At the dawn of the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026, I extend my deepest appreciation to all members of the Keimyung family, including Chairman Kim Nam Seuk of the Board of Trustees and its members, our faculty and students, President Lee Jae Ha of the Alumni Association and all alumni, and all those at home and abroad who have generously supported our university with unwavering dedication.
Despite ongoing domestic and global uncertainties, Keimyung University has consistently pursued long-term goals rather than short-term gains, reflecting on our humble beginnings. We have sought management and scholarship that prioritize ethical humanism with enhanced functionality, and that value coexistence with the vulnerable over competition.
The fast advancement of artificial intelligence, which has become indispensable to education, research, and social development, has now emerged as an unavoidable pathway to the future. Going forward, we must strengthen our students’ AI utilization competencies regardless of their major, and redesign educational goals, content, teaching methods, and evaluation structures from the user’s perspective. At the same time, we must accelerate our efforts to cultivate interdisciplinary talents by creating an AI-based, future-oriented educational environment.
In the area of research, it is equally essential to integrate AI with individual disciplines. What is clear is that faculty research capacity ultimately determines the quality of the higher education institutions to which they belong. In this regard, we will establish a representative research center this year and focus on securing cutting-edge projects while building international research networks.
We will also enhance our support for extracurricular education. Our overseas volunteer program, the “Keimyung Caritas” initiative, which has become an integral part of our institutional identity, will be expanded in cooperation with our partner hospitals abroad. We will extend our activities beyond Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. We fully recognize that overseas experiences play a pivotal role in shaping our students’character and global outlook.
We will continue to guide and support career pathway developments for our students and young alumni through the “University Job Plus Project” and customized employment programs. We will ensure that students can fully develop their employment competencies so that they are prepared to begin their chosen careers immediately upon graduation. We will do our utmost to ensure that no one is left unemployed after completing their studies.
We cannot overlook the fact that student recruitment is one of the decisive factors determining the future sustainability of a university. I am pleased to note that Keimyung University became the first and only private university outside the Seoul metropolitan area to record more than 30,000 applicants in the early admissions process for 2026, as well as its highest-ever competition rate for regular admissions. I extend my sincere gratitude to all who made this achievement possible.
We will further strengthen our efforts to recruit international students. Our university has been designated as a most outstanding institution under the International Education Quality Assurance System for two consecutive years. Building on this momentum, we will establish Keimyung–Korea Centers in two or three more locations abroad. As part of the RISE project, we will work through our Korean Language Center to attract international students, cooperate with local governments, and contribute to increasing the population of international residents.
We will also continue to advance our RISE initiative in collaboration with local governments and industries. This year is expected to see growing demand for talent and research in the medical field. We will proactively respond to changes in daily life, healthcare, and industrial needs.
Dongsan Medical Center, whose history dates back to a missionary clinic established in the late nineteenth century, will undergo significant transformation. We will streamline hospital administration, strengthen digital healthcare systems, and develop the institution into a “smart hospital” capable of attracting patients from even distant regions. We have clear blueprints for a new building of Daegu Dongsan Hospital, as well as for the relocation and expansion of Gyeongju Dongsan Hospital. At the same time, I wish to emphasize the importance of strengthening the research competence of our medical faculty. Research excellence must advance hand in hand with clinical practice.
Focusing solely on immediate challenges cannot guarantee the future development of a university. We will formulate a new plan, or Keimyung Vision 2030, and actively pursue region-specific development projects, and introduce performance-based incentives. These efforts are intended to enhance our university’s competitiveness and research capacity, and we will thus concentrate our time and resources on these priorities.
The year 2026 will mark another significant turning point for Keimyung University. As society changes at an ever-accelerating pace, the university must articulate its direction with even greater clarity. We must pass on a proud legacy to future generations. I sincerely hope that you will join us and continue this meaningful journey together in the year ahead.
May the Lord be with us throughout the year ahead, and may the New Year bring peace and happiness to you and your families.
Best regards,
President
Keimyung University