
(5) To support technology commercialization, we are actively participating in international industry events such as CES, BIO USA, and the Korean government’s I-Corps program. These promote our technologies and support the global expansion of POSTECH startups.
(6) Together with Seoul National, Yonsei, and Korea Universities, we launched the Sustainable Campus Alliance, addressing environmental and sustainability challenges while fostering exchanges in education, research, and student life. For POSTECH, the only non-Seoul member, this network seems particularly valuable.
7. Major Research Initiatives, Projects, and Events
(1) POSTECH has been selected for several large-scale national initiatives (Glocal University, IRC, RISE), enhancing our education and research capacity while supporting commercialization. In the recent NRL 2.0 project, three POSTECH teams advanced to the second round—more than any other university.
(2) With the rising importance of defense technology, we have begun building partnerships with military and defense agencies. Thanks to our faculty’s initiative, we have engaged with the Korean Army’s 2nd Operational Command, the Korea Army Academy, the Marine Corps 1st Division, the Army Training Command, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. These relationships will expand into education and research collaborations.
(3) In preparation for our 40th anniversary, we launched a Fundraising Campaign Committee with professional consulting agency. Several potential major donors have expressed interest, and we are actively encouraging alumni participation in the campaign.
(4) Our Korean and English websites were fully redesigned, with additional updates to the POSTECH Research and Business Development Foundation site and the creation of a new emeriti professors’ website. While some expressions remain awkward and a few details may still be inaccurate, we are continuously updating and refining them.
(5) For the first time since our founding, we have redesigned our academic regalia with the help of a professional designer. Bright, dignified designs were introduced at the 2025 graduation for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, with doctoral gowns to follow in 2026. This project was entirely funded by alumni, especially those who have become professors, for which we are deeply grateful. To promote our university and strengthen pride among our community, we will create university merchandise of excellent quality and design, comparable to those of any leading institution. I encourage all of you to make good use of them.
(6) We have expanded public lectures for our university community and local residents and have established a regular series of concerts. We also launched the Future Explorers series, bringing to POSTECH young leaders at the forefront of artificial intelligence and other fields of technology and culture for lectures and discussions. This program has been very well received, and we plan to make it a continuing tradition.
(7) To strengthen global culture on campus, we launched the annual POSTECH Autumn Fest, each year featuring the culture, science, and history of a partner country. Last year’s inaugural event, modeled on Germany’s Oktoberfest, was a resounding success, and this year we are preparing a Hungarian-themed festival, with support from the Hungarian Embassy.
(8) To promote entrepreneurship, POSTECH hosted and participated in numerous events: the 2025 Regional Startup Solverthon, the Global Student Startup Competition (GSSC), the MSIT’s I-Corps Program, and new entrepreneurship tracks within our UGRP program. We also launched a joint startup camp with Seoul National, KAIST, Yonsei, and Korea Universities. Faculty and researcher startups have been supported through POSTECH Tech Innovation Grants, MSIT’s Innopolis Campus project, and global acceleration initiatives like the JTBD Boot Camp. These achievements earned POSTECH the Grand Prize in the 2024 Korea Startup University Awards.
(9) POSTECH Holdings has grown remarkably, managing 13 funds totaling KRW 83 billion and investing in over 170 startups, making it the most active university-owned holdings company in Korea. Portfolio firms have raised over KRW 600 billion in follow-on funding. POSTECH Holdings is now a designated TIPS operator and has helped Pohang’s Changeup Ground become Korea’s first regionally designated private TIPS Town—strengthening POSTECH’s role as a hub for regional innovation.
8. Communication and Outreach
(1) Over the past two years, we have held numerous town hall meetings with faculty, staff, undergraduates, graduate students, and international students, to hear concerns and share university plans. For faculty, we have held one to two town hall meetings each semester, while for students we have created regular opportunities to meet and engage in dialogue. I also visited every department and office early in my term and will repeat this during the second half of my presidency.
(2) We have actively communicated with the government, media, and industry about higher education and research policy. Many media outlets have featured POSTECH’s vision and reforms, drawing positive responses. I have also delivered keynote addresses at major national and international events, raising POSTECH’s profile. This fall, a leading international academic journal will publish a feature article on POSTECH. Recognizing the importance of popular culture for younger audiences, we are even considering collaborations in TV shows or programs featuring our university or community.
As we approach POSTECH’s 40th anniversary, we are planning a year-long series of events—not only ceremonies, but also celebrations of renewal and transformation. We will share POSTECH’s story of change and ambition with the nation and the world.
As we prepare to celebrate POSTECH’s 40th anniversary, we will not only mark the milestone with ceremonies but also demonstrate to Korea and the world our readiness for a new era of growth and transformation.
I am aware that some of these reforms have met skepticism about their sustainability. Yet, I assure you: POSTECH 2.0 will not go backward. I will do everything possible to ensure that each reform and initiative takes firm root in the remaining years of my term.
Of course, there are aspirations we cannot yet fulfill due to financial or systemic limitations. But even those challenges will guide us to seek creative solutions over time, in service not only of POSTECH’s advancement but also of our nation and our region.
I am deeply grateful to all members of our community. I am especially thankful for your generosity and understanding in accepting certain reform measures—some of which were difficult even for me to embrace—and for viewing them as necessary steps toward POSTECH’s progress.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to our Chairperson, the Board of Trustees, and our Auditors for approving the POSTECH 2.0 project, supporting it with such strong commitment. I am grateful as well to the Foundation, under the leadership of the Vice Chairperson, for steadfast support despite the challenges of financial planning and management.
Finally, I would like to thank Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and the City of Pohang, whose unwavering interest, strong resolve for regional development, and generous support have been instrumental in enabling POSTECH to thrive in this community.
Together, we have accomplished much. And together, we will do even more in the years ahead. With your continued support, advice, participation, and encouragement, POSTECH will not only celebrate its 40th anniversary with pride but will also open a new chapter of growth and impact.
With gratitude and warm regards,
August 28, 2025
Seong Keun Kim
President of POSTECH