KAIST president withdraws resignation after board request amid governance talks on AI strategy
KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung has withdrawn his resignation, at the request of the university’s board and members. He had previously said he would resign on the 27th after an extraordinary meeting of the board failed to approve the selection of the 18th president.
The university said Lee will continue to serve in order to maintain stability in university operations as the governance process evolves. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, and KAIST officials, have discussed the matter with him on two occasions.
Lee acknowledged that delays in appointing a new president have raised concerns among campus members and the broader public who care about KAIST, and he said he takes these concerns seriously. He noted that the leadership transition amid ongoing governance discussions could cause confusion if left unresolved.
He warned that ongoing uncertainty could burden teaching and research activities and potentially affect Korea’s national science and technology policies, including the government’s AI strategy described as the “AI 3강” initiative, in which KAIST plays a key role.
Lee stated that KAIST must continue to contribute to national science and technology competitiveness amid intense global tech competition, and he pledged to fulfill his responsibilities through the end of the leadership transition to preserve public trust in the university.
KAIST and the Ministry of Science and ICT will work together to elect the next president as quickly as possible under the current selection process, researchers and policymakers said, aiming to minimize disruption to the institution’s operations and strategic projects.
KAIST is Korea’s premier science and engineering university, based in Daejeon. Its leadership and governance are closely tied to national policy on AI, research funding, and collaboration with industry and other global research institutions, making this development relevant to international partners and U.S. technology and education sectors.