By Kwak Yeon-soo
 |
| Cho Dong-ho, ICT minister nominee / Korea Times file |
Rep. Yoon Sang-jik of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party has called for the withdrawal of Cho's appointment as ICT minister, citing the OLEV project as a failure.
Cho, a professor from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and director of the OLEV project, is known to have played a leading role in developing wireless recharge technology for electric vehicles.
According to the OLEV project group, the OLEV picks up power from underground power lines through the non-contact magnetic charging method, while either moving or standing.
About 200 patents have been granted on OLEV because it was considered an eco-friendly and economic automotive system.
Based on his research in the fields of wireless recharge technology and 5G telecommunication technology, Cho was tapped to replace You Young-min as ICT minister.
"It turns out that about 70 percent of 234 patents that were transferred to other companies were concentrated in KAIST partner companies, where Cho was heavily involved in. Most of his patents never made any money," Yoon said.
However, Cho defended himself, saying, "OLEV has been named on TIME's list of the best inventions of 2010."
He added that the funding was conducted fairly and that the commercialization process took some time because it was complex and involved high costs.
As a graduate of Seoul National University, Cho began his academic career at KAIST. He then served as a professor at Kyunghee University in 1987 before moving back to KAIST in 1998.
The professor must undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing but does not need parliamentary approval for his appointment.
On the sidelines, Cho is also facing questions over whether his son received undue favors in getting an internship.
![[VIDEO] Filipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/230201chantyjoyce2web_5891a49058fb1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[Video] How Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/230206_gs_4cb7fa5bc3856.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Saudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d8bcecac20a6465e8e44da2796041c64.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[ANALYSIS] New order prevails in global battery industry](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/97f0a86072474a07bd1c388f4cfe0ff5.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Tati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d2f45162b11d4965a7168093560f59e3.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
