Konkuk aims to lead biotechnology

Konkuk University President Min Sang-gi talks about the school's goal to nurture biotechnology experts during an interview with The Korea Times at his office on the university's campus in eastern Seoul, Dec. 15.
/ Courtesy of Konkuk University

By Chung Hyun-chae

Universities should lead industries by producing talent and creating new ideas that drive growth on the cutting edge, Konkuk University President Min Sang-gi said.

For this, Konkuk University has set a goal to become a pioneer in biotechnology while boosting academic-industrial cooperation.

Actually it was a goal promoted since the foundation of the school in 1946 by Yoo Seok-chang, a medical doctor whose pen name was Sanghuh. Since then, the university has strategically focused on biotechnology according to the founder's strong belief in the importance of agriculture which was the main pillar of the economy at that time.

"Now we are focusing on maximizing our biotechnology capabilities by combining them with information and communication technology (ICT)," Min said.

Konkuk Institute of Science and Technology (KIT)

As part of such efforts, the university launched the Konkuk Institute of Science and Technology (KIT), a college specializing in biotechnology and engineering, this year, after winning one of the Ministry of Education's financial support programs named PRIME project.

The university will receive about 48 billion won in state aid for the project for three years through 2018.

KIT will accept 333 freshmen next year.

The institute has eight departments ― stem cell and regenerative biotechnology; systems biotechnology; integrative bioscience and biotechnology; energy; smart vehicle engineering; smart ICT convergence; cosmetics engineering; and biomedical science and engineering.

"We created those departments to meet the needs of future industries," Min said.

According to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, new growth engines include intelligent robots, electronic cars and wearable devices.

"Unlike in the past industrial era where there were many things that universities could do to develop local industries, universities now have difficulties keeping up with the trends in rapidly changing industries and have failed to meet their demands," Min said. "I hope KIT will lead the nation while contributing to the economic development by cultivating experts in each field."

KIT students will have to do internships or participate in business activities during their last semester.

A professor and students of the Department of Systems Biotechnology under the Konkuk Institute of Science and Technology pose in a laboratory on the school's campus in Seoul. / Courtesy of Konkuk University

"German professors ask students ‘why' every time to encourage them to get the answers themselves," said Min, who studied in Germany for many years. "Likewise, interns in Germany are allowed to apply what they have learned at school in workplaces while seeking to solve problems by themselves."

In a bid to nurture a high-class workforce in state-of-the-art fields, KIT also introduced a new system under which students are able to complete their undergraduate and master's courses in five years. Such a system is the first of its kind in Korea where students who earn a bachelor's degree need to enter graduate schools to get a master's degree.

"As the four-year undergraduate studies are not enough for students to become experts in the high-tech industries, we will provide high quality education for our students so that they become prepared to satisfy the needs of industries," Min said.

According to the president, the university also plans to give about 50 percent of KIT lectures in English to help the students improve their global competitiveness.

Enhancing synergy in medical fields

Taking advantage of the school's strength in biotechnology, Konkuk also aims to lead biomedical industries, Min said.

With this aim, Konkuk established a life science college called Sang-huh Life Science this year after the founder's pen name.

There are seven departments under the college ― food science and biotechnology of animal resources; animal science and technology; food marketing and technology; crop science; environmental health science; forestry and landscape architecture; and biological science.

"We plan to create a biomedical cluster by constructing a 12-story building where medical and biotechnology researchers can work together," Min said.

The construction of the new building will start in the second half of next year.

The university's hospital, Konkuk University Medical Center, together with Classic 500, a retirement home run by the university, is focusing on treatment for the elderly in Korea's aging society.

"I expect KIT and Sang-huh Life Science to support those institutions," Min said.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the university, Min said, "Konkuk will keep trying to lead innovation to become one of the best universities in the world."

Konkuk has two campuses ― the main campus in Seoul and the other called Glocal campus in Chungju, North Gyeongsang Province ― with about 29,000 students enrolled.

Who is Min Sang-gi?

Min Sang-gi took office as the 20th president of Konkuk University on Sept. 1.
He entered the university in 1981 and studied animal resources for two years.

He then headed to Germany and graduated from the University of Hohenheim in 1985 after studying food engineering. He also received his master's degree and a PhD in food engineering from the same university in 1988 and 1994, respectively.

Since then, Min has taught students food science and biotechnology of animal resources at Konkuk.

He also served as dean of the graduate school from September 2013 to July 2015 and head of the school's PRIME project division from August 2015 to August 2016.