KAIST President to Stay On Until Successor Is Appointed

KAIST said on Thursday that President Lee Kwang-hyung will stay in office until a successor is appointed, reversing his earlier plan to resign. The decision comes after the university's board urged leadership continuity during the presidential search.

Lee had indicated he would resign after a KAIST board meeting on the 26th of last month, when the selection of a new president from a pool described as three times larger than usual did not produce a winner. He had planned to step down on the 16th.

In a statement, Lee acknowledged the concerns of campus members and the public as the search was delayed and said he would take the confusion seriously. He noted that governance changes and related legal amendments were being discussed, and that stepping aside could deepen a leadership vacuum during this period.

The board had discouraged Lee’s resignation to maintain stability, and he agreed to continue serving until a new president is chosen, citing the need to avoid disruption to KAIST’s operations while the governance process evolves.

Lee also warned that ongoing uncertainty could place a burden on teaching and research and potentially affect the government’s national science and technology policy, including Korea’s AI strategy in which KAIST plays a central role.

KAIST is Korea’s premier science and technology university, based in Daejeon, a hub for research and innovation. Established in 1971, it is a leading contributor to Korea’s higher education and advanced technology programs, including artificial intelligence and engineering.

For U.S. readers, the development matters because KAIST is a key partner in technology research, academic exchanges, and joint projects with American institutions and companies. Leadership stability at KAIST can influence collaboration on AI policy, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and other tech priorities that affect global supply chains, markets, and security cooperation.