[Interview] Yoon Jae-woong, President of Dongguk University: "Convergent Talents Are Competitive... We Will Build the Basic Foundation"

Promotion of STEM-Focused Development Project
Invitation of Top 1% Professors and Investment in Startup Companies
Secret to Highest University Ranking Ever
Enhancement of Research Competitiveness and Performance Reward System

Two Days Weekly of Open Discussions with Members
Great Help in Resolving Campus Difficulties
Support from Jogye Order and Alumni
12.5 Billion Won in Donations Collected Last Year

A university that embraces the most beautiful ‘May campus.’ Every year, as Buddha’s Birthday approaches, countless lanterns light up the Dongguk University campus. Students, alumni, Buddhists, ordinary citizens, and even foreign tourists who visit Dongguk University at night reflect on the reasons and meanings of life under the lanterns.

A time to share the meaning of empathy, solidarity, and companionship. Those who embrace positive energy become companions in fate, continuing their life journeys together. That is why May at Dongguk University is special. It is a period when the founding philosophy, which aims to realize an ideal world full of wisdom and compassion based on Buddhist spirit, naturally permeates the public.

Yoon Jae-woong, President of Dongguk University, is being interviewed by Asia Economy in front of lanterns at Dongguk University's Seoul campus.
[Photo by Jo Yong-jun]

On the 21st, under the fresh May sunshine on campus, we met Dongguk University President Yoon Jae-woong to talk about life, philosophy, and the university’s future. Dongguk University takes pride in being one of the three prestigious private universities with a 100-year history. President Yoon is turning the glorious history into today’s achievements, not just memories of the past, based on a blueprint of change, innovation, and leap forward.

Broad humanistic imagination has given birth to a blueprint of ‘non-destructive innovation,’ a form of coexistence. It is a process of creating new value through the convergence of humanities and science and engineering. This was possible thanks to President Yoon’s leadership of communication and listening. He holds early morning sessions to listen to various members of the campus community. These meetings focus more on practicality than authority or formality. Instead of the president’s office, he meets in professors’ research rooms to share good ideas and brainstorm solutions to difficulties.

With President Yoon at the center, the driving force for Dongguk University’s development has been created, leading to a continuous stream of donations and support from the Jogye Order, temples nationwide, Buddhists, and alumni. The anticipation for tomorrow has already borne fruit. Last year, Dongguk University ranked 8th, its highest ever, in the university evaluation conducted by JoongAng Ilbo. In an interview with Asia Economy, President Yoon, who has fulfilled his promises within a year of taking office, pledged to make people proud whenever they hear the name Dongguk.

Below is a Q&A with President Yoon.

Yoon Jae-woong, President of Dongguk University, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at Dongguk University Seoul Campus.
[Photo by Jo Yong-jun]

- In your inaugural speech, you emphasized the ‘convergent talent model.’ What policies are you promoting in this regard?

▲ Recently, it has become an era where one must have capabilities in multiple fields to become an expert. A student majoring in computer science who also has a humanistic background gains much stronger competitiveness. Dongguk University has prepared a path to allow students to major in multiple disciplines in line with this trend. Starting in 2025, we will establish an Open Major Department and select 15% of the total admissions as students without a declared major.

Students admitted this way will be required to choose at least two majors under the ‘mandatory multi-major’ policy. Additionally, to nurture convergent AI talents, we established the AI Convergence Department in 2022 and expanded it to the AI Software Convergence Department last year. This department offers education not only in specialized knowledge such as computer engineering and data science but also explores solutions to various social problems based on the convergence of engineering and humanities and social sciences.

- You have expressed plans to focus investment on science and engineering fields such as advanced science and bio-health. Could you elaborate?

▲ In February, we announced the ‘Science and Engineering Focused Development Project’ to secure the university’s future competitiveness. This project focuses on nurturing outstanding talents in science and engineering and building advanced education and research infrastructure and R&D clusters. Especially, to enhance competitiveness in science and engineering, recruiting and nurturing excellent professors is crucial. Inviting top 1% researchers, such as HCRs (Highly Cited Researchers), or finding and fostering talents with potential within the university is a key strategy.

One of the main tasks of the science and engineering development project is to nurture or invite at least three top 1% researchers. We also established an investment fund of about 3 billion KRW to promote the long-term growth of companies founded by science and engineering faculty members. The profits recovered from investments will be reinvested in research to create a virtuous cycle for the development of science and engineering.

Another major task is to build an AI Industry-Academia Cooperation Center to activate convergence research in advanced fields beyond departmental boundaries. Traditionally, Dongguk University has been strong in humanities, so investment in science and engineering based on the College of Engineering has been relatively delayed compared to other universities. If the president does not take the lead in fostering science and engineering, there will be hesitation. Without strengthening competitiveness in advanced science fields, there is no way to catch up with leading universities. Although it will be difficult to complete the AI Industry-Academia Cooperation Center building during my term, I intend to lead the groundbreaking.

Yoon Jae-woong, President of Dongguk University, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at Dongguk University Seoul Campus. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

- Recently, donations from the Buddhist community and alumni have been increasing. Could you comment on this?

▲ Dongguk University’s legitimacy is rooted in Buddhism. The university adopts Buddhist teachings as its ideology, and this value has been well maintained as the university has grown. Therefore, not only monks but also Buddhists have a favorable interest in Dongguk University. This interest has gradually heated up, resulting in 12.5 billion KRW in donations last year. This scale corresponds roughly to the top 10 domestic universities in rankings.

Recently, the Buddhist community, the university, and alumni have formed a triangular axis, creating a harmony atmosphere more united than ever. Riding this momentum, if we create a good opportunity, I believe it will have a positive effect on the university’s development. We are preparing a fundraising night event on the 21st of next month. Alumni will participate, and internal members are expected to roll up their sleeves and unite for Dongguk University’s development.

- Dongguk University ranked 8th in last year’s JoongAng Ilbo university evaluation. What do you think is the secret to this achievement?

▲ Overall, Dongguk University’s research competitiveness has improved. Since about 10 years ago, professors have devoted themselves to performance and education, and we established a performance reward system that supports this, which has now taken root. The evaluation of hardworking professors is cumulative, so the more top-tier ratings they receive, the wider the gap grows between them and professors with average research results. This has created a competitive research atmosphere. Also, inviting professors with outstanding research competitiveness has fostered a school environment focused on research.

When we first entered the top 10 university rankings after the COVID-19 pandemic ended, I thought it was luck. But seeing us rank 8th the following year, I realized this result was not just luck but the accumulation of our capabilities leading to achievements. We gained confidence as a top 10 domestic university, and this pride spread to the alumni community and the Buddhist community, resulting in a good reputation. This pride also led to strong support from the Buddhist community, increasing the number of students receiving Buddhist scholarships by two to three times.

Yoon Jae-woong, President of Dongguk University, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at Dongguk University Seoul Campus.
[Photo by Jo Yong-jun]

- You have emphasized communication with members and a culture of free expression. Could you elaborate?

▲ After taking office, I ran a program called ‘Pilgrimage Morning’ every Tuesday and Thursday for one semester. I invited anyone who wanted to talk with the president to come to my office at 7 a.m. Many campus stakeholders, including students, the faculty council representative, and professors, visited. I was able to hear about unresolved issues and various difficulties on campus. Listening to these stories, I felt that many complaints could be easily resolved by changing attitudes a little. When the president personally listens to members and pays attention to overlooked areas, at least the blocking of communication channels and resulting problems are greatly reduced.

- Declining school-age population is a common concern for universities. What are your views on government policies and related matters?

▲ As a public institution, a university must coexist with its region. If a university collapses, commercial districts collapse, and people start leaving, leading to regional hollowing out. While some restructuring and consolidation of universities are necessary, I believe it is important to avoid eliminating universities simply because they lack competitiveness. Systems should be created for universities to grow in their regions. Universities also need to prepare countermeasures for the declining school-age population by attracting foreign students or opening their doors to seniors preparing for a second life.

- You have been in office for 1 year and 2 months. What are your reflections so far, and what policies do you wish to pursue going forward?

▲ I want to strengthen Dongguk University’s soft power so that people feel proud when they hear the name Dongguk. To strengthen soft power, we need to create good news related to Dongguk University. There are also various mid- to long-term tasks to solve for our university to become a world-class prestigious university. To solve these tasks, we need people who lay a solid foundation, even if they do not show immediate outstanding results. In that sense, I want to be remembered as someone who plowed the field and sowed the seeds. I plan to nurture the foundational soil well so that the fruits can be harvested successfully later.

Interview by Ryu Jeong-min, Head of Social Affairs

Compiled by Reporter Lee Ji-eun