Faculty Oppose 2nd Term for KAIST Head

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) President Robert Laughlin is facing strong opposition from the school’s faculty over his reappointment as the university’s president, which will soon be decided on by the KAIST Board of Trustees.

The KAIST Faculty Association (President Yoon Choon-sup, department of physics) held press conferences at the “House of Scholars,” an on-campus cafe, and at the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the association said the president’s lack of leadership and vision, arbitrary undertakings, and his mistrust and belittlement of Korea, KAIST and the professors, were why it objects to his reappointment.

Undergraduate and graduate student associations at KAIST decided to hold a referendum on the issue until March 27 and submit the results to the Board of Trustees. The Board will decide on March 28 whether to extend President Laughlin’s two-year contract which went into effect on July 14, 2004.

The Faculty Association stated that President Laughlin went on official business trips for 103 days during a one year and six month term without sealing a single international exchange agreement.

President Yoon of the Faculty Association said, “President Laughlin not only does not understand KAIST’s mission as an institution to train talent in science and technology, but he also does not have a clear idea for the university’s reform and development.”

The Faculty Association circulated a petition opposing Laughlin’s reappointment and 325 professors out of 407 (79 percent) signed the document. This is the first time KAIST professors have petitioned on an issue like this.

On March 21-22, Yoon Hyun-soo, head of the Office of Academic Information, and three college deans submitted letters of resignation. Another 14 deans have said that they will also resign if the Laughlin is reappointed.

The KAIST Alumni Association submitted a written opinion to the KAIST Review Committee on the president’s achievements, asking for “careful consideration on extending President Laughlin’s contract.”

Laughlin sent the school’s professors an e-mail on March 23 saying, “I will not state my position at the board’s request, but I will say I hope for a positive conclusion.”

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has stated that it will respect the board’s decision, as the committee is in the process of preparing an objective report on President Laughlin’s achievements.

The director of the MOST Science and Technology Infrastructure Bureau, Park hang-sik, said, “I believe the Faculty Association is only highlighting Laughlin’s faults only. His contributions to the development of KAIST, such as winning a large-scale government project, should be considered.”

Myung-Hun Jee mhjee@donga.com wolfkim@donga.com