Daejin University Holds Opening Ceremony... Announces Renewal Through Educational Innovation and Establishment of Medical School

Promoting Educational Innovation and Establishment of Medical School
Declaration of Structural Reform and Advancement through K-Defense and RE100 Initiatives

Daejin University (President Jang Seokhwan) held the 2026 Opening Ceremony and New Year's Greeting Ceremony on January 5 at the International Conference Hall of the Central Library. During the event, the university announced the President's New Year's Address, the "Top 10 Daejin University News Stories of 2025," and the "Key Initiatives for 2026."

Daejin University (President Jang Seokhwan) held the 2026 opening ceremony and New Year's greeting ceremony on the 5th at the International Conference Hall of the Central Library. Photo by Daejin University

The opening ceremony included the presentation of awards to contributors to university development and external commendations, the awarding of certificates for major curriculum accreditation, the New Year's Address, and a rice cake cutting ceremony. It served as an opportunity for faculty, staff, and teaching assistants to reaffirm their commitments for the new year.

In his New Year's Address, President Jang Seokhwan emphasized, "With the arrival of the Year of the Red Horse, we will fundamentally transform Daejin University's structure and make this a year of great progress."

He went on to address the challenges facing higher education, such as the declining school-age population, financial pressures, and university restructuring. He stated, "The way to turn crisis into opportunity ultimately lies in educational innovation, research competitiveness, and mutual growth with the local community." The president specifically outlined three key directions for the new year: innovation of the curriculum centered on student success; strengthening financial and brand competitiveness through expanded research and industry-academia cooperation; and realizing public value by contributing to the local, national, and international communities. He urged, "Let us all move forward as one team to become a small but strong university, a university of choice."

The "Top 10 Daejin University News Stories of 2025," announced during the ceremony, included major achievements such as: selection for the K-MOVE School program for four consecutive years; opening of the Happiness Dormitory; designation as a leading project for Gyeonggi RE100; selection for the University Support Project for High School Education Contribution for 13 consecutive years; attraction of the RISE project and Defense Venture Center; attainment of S-grade in educational innovation; improvement of the faculty personnel system; promotion of administrative efficiency consulting; and laying the foundation for the establishment of the Graduate School of Medical Science. These accomplishments collectively demonstrated that Daejin University has pursued structural improvements across all areas, including education, research, administration, and infrastructure, over the past year.

The president presented the following key initiatives for 2026: promotion of the establishment of a College of Public Health and Medicine (Medical School); revitalization of faculty research and expansion of R&D projects; diversification of international student nationalities and introduction of the electronic visa (E-visa) system; preparation for the restructuring of the academic system for the 2027 academic year; establishment of a continuous management system for dropout rates; reorganization of the university brand through the development of an integrated UI and emblem; and cultivation of talent specialized in national defense and advanced industries. In particular, he expressed a clear determination to realize a "small but strong university" by simultaneously promoting industry-academia-research cooperation in defense, drones, and advanced security fields in connection with the Northern Gyeonggi K-Defense Cluster, building an eco-friendly campus through RE100 initiatives, and enhancing the efficiency of academic, administrative, and financial operations.

The opening ceremony concluded with all members exchanging New Year's greetings and taking commemorative photos. Daejin University plans to designate 2026 as the "first year of structural innovation and advancement" and to further develop the university's mid- to long-term development plan in concrete terms.