Park Minwon, President of National Changwon University, "Will Achieve a Sustainable University"

Commitment to Selecting Glocal Universities and Attracting Talent

"As the first president from Changwon National University, I will dedicate myself to the school for the next four years with the spirit of Wi-gyo-heon-sin-chong-jang-bon-bun (衛校獻身總長本分)."

On the 30th, Park Min-won, the 9th president of Changwon National University, said this at the inauguration ceremony held at CWNU Gaon Hall.

This expression is an analogy to the phrase Wi-guk-heon-sin-gun-in-bon-bun (爲國獻身軍人本分), written by independence activist Ahn Jung-geun while imprisoned in the Lushun Prison, meaning "It is the duty of a soldier to devote his body for the country."

Park Min-won, the 9th president of Changwon National University, is delivering his inaugural address.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

President Park said, "I was a student of Changwon National University, class of '88, who loved CNWU very much, and since 2004, I have been a professor, and in 2024, I became the 9th president."

He added, "I will return to the fundamentals of the university and create an environment where professors can research freely and creatively. Through this, I will realize high-quality education and instill a social perception that hiring students from Changwon National University will never be regretted."

"I will also ensure that staff recognize themselves as core members and cooperate with a spirit of mutual consideration and respect," he said.

He continued, "For another 50 years of the Changwon National Industrial Complex, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, I will make Changwon National University take the lead in supplying talent and research and development. We will create the focal point through the selection of the Glocal University project," he emphasized.

A dance department performance celebrating the inauguration of Park Min-won as the 9th president of Changwon National University is taking place at CWNU Gaon Hall.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

President Park graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Changwon National University and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Osaka University in Japan. After working at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), he has served as a professor in the Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Control Engineering at Changwon National University since 2004.

He was appointed as the 9th president of Changwon National University on February 26 and began his four-year term. He is the first president from his alma mater since the university's founding in 1969.

He set goals such as "a global university, an excellent university in educational capacity, a university leading the local community, and autonomous and communicative university administration," and from the moment of his inauguration, he has directly announced the university's development direction, focusing on communication with the local community and the selection for the Glocal University project.

He has set a goal to create a grand integration belt of higher education in Gyeongnam through the merger with Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College and Namhae College, and alliances with Korea Elevator University, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, and Korea Institute of Materials Science. As a result, on the 16th of this month, Changwon National University was selected as a preliminary designated university for the 2024 Glocal University project.

Additionally, the academic affairs meeting approved the adjustment of student quotas and the reorganization plan of colleges for the 2025 academic year. Plans include establishing the Department of Aerospace Engineering, the Glocal Advanced Science and Technology College (Departments of Science Convergence and Engineering Convergence), and the Sarim Honors College (an all-major autonomous college).

About 600 people attended President Park's inauguration ceremony, including former presidents, faculty and staff, the alumni association, current students, education officials, local government heads, members of the National Assembly, provincial and city council members, business circles, media, civil society organizations, representatives and officials of related institutions, university supporters, and local residents.

Park Min-won, the 9th president of Changwon National University, is taking a commemorative photo with his spouse.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

President Park said, "When we play a role in preventing the outflow of local talent and attracting excellent external talent to the region, Changwon National University will establish itself as a sustainable university. We will start preparing for that now, so please watch over us."

He also said, "I believe that a leader must move their arms and legs tirelessly as if swimming. Above all, I will uphold the belief that lowering the head makes the body move forward faster until the end."