Professor Kang Jeong-seok Appointed as the First 'Professor Secretariat Director' at Jeonbuk National University

"Excellent Communication Skills, Qualified for Task Execution with Expertise and Diligence"

Former Corporate Employee Now Psychology Professor... Continues as Head of Public Relations Office

Professor Jeongseok Kang (Department of Psychology) has been appointed as the first 'Professor Secretary-General' at Jeonbuk National University.

According to Jeonbuk National University on the 5th, Professor Kang went through the candidate selection process for the Secretary-General position within the university and passed the final personnel verification by the Ministry of Education and other authorities, receiving his official appointment that afternoon.

New Director Kang Jeong-seok of Jeonbuk National University Office. [Photo by Jeonbuk National University]

This is the first time in the 77-year history of Jeonbuk National University that a professor has been appointed as Secretary-General. The term of the new Secretary-General Kang is two years starting from the 5th, with the possibility of renewal.

Secretary-General Kang graduated from Korea University with a degree in Psychology, earned his master's degree from the same university, and obtained his doctorate from the University of Connecticut in the United States. He has worked at foreign advertising agency DDB Korea and companies such as SK Telecom.

He has been a professor in the Department of Psychology at Jeonbuk National University since 2015. After serving as the Vice Dean of the College of Social Sciences, he has been the Director of Public Relations since last year, working to enhance the university's image and competitiveness. He currently serves as the President of the Korean Society of Consumer Advertising Psychology and Vice President of the Korean Consumer Society.

A representative from Jeonbuk National University stated, "The new Secretary-General Kang is evaluated as the best candidate to realize President Yang Obong's vision for university development, combining excellent communication skills with expertise and sincerity," adding, "He will continue to serve as the Director of Public Relations until a successor is appointed."

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General at a university oversees general staff such as administrative officials, and is responsible for personnel, payroll, internal audits, accounting, security, facility management, and safety and health management. At regional national universities, this position has typically been held by general administrative officials belonging to the senior civil service group.

Last year, the Ministry of Education strengthened university autonomy by fully opening the Secretary-General position to allow university presidents at national universities to exercise practical authority in appointing the Secretary-General. Laws such as the 'National School Establishment Decree' were revised to enable the appointment of professors or private experts desired by the national university presidents.