SNU nominated Jim Yong KIM, president of Dartmouth College and a candidate of the next World Bank president following his nomination by U.S. President Barack Obama in March, to participate in the SNU Autonomization Establishment Planning Committee. The SNU Autonomization Establishment Planning Committee was established in March of last year to finalize the autonomization process of SNU (consequent of which SNU will now be able to operate independent of national legalization). Comprised of eight members from outside of the SNU community and seven from within the university, the committee judged Mr. Kim able to advise SNU on further steps to take to move forward as a global university. As a member of the planning committee, Jim Yong Kim has taken on the role of establishing SNU as an autonomous entity, drawing up the SNU articles of association, and appointing the first members of the Board of Trustees.

President Jim Yong Kim participated in the planning committee last year through video conferences in May and July, contributing a great deal to the directing of SNU's successful autonomization. President Kim shared some valuable opinions on how to make SNU a"symbol of fairness and social justice" in Korea through its autonomization. He confessed that although he is aware of the student demonstrations against the autonomization process, said he was"reassured in hearing that the spirit of students' engagement still exists" and that"it is important to understand the students' spirit for what it is."

President Kim, in judging the student demonstrations to reflect students' belief in such values as fairness and social justice, proposed several ways in which SNU's autonomization can become the symbol of such values."The opportunity is just extraordinary for Seoul National University; the freedom SNU will have in terms of governance and budget, and the ability to move much more quickly - I think it is critical."

President Kim, describing the operation of Need Blind Admissions of the Ivy Leagues, explained the generous financial aid is because"we are looking at people we admit, not at all at their financial situation." Regarding the fundraising necessary to budget financial aid, he also stressed the importance of donations from corporations to institutions of higher education referring to"many leaders of extremely important corporations who are Seoul National University graduates."

On the university's selection process, Kim expressed his opinion that"SNU could change its admissions so that students are not just coming from the 'right' high school or getting the test score needed for admission to SNU." A generous financial aid package and showing such"promise" towards young students, President Kim explained, would foster the values of fairness and social justice in Korea.

President Kim also said,"Korean higher education should not mimic that of the United States. Korea cannot maintain its status as one of the most developed countries without a fundamental transformation of SNU." He stressed the importance of institutions of higher education, proposing that the standings of an institution of higher education influence a country's global competitiveness.

Written By LEE Bo Young, SNU English Editor, bylee0708@snu.ac.kr ?
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com