Lee Will Head Council for University Education
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Ewha Womans University President Lee Bae-yong has been elected as head of the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), a body that decides key university policies.
The council announced Tuesday that Lee will succeed incumbent president Sohn Byong-doo as the 15th president of the KCUE from June 27. It is the first time the council has appointed a woman leader since its establishment in 1982.
Sohn was supposed to head the council until April 2010, but because his presidency term at Sogang University expires on June 26, he has to step down. Lee will complete his term.
Suh Geo-suk, president of Chonbuk National University, Lee Ki-su, president of Korea University, and Lee Hee-yeon, president of Kunsan National University, were also named as vice presidents of the council.
``I feel a heavy sense of responsibility as the council head in this transition period of university education,'' Lee said. ``I will do my best to upgrade this council as the nation's driving force for development.''
Lee, who is a Korean History scholar, was appointed as Ewha president in August 2006 and has also served as the president of the Korea Women's Historical Studies Association since 2004.