Pusan National University President Choi Jaewon Elected as Next President of the National Council of Presidents of National and Public Universities

One-Year Term Begins in January Next Year
"We Will Fulfill Our Responsibility for Balanced National Development and Nurturing Future Talent"

Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University, has been elected as the next president of the National Council of Presidents of National and Public Universities, and will officially begin his term in January 2026.

Pusan National University announced that President Choi was elected as the next president at the '4th National Council of Presidents of National and Public Universities of 2025,' which was held at Seoul National University of Science and Technology on December 4, 2025. His term will last for one year, from January to December 2026.

The National Council of Presidents of National and Public Universities is a consultative body composed of the presidents of 40 national and public universities across the country, including Pusan National University. It operates to propose policies for the advancement of higher education, discuss major issues, and strengthen cooperation among universities. The council has been pursuing information sharing and joint projects among member universities, seeking policy directions to improve the quality of education and research and to respond to the rapidly changing higher education environment.

Upon being elected as the new president, Choi Jaewon stated, "With the rapid transition to the era of artificial intelligence, the educational and research environments of universities worldwide are changing quickly, and the direction of higher education policy is also being restructured following the launch of the new government." He emphasized, "During this period of transition, national and public universities have an even greater responsibility to fulfill their roles in promoting balanced national development and nurturing future talent."

He added, "As the president of the council, I will closely communicate with member universities and actively promote mutually beneficial cooperation to improve higher education policies and enhance university competitiveness. In particular, I will focus on elevating the status of regional universities, fostering coexistence with local communities, and contributing to solving national challenges."

President Choi also remarked, "National and public universities are key institutions that nurture future talent, drive national innovation through research, and support the regional education and industrial ecosystems. With the pride that the public nature and competitiveness of national and public universities are the driving force for Korea's future, I will do my utmost to ensure that the council becomes a solid platform for coexistence and innovation."