Chung-Ang Univ. names new chairman
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Kim Chul-su
By Chung Hyun-chae
The board of directors at the Chung-Ang University foundation appointed former trade minister Kim Chul-su as its new chairman, Monday.
Kim, 74, was the trade, industry and energy minister in 1993.
He was also president of Sejong University between 2001 and 2005.
“I feel heavy responsibility at a very important time,” Kim said. “I will try to set things straight and promote development of the school.”
Kim’s appointment came after his predecessor Park Yong-sung resigned April 21 over the abusive emails he sent to Chung-Ang professors who were opposing his school restructuring plans. Park also stepped down as the chairman of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.
Lee Yong-goo, president of Chung-Ang University, confirmed the restructuring plans to partly adopt a college-based admission instead of the current department-based one for the 2016 academic year.
Meanwhile, the school foundation is being investigated for accounting fraud.
Former President Park Bum-hoon is also under investigation for allegedly peddling influence with the Ministry of Education to approve the integration of the university's two campuses in Seoul and Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, in 2012.
He faces allegations that he abused his position as presidential secretary between 2011 and 2013 to get the deal approved even if the school did not meet the requirements for the integration.