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The incumbent Korea University president Euh Yoon-dae was disqualified as a candidate for a second term on Monday after more than half of some 900 professors voted against him. The leading CEO-style university president here, Euh was one of three people disqualified from a pool of nine. Taking a break at home on Tuesday afternoon, Euh told the Chosun Ilbo he has no regrets. Asked how he responds to charges that he was pushing reforms too fast, he said, "It¡¯s because I tried to do what others didn¡¯t like to do.¡± He said the university was very favorably evaluated from outside, ¡°and as a result, people took issue with areas that cause no problems at all."
-What do you think was the reason you were dropped?
"Professors are like bankers. They don't like change; all they want is stability. I knew that they were greatly dissatisfied with policies that obliged them to give lectures in English and improve the standards for examining papers, but I had to go ahead with them anyway. When there are too many exceptions, policies don't work. My idea was to put those policies in place first, and listen to their requests or complaints and gradually revise them once they have become established. I¡¯m sorry I won¡¯t be able to do that now I have to retire as president.¡±
-Many say that you hastened reforms.
"It¡¯s because I tried to do what others didn¡¯t like to do. No change, no complaints. But I couldn¡¯t let it lie. I think a variety of complaints were expressed through the vote. The university got very favorable evaluations from outside, and as a result, people took issue with areas that don't cause problems at all. Many professors don't want change, they only look for stability."
-How do you evaluate your accomplishments?
"Korea University made it into the top 150 universities in the world in the Times rankings this year. It improved a whopping 34 notches from last year's 184th place. If I just wanted to be president again, I wouldn¡¯t have done that because I would have taken lots of things into account to make sure I win again. I knew I wouldn¡¯t be president again, so I did my best. Korea University saw its brand name improve and has grown into a global university. It made agreements to cooperate in academic activities with 172 universities around the world and sent 1,300 of its students abroad as exchange or visiting students, and these are accomplishments that I feel proud of."
-Some say it¡¯s ¡°shocking¡± that you were dropped from the vote.
"I keep getting calls about it. (Smiles). People encouraged me and consoled me about the result all day."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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