Choi Kee-choo, a professor in the Department of Transportation Systems Engineering at Ajou University, has been inaugurated as the university’s 17^th President. The inauguration ceremony was held at Ajou’s Yeonam Hall on January 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

Kwon Soon-jung, head of General Affairs, and announcer[KHTC1] Ha Ji-young served as masters of ceremony. Starting with an address by Daewoo Educational Foundation Chairman of the Board Choo Ho-suk, the ceremony proceeded with an introduction of the new president (by Han Ho, head of Academic Affairs), an inauguration speech by the new president, congratulatory addresses by distinguished guests from the university and from outside it, and singing of the school song (Park Sun-young, soprano).

The ceremony was attended by members of the Ajou University community, representing its students and faculty, Chairman Choo, Standing Director Kim Sun-yong, and other related staff from the Daewoo Educational Foundation, as well as distinguished guests from academia, politics, and industry. Given the COVID-19 situation, the ceremony was also streamed live via Ajou University’s YouTube channel.

In his address, Chairman Choo said, “In the almost 50 years since its foundation, Ajou University has achieved continuous growth, strengthening its position as a prestigious private institution.” He added, “This feat is because of the passion and devotion of every member of the Ajou family.”

“The world is changing so quickly that if we don’t walk today, we will have to run tomorrow. We can no longer do things alone but need to work together with others,” continuing, “I hope 2022 will go down as the year we began building the foundation for new growth and advancement under the leadership of our new president and the commitment of all members of the university community. We ask for your warm encouragement and support for the new president, on whose shoulders lies this colossal task.”

Congratulatory addresses were presented by Park Kwang-on (the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea member, Suwon 4^th district), Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee Lee Hun-seung, Vice Chairman for the Ruling Party Cho Eung-cheon, Suwon City Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Kyungpook National University President Hong Won-hwa, Chairman of the Metropolitan Transport Commission Baek Seung-geun, and President of the Ajou University Alumni Association Choi Joong-won[KHTC2]. Congratulatory video messages were also delivered from Ajou University President Choi’s students who have advanced into academia at home and abroad. 

In his inauguration address, President Choi remarked, “As an expert in the transportation field who has paved the way for roads, railroads, skyways, and waterways throughout his life, I intend to spend the rest of my tenure blazing the path forward for Ajou University.” He added, “We will build a path for the University’s next 100 years upon the history of its past 50 years.”

The new president asked three questions before revealing the direction forward and future plans. First, are we doing our best to build the foundation for future Ajou University students over the next 50 years? Second, are we sufficiently maximizing our potential? Third, are we sufficiently developing our founding philosophy?

He continued his address by highlighting “convergence,” “connection,” “innovation,” “culture,” and other keywords, revealing his ambitions to set up a convergence education program, strengthen platform education, vitalize convergence research between departments, attract large-scale convergence research projects, expand connection with local, regional, and specialized universities and colleges, establish a specialized research center, improve infrastructure for the school and outside of it, bring innovation to the organizational culture, and construct cultural assets, among others.

Near the end of his speech, he showed a video of how passengers worked together to save a person who had fallen between a subway train and platform. He emphasized the power of “togetherness” through “The Rule of Three”: As long as there are three people - one to propose pushing the train and two people to follow that person’s orders - the situation can be turned around in a second.

He advised students, “Dream big, imagine big, and don’t be afraid of failure.”

President Choi graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering (Urban Engineering) at Seoul National University, received a master's degree in transportation engineering from the same school, and acquired a doctorate in transportation planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [KHTC3]in the United States. Before becoming a professor in the Department of Transportation Systems Engineering at Ajou University in 1994, he worked as a senior researcher in the Urban Transportation Research Department at The Seoul Institute from 1992.[KHTC4]

President Choi has been using his expertise in transportation engineering to engage actively in education and research as well as advising various institutions and local governments. He served as finance project evaluation member for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, member of the Central Urban Planning Committee[KHTC5] for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, chairman of the Bus Industry Development Council [KHTC6]for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, chairman of the Korean Committee of the WRA (World Road Association), and president of the Korean Society of Transportation. In 2019, he served as the first chairman (deputy minister level) of the Metropolitan Transport Commission for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, helping to lay the foundation for the committee’s organization.

The new president’s term of office will be for the four years of February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2026.

<Academic procession to the inauguration ceremony>

<Address by Daewoo Educational Foundation Chairman of the Board Choo Ho-suk >

<Ajou University’s New President Choi Kee-choo revealing his plans and ambitions through his inauguration address>

< Congratulatory Addresses: (From top left) National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Member Park Kwang-on, Suwon City Mayor Yeom Tae-young, National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Members Lee Hun-seung and Cho Eung-cheon >

< Congratulatory Addresses: (Top photo) Ajou University Alumni Association President Choi Joong-won[KHTC1] (Bottom left) Kyungpook National University President Hong Won-hwa and Metropolitan Transport Commission Chairman Baek Seung-geun >