Korea University (KU) President Yeom Jae Ho has arranged an event for students who wished to openly have a talk with president Yeom on November 1. Four student representatives, the president of the KU Student Association (KUSA), the president of the Graduate School Student Union, the president of the Korea University Sejong Campus Student Union and Karolayn Sabogal Were first given the position to openly ask questions to president Yeom on behalf of the students they were representing. President Yeom gave the visitors a chance to ask question afterwards.

The talk started off with president Yeom expressing his ideology behind his actions and the decisions he make. He stated that he “continuously contemplated how he will be able to foster a future generation capable of thriving in a globalized society.” He also stated that he is open to any student’s opinion and is willing to reflect his or her opinion in his future policy-making decision.

The president of the Graduate School Student Union was the first panel representative to start off. He called for additional opportunities for students to directly be a part in policy-making decisions and requested President Yeom to provide students with adequate information whenever a new policy is introduced. He also addressed the lack of proper student lounges and teaching assistant issues. He claimed that teaching assistants are not paid sufficiently despite the large amount of workload they receive.

President Yeom replied that the extent to which students can directly participate in policy-making is limited but is trying his best to reflect their opinions. He also evinced how the budget in KU is distributed to make sure that no money is being wasted elsewhere and the amount of money students receive as scholarship is currently most efficient now. President Yeom, however, did promise that he will promptly have all information available to students whenever there is a change in policy and work on improving the lounge facilities located on campus.

The president of KUSA first mentioned the recent school regulation revision which frustrated many KU students and requested President Yeom to arrange more occasions where students and school officials will be able to communicate with each other more efficiently. He also commented that, although the abolition of grade-scholarships may be well-intended, it may have drawbacks and therefore requested President Yeom to come up with a solution to troubleshoot those flaws.

President Yeom claimed that it is very rare that a policy-change will benefit everyone; if someone benefits from the new policy, then someone will have to pay the cost, although he did say that he will do his best to reduce the flaws as much as possible. He also promised that he will reflect any ideas suggested students if they are considered to be effective.

The president of the KU Sejong Campus Student Union claimed that the Sejong Campus lacked any organization that aided the sexually abused. President Yeom commented that he considered sexual harassment issues to be “excruciating and embarrassing,” and promised that a Gender Equality Center will be promptly set up.

Sabogal mainly discussed about English lectures that were not taught in English and the lack of organizations in which foreign students can seek help from. President Yeom replied that he is currently working on making the school more adaptable for foreign students and claimed that most issues will vanish as foreign students start attending the university.

Students from the audience were also given chances to openly raise questions to President Yeom. The president of academic affairs took over the position to explain the recently controversial school-law revision. In his final comments, President Yeom said that “there is always a space for improvement in KU and he is continuously working on it,” and that “he is always open to student’s opinions regarding anything.”

 

   
▲ President Yeom. Photographed by Lee Soyoung.
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