Greetings to all members of the university community, I am Ki-Jeong Lee, the President of Hanyang University, and I have been appointed as the 30th Chairman of Korean Council for University Education(KCUE).

It is both an honor and a solemn responsibility to assume the role of the 30th President of the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE). As President of Hanyang University, I accept this responsibility with a deep sense of commitment and accountability.

Since its establishment in 1982, KCUE has played a pivotal role in advancing the autonomy and competitiveness of Korea's higher education. Building upon the legacy of dedication and solidarity established by my distinguished predecessors and the presidents of our 197 member universities, I am committed to addressing responsibly and strategically to the structural challenges confronting higher education.

Today, our universities are standing at the forefront of unprecedented transformation: a declining student demographics, structural funding constraints, regional talent outflow, and the sweeping transformation driven by artificial intelligence. These challenges extend far beyond individual institutions. They mark a critical turning point that calls for a comprehensive reform across Korea's higher education system. In this moment of change, the KCUE must take on a more proactive and strategic role.

Accordingly, I will focus our strategic efforts on the following six key priorities.

First, we will work to establish a sustainable financial foundation for higher education. We will broaden social consensus that higher education funding should be recognized not as a cost, but as a strategic investment in national competitiveness, while coordinating closely with the government and the National Assembly to pursue balanced and sustainable solutions to the issue of tuition.

Second, we will strengthen policy implementation and data-driven partnerships. By building an integrated collaboration framework among central government, local governments, and universities as a responsible policy partner, we will faithfully ensure that the voices from the field are translated into meaningful policy grounded in evidence and data.

Third, we will advance a balanced framework for institutional autonomy and social accountability. This includes reforming overly standardized regulations that hinder innovation, while reinforcing public trust through transparent reporting of institutional performance and rigorous quality assurance.

Fourth, we will drive innovation in education and research to lead in the era of artificial intelligence. By expanding shared infrastructure and collaborative models among universities, and by establishing responsible use of AI, we will guide the digital transformation of higher education.

Fifth, we will foster a collaborative and inclusive higher education ecosystem. We will expand joint curricula and credit exchange beyond the boundaries between metropolitan and regional institutions, as well as public and private universities, and activate industry–university collaboration consortia built on cooperation and integration.

Sixth, we will transform the paradigm of internationalization. Moving beyond a recruitment-centered approach, we will build systems that support the successful integration and long-term success of international students, while strengthening joint-degree programs and substantive global partnership networks with partner universities abroad.

As a faithful bridge of communication, I will listen attentively even to the smallest voices among our member university presidents and ensure that perspectives from the field are reflected in tangible policy progress.

Beyond differences in size, institutional type, and region, I will work to further strengthen the institutional and policy foundations that enable all universities to achieve sustainable growth. The KCUE will stand as a steadfast partner to all member institutions as we shape a resilient and innovative future for Korean higher education.

Thank you.