The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) faculty council expressed regret over the more than yearlong delay in appointing a president. It noted that the prolonged vacancy at the top is burdening the university's operations and the push for mid- to long-term development strategies.
On Mar. 5, the KAIST faculty council issued a statement saying, "The current situation in which the appointment of the president continues to be delayed is placing a significant burden on KAIST's stable operations and the implementation of its mid- to long-term development strategies." The council added, "We express disappointment that the long-running candidate selection process and the efforts of those involved were not sufficiently respected in reaching a conclusion."
On Feb. 26, the KAIST board of trustees held a vote to appoint a president among three finalists, but the appointment motion was voted down because no one won a majority. The candidates were incumbent President Lee Kwang-hyung; Kim Jung-ho, a professor in the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST; and former Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) President Lee Yong-hoon. These candidates were the three finalists recommended in Feb. 2025.
In the statement, the council defined the role of president as "a leader who drives the vision and strategy of a research-centered university, beyond a simple administrative officer." It added, "A person who deeply understands the university's research ecosystem and talent development system, based on KAIST's distinctiveness and the consensus of its members, should serve as president."
The council also presented demands regarding the reopened search for a president. First, it called for specific disclosure of the timeline, procedures, and evaluation criteria for the reopened search. It also said that the capacity to realize a vision based on a deep understanding of KAIST should be reflected as a core criterion in the appointment. It further argued for guaranteeing the participation of KAIST members in the Presidential Candidate Search Committee.
The council stressed, "The board's authority to appoint the president must be exercised with KAIST's development as the top priority," adding, "During the reopened search, the government and the board must make prudent and responsible judgments."
A total of 252 of KAIST's 740 full-time faculty members took part in the statement.