"Entering the World’s Top 100 Universities by our Centennial:
Why Professor Emeritus Young June Park Dreams of Global Excellence at Kwangwoon"
Founded in 1934, Kwangwoon University is fast approaching its 100th anniversary. With only eight years remaining until this historic milestone, Professor Emeritus Young June Park speaks with quiet but firm conviction: “If every member of our community unites and we build a robust global network, entering the world’s top 100 universities is an achievable reality.”
His career—spanning the private sector, the National Assembly, the Blue House, and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy—is more than just a list of titles. It is a strategic blueprint that is now converging with Kwangwoon’s global future.
Corporate Spirit: More Than Just a Title
A graduate of Korea University’s Department of Law, Professor Park’s first career choice was neither the court nor a law firm. He chose Daewoo Group.
He spent his first six years working alongside Bae Soon-hoon, the former Minister of Information and Communication (and then President of Daewoo Motor Parts), an MIT doctorate in mechanical engineering. From Bae—famous for Daewoo Electronics’ "Tank-ism"—Park learned that "true innovation comes from products faithful to the basics, even in high-tech industries." Later, he served as a manager in the Chairman’s Office under the legendary Kim Woo-jung, handling the practical domestic operations of Daewoo’s "Global Management" for three years.
"Daewoo’s motto was Creativity, Challenge, and Sacrifice. The word 'sacrifice' might seem out of place for a corporate motto. However, just as our predecessors rebuilt a nation from the ruins of the Japanese occupation and the Korean War through sacrifice, the core of the Daewoo spirit was that if our generation sacrificed once more, Korea would become a global powerhouse."
His nine years at Daewoo instilled in him more than just administrative skills. It planted a spirit of challenge that refuses to yield under any circumstances and a culture of bold delegation, where the manager in charge holds the ultimate authority. These two pillars have supported every choice in his career.
11 Years in the Legislature: Cultivating Political Insight
In 1994, a major turning point arrived. At the recommendation of Chairman Kim Woo-jung, Park joined the staff of then-National Assemblyman Lee Sang-deuk.
"Representative Lee was a former CEO of Kolon, a major international trading company. His corporate background made him feel like a kindred spirit, so I took the leap and changed the course of my life."
Eleven years in the National Assembly provided him with something most businesspeople lack: "Policy Instinct." This expertise led him to play a pivotal role in the 17th presidential campaign. Following the election, he served as the head of the general planning team for the President-elect's office before being called to the Blue House.
"On my final night preparing to run for office in Daegu, the President-elect called me and said, 'Give up your candidacy and help me at the Blue House.' I couldn't ignore the request of the nation's leader. While there were seasons of both glory and challenge, I have no regrets. I believe that when you do your best in your given environment, new paths will inevitably open."
As the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Park focused all his energy on securing energy and resources. To address Korea’s structural vulnerability—depending on imports for over 95% of its energy—he visited over 40 countries. During his tenure, he successfully raised the self-sufficiency rate for major resources from 4% to 14%.
Known by the nickname "The King Vice Minister" for his formidable driving force, he recalls those days with pride: "In those years, the work itself was my greatest joy."
Pragmatism is Global: Why I Chose Kwangwoon
After completing his public service, Professor Park arrived at one singular conviction: "Korea’s leap to where it is today was driven by talent cultivated through education. The next stage of our growth must also begin with people." This belief led him back to the academic field.
His connection with Kwangwoon began when he met Chairperson Sun-young Cho through a journalist’s introduction. "As we spoke, I realized our visions were perfectly aligned." He was captivated by Chairperson Cho’s sharp critique of how Korean universities were being too passive on the global stage, and her firm resolve to move forward globally with a focus on practicality.
"I am an alumnus of a so-called ‘SKY’ university, but I do not believe in resting on the laurels of prestige.
If we remain stagnant in our vested interests while the world changes rapidly, there is no future. Kwangwoon moves forward by responding agilely to change. Such a university can truly compete on the global stage."
His mission at Kwangwoon is clear : to bridge the domestic and international networks necessary for the university’s global leap. This is why he spends more time in the field than in the classroom. He has personally opened collaborative channels with world-class institutions, including Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore—a global leader in engineering—and Kingston University in London, renowned for its design reputation. In Vietnam, he has connected Kwangwoon with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT).
The Collaboration Map: Semiconductors, Robotics, and Defense
A particularly notable initiative is the partnership with Changwon National University. This model—combining a Seoul-based university strong in electronics and semiconductors with a regional university that serves as the heart of Korea’s defense and nuclear power machinery industries—has been praised by the Ministry of Education as an "unprecedented new model of cooperation."
As both institutions have been designated as robotics-specialized universities this year, the synergy is expected to be immense.
“In early April, I visited Changwon alongside Kwangwoon’s senior leadership, including Chairperson Sun-young Cho and President Do-young Yoon, to discuss a concrete roadmap for our collaboration.”
Another critical collaboration is underway in defense semiconductors. In a reality where 95% of defense semiconductors are imported, Professor Park helped connect Kwangwoon to a government-led consortium. "The core of semiconductor design is concentrated in Seoul. If Kwangwoon takes on that role and collaborates with regional hubs for post-processing, it creates a perfect system of division of labor."
Unity Over Technology: The Power of One
Professor Park identifies the first condition for entering the world’s top 100 universities not as technology or capital, but as "Unity." If a force of one is split into two, it doesn't just become half; it diminishes to less than a quarter.
"This is a truth he learned through decades in business, politics, and administration. In large organizations, the cost of division cannot be measured arithmetically.
This belief fuels his optimism for Kwangwoon. With 22 semiconductor professors, an impressive volume of SCI-level papers, and a century-long tradition in science and engineering, Kwangwoon already possesses sufficient potential. The key is to gather these existing strengths in a single direction.
Be a Problem Finder, Not Just a Problem Solver
His dream for a top 100 university is not just a numerical goal; it is rooted in a deep trust in humanity. Whether in the era of AI or any other technological revolution, the subject that adapts and utilizes change has always been the human being."Accumulate diverse experiences—whether through direct action or indirectly through reading, travel, and academic events. As these experiences pile up, your own path will become clear. Even Einstein conceived E=mc2 while walking along Lake Geneva. Leisure and reflection are the soil for creativity. Don't just be someone who solves problems with technology; be someone who identifies problems and solves them through technology."
The protagonist of this "multi-faceted life"—who has navigated the corporate world, the legislature, the executive branch, and now education—is redrawing the global map of Kwangwoon University today.
"People say it's impossible to cross between the private and public sectors so freely. But we live in an era of convergence. I feel intensely that every experience I’ve gained—in the private sector, public office, and the international arena—is now being put to its greatest use here at Kwangwoon."
All the chapters of his extraordinary life are finally converging toward one point : Kwangwoon.
