News

On June 6th, Asahi Press of Japan published an online report of its interview with Dongseo University President Jekuk Chang, which was conducted by Senior Fellow of the Japanese International Center and former Chief Editor of Asahi Press Wakayama Yoshibumi (若宮啓文).
The article was titled, ‘Talking with Korea - A Society to Be Led by a New Generation; the Bright Future of the Korea-Japan Relationship.’
Senior Fellow Wakayama asked President Chang about the future of the relationship between Korea and Japan and about various programs at DSU such as its Sakhalin Human Resources Development Program, Study Abroad Programs (SAP), collaborations with other Asian universities, and Dongseo Asia Initiatives Program (DAIP). He was also interested to know about President Chang’s experiences studying abroad in Japan and in the U.S.
Excerpts from President Chang’s answers appear below.
“Over five million Koreans now live abroad, and overseas study is continuously expanding. Indeed, many international students at U.S. Ivy League schools are Korean. Our country has overcome adversity to become the world’s 15th largest economy with rising diplomatic and political importance.”
“DSU is doing its best to give young people hope and help them fulfill their dreams. We have established a branch campus in the United States to which we send 100 students annually, providing them with support for roundtrip airfare, tuition and dormitory fees. About 500 students apply, and DSU’s Reset Option allows deserving students with low grades to also benefit through the opportunity.”
“We often invite Korean celebrities who have succeeded in the U.S. to share their life experiences with our overseas students. We believe grades are not the most important aspect in studying abroad, and we strive to help our students make the most of their time away and gain important abilities. DSU is unique in providing this type of education.”
“DSU actively cooperates with many of its Asian partner universities to increase the opportunities available to our academic community. We create chances to learn about other cultures and form international friendships.”
“Through DAIP, teams of ten students travel together with a supervising professor to conduct independent research projects in Asia. So far we have sent teams to the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. The experience has been really positive and beneficial for everyone involved. The teams learn about different cultures while conducting field studies in their major. They also visit successful Korean companies in these countries and are often inspired to set their own dreams high.”
“Every year, we hold the Korea-Japan Next Generation Academic Forum, which gives graduate students opportunities to present their research and engage in discussions. The forum celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. About 3,000 graduate students have already participated. Universities from the two countries take turns in hosting the forum, but it is centrally organized through DSU. This year, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University will host the forum in July.”
“DSU has operated the Sakhalin Human Resources Development Program since 2004. Five students from Sakhalin are supported throughout their four-year education, including tuition fees, dormitory fees, and living expenses. A ten-year anniversary celebration for the program was held last year in Sakhalin, and a school reunion organization was also arranged. The students who graduated through the program are working in diverse fields such as at oil companies, Asiana Airlines, and Korean TV stations. When APEC was held in Busan in 2005, Taro Aso, who was the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited DSU and I spoke to him about the Sakhalin Human Resources Development Program. Since 2006, he has given DSU monetary support for this program every year. He has also arranged for students to have opportunities to study at Hokkaido University and Kyushu University. DSU currently has more Russian students than any other university in Korea.”
Senior Fellow of the Japanese International Center and former Chief Editor of Asahi Press Wakayama Yoshibumi said the following regarding his interview with President Chang.
“President Chang is a Korean representative who understands Japan well. He often attends forums between Korea and Japan. During this interview, I was surprised by all of his creative ideas about managing a university.”
“Dr. Chang has exceptional drive but maintains a very humble demeanor. His strong motivation seems to stem in part from a sense of competition with the universities in Seoul. He wants his students to be proud of their university and strives to increase their opportunities by forming win-win partnerships with other Asian universities.”
“DSU has built a large facility for its Centum Campus which is also home to the Im Kwon Taek (a Korean master film director) Museum and the Sohyang Art Hall, a huge state-of-the-art musical theater. These represent not only great university management but also excellent cultural enterprises.”
“President Chang has often been in the public eye of late. He received strong appeals to run for mayor of Busan as a reformist representative. However, after much personal reflection, he has decided to remain fully committed to managing universities affairs. I’m not sure what the future will hold for President Chang. He truly belongs to the Korean New Wave.”