[단독] Kwang-Hyung Lee, new president of KAIST, Ilsung, “Post AI”

Input 2021.02.18 15:36 | Revision 2021.02.18 16:23

Lee Kwang-hyung, the 17th president of the Korean Academy of Sciences (KAIST), expressed his ambition to focus on securing post-artificial intelligence (AI) technology within his term of office. The intention is to focus on the world where AI has become a commonplace and strive to develop technology that is one step ahead.

KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said in an exclusive interview with IT Chosun on the 18th that he will focus on’post AI’ within a four-year term. Post-AI refers to advanced technologies required in the era of daily life of AI beyond the AI ​​technology currently being researched.

President Lee said, “To become the world’s first class, we must not just follow the AI ​​technology we are studying. We need to prepare for the next.” You have to develop it ahead of time.”

In the past, President Lee focused on creative studies and new growth fields at KAIST. In 2001, he founded the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, insisting on the convergence of bio and information and communication technology (ICT), and in 2013 established the Moonsul Future Strategy Graduate School, the first research institute for future studies in Korea. After taking office as the president, it is expected to focus on preparing a new technological engine centered on post AI.

President Lee said, “KAIST’s goal is to enter the world’s top 10 universities. KAIST wants to cultivate talented people who ask questions. Because we start everything from questions, we will focus on fostering questionable talent.”

President Lee obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering from Seoul National University and KAIST. He also received his master’s and doctorate degrees in computer science from Lyung, the French Institute of Applied Science (INSA). After being appointed as a professor of computer science at KAIST in 1985, he served as an invited chair professor in the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering and the Graduate School of Future Strategy in Literature Future Industry in February. He is also a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the Korean Academy of Engineering.

President Lee produced first-generation venture entrepreneurs such as Kim Jeong-ju (Nexon), Kim Young-dal (IDIS), Shin Seung-woo (Neowiz), and Kim Jun-hwan (Olaworks) as a professor of computer science in the 1990s. In addition to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, he has held major positions in and outside the school, including the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of International Cooperation, Dean of the Institute of Science Gifted Research, and co-chair of the Vision 2031 Committee.

In addition, visiting professor at Stanford Research Institute and University of Tokyo, Japan, President of Fuzzy Intelligence System Society, President of Korea Bioinformatics Society, President of Future Society, Chairman of Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of State Company Ministry of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Association of the American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Korea’s National Future Strategy Highest Course He also worked as a lead professor.

Lee is confirmed with the consent of the Minister of Education and the approval of the Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning. The term of office is four years from the 23rd.

Meanwhile, the KAIST board of directors held the 271 temporary board of directors at the Sky Lounge on the 5th floor of the Academic and Cultural Center in Daejeon this morning and appointed Professor Kwang-Hyung Lee as the 17th president. While some considered the appointment of Kim Jeong-ho, director of the KAIST Global Strategy Research Institute (Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), President Lee was finally elected with little political involvement and strength in horizontal leadership.

An official at KAIST said, “The former President Sung-cheol Shin was investigated for embezzlement of research funds in the course of international cooperation with the University of Berkeley. Although he was found free of charge last year, it seems that he felt this as a burden on campus. Shin is related to the former government. It seems that there was a political burden,” he said. “There was a talk that Professor Kim Jeong-ho was influential in the early days, but there was a political color, such as participating in the current government’s 1st advisory committee, and the fact that there was a technology leak problem in the university as the head of the research may have acted as a burden. “I have.”

If Professor Kim showed centralized leadership on campus, Lee would interpret that leadership difference would have influenced the appointment of the president as he pursued creative and autonomous research.

Reporter Kim Pyeong-hwa [email protected]

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