In this interview, President Jun Gui Choi of The Catholic University of Korea shares his vision for spreading universal values—embodying love, justice, and peace.
Today, South Korea faces a series of pressing challenges. Alongside limited workforce globalization compared to other countries, a major demographic shift is projected to create a labor shortage of 7.4 million workers by 2040, pushing Korea to seek new labor sources. How can universities help minimize the impact of this demographic situation? How can universities contribute to addressing Korea’s challenges, such as labor shortages?
Korea's workforce is declining due to social changes such as low birth rates, which are being experienced worldwide. Since fewer babies are being born, we are currently facing significant challenges in securing new labor forces. Addressing the low birth rate is an extremely complex problem that universities alone cannot resolve. However, universities can play a critical role in enhancing the quality of the workforce.
For example, lifelong education for adult learners can help improve their knowledge and skills, thereby enhancing the quality of the workforce. Workforce quality is not just about intelligence or technical skills but also includes cultural awareness and fostering a sense of community spirit.
Secondly, universities should provide more practical, on-site education to better equip students with job-specific skills. Thirdly, it is crucial for universities to proactively attract more international students and offer them education tailored to their needs. Ensuring these students can integrate successfully and thrive in Korea is equally important. These four points represent how universities can contribute to resolving labor shortages and elevating workforce quality in Korea.
You mentioned attracting international students and helping them integrate with Korean society. Should universities provide English courses, Korean classes, or a mix of both? What is your philosophy on this?
English, Korean, and Korean culture classes are essential, but more important is fostering a sense of global community—helping students feel part of a shared human experience. Initially, being different may feel uncomfortable, but people eventually learn to accept and appreciate those differences. When we build a strong sense of community, those differences can transform into something beautiful. We aim to cultivate that mindset.
Beyond the language barriers, Korea is known as a safe, dynamic country with a growing global cultural presence through K-pop and K-dramas. Could you explain more about the benefits of studying in Korea and what foreign students can expect?
First and foremost, as you mentioned, Korea is incredibly safe. Crime rates are low, and instances of robbery are rare. This safe environment is one of the most attractive features for foreign students.
When I studied abroad, safety was always a concern. I avoided going out at night and steered clear of dangerous neighborhoods. Compared to other countries, Korea offers a much safer environment, which is something foreign students should seriously consider when choosing where to study.
Secondly, Korea provides an excellent education, particularly in fields like technology and liberal arts. Exposure to K-culture—including K-pop and K-dramas—is an additional cultural benefit for students. Furthermore, Korea is home to major global companies such as Samsung and LG. Many universities in Korea have partnerships with these conglomerates, providing students with opportunities to gain practical experience and secure jobs with global companies.
How do you translate collaboration with local and global companies into actionable opportunities for students? What framework does the university provide for such collaborations, and how is this applied at The Catholic University of Korea?
We host annual career festivals where HR representatives from major companies come to provide in-depth consultations, conduct interviews, and share information about their organizations.
The career festival is usually held once or twice a year during the second semester. We invite HR representatives from companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG, as well as hospitals and broadcasting companies. Between 1,000 to 1,500 students participate in these events, gaining valuable insights and networking opportunities.
Additionally, we have a “family company” policy, where companies that collaborate with us are treated as part of our extended community. Currently, over 800 to 1,000 companies are involved in this program. These companies come to us to learn about new technologies, and we send our students to them for work opportunities. This program has been running for over eight years and continues to expand.
One significant trend in Korea recently is the push for digital transformation by enterprises, the government, and universities, with a strong emphasis on implementing IT technologies. How do you view this transformation, and how is it being practically applied at The Catholic University of Korea?
When we look at other countries, Arizona State University is a great example of technological development in education. Programs like MOOC allow people around the world to access lectures and courses. Additionally, education programs developed in collaboration with OpenAI are incorporating IT technologies, and chatbots are being utilized to help students personalize their learning paths.
Unlike the past, when education was uniform and standardized, learners are now increasingly customizing their education and building personalized learning courses with the help of advanced technologies. This shift is a notable change in the educational landscape.
We are also seeing changes in teaching staff. Previously, educators primarily transferred knowledge, but now they are becoming facilitators, promoting independent learning. Professors are also collaborating more with each other, which contrasts with the past when they often worked individually. This transformation redefines educators as facilitators who guide students in their personal growth, critical thinking, and ability to distinguish misinformation.
Students are generally young, curious, and eager to learn, but professors sometimes find it difficult to adapt. How do you help professors apply digital transformation in their courses and make it more tangible for students?
I don’t believe age is a barrier to adopting advanced technology. The real challenge is that some professors are confined by the boundaries of their specific fields. They need to utilize technology to better share knowledge with students, but they often struggle to break out of their subject-focused mindset.
Another challenge is fostering collaboration among professors from different fields when co-developing new courses. Additionally, maintaining a forward-thinking approach to education can be difficult for some professors. These factors contribute to concerns about the current state of higher education and underscore the need for transformation.
Universities must shift from merely transmitting knowledge to fostering problem-solving perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration among professors and students. Leveraging digital technologies is crucial for this shift. Furthermore, the availability of big data through digital transformation and ICT can help universities design innovative curricula and make informed decisions.
Could you share your vision for The Catholic University of Korea? What do you hope to achieve during your time as President?
I consider myself both a traditionalist and an innovator. First and foremost, I want to establish a true educational community grounded in Catholic values. When I say "Catholic," I’m referring not just to the Catholic Church but to universal values such as love, justice, peace, the common good, and care for the ecosystem and environment.
Secondly, my vision is to transform our university into a research-oriented institution. However, I don’t want to stop there—I want to ensure that research is closely linked to education.
Lastly, I want The Catholic University of Korea to be trusted and highly regarded by other educational institutions, companies, and countries. Simply believing that we are doing a good job is not enough; our efforts must be recognized externally. I want prospective students, companies, and universities to see us as an outstanding institution.
You mentioned your goal to transform The Catholic University of Korea into a research-oriented institution. Could you elaborate on the university’s research focus? Which department do you believe will be the flagship for this transformation?
It’s true that we can’t invest equally in all departments simultaneously. We need to prioritize specific areas. Our focus will be on medical, nursing, bio, pharmacy, AI, and big data departments. By investing in these fields, we aim to integrate them with advanced technologies.
You mentioned that these investments will help drive innovation in these departments. Could you explain what new developments or aspects you plan to introduce in 2025 or beyond?
Due to education policy constraints, we won’t be able to create entirely new departments in 2025. However, we are planning to develop a software convergence department that incorporates AI, software, semiconductors, media content, and computer engineering. The Korean government has announced support for universities creating such departments, which motivates us to pursue this direction.
Additionally, since we already excel in medical, bio, and pharmaceutical fields, we are considering the establishment of a smart healthcare department.
Furthermore, we are planning departments for example, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This department will emphasize environment, energy, and climate studies—fields crucial for humanity’s mutual growth. These areas are also deeply aligned with Catholic values.
The medical field is often characterized by extensive international collaboration. We saw this vividly during the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals and universities worldwide worked together. How do you plan to foster collaboration with international hospitals and universities to strengthen the smart healthcare department?
As you mentioned, cooperation is essential in the medical field. The Catholic University of Korea operates eight hospitals, making it the largest medical system in Korea. We plan to leverage the vast medical data accumulated through these hospitals to advance our research.
Additionally, we have strong networks and partnerships with overseas Catholic hospitals. We will actively share data with these institutions to conduct collaborative research.
Do you plan to expand your network of partner universities in the short term?
We currently partner with 306 universities from 46 countries. Our university has already established agreements and built networks with many prestigious universities, including Catholic universities worldwide. Now, we believe it is time to pursue qualitative growth as much as quantitative expansion. Therefore, we will focus on strengthening the quality of these partnerships and fostering better collaboration in research and educational programs for professors, faculty, and students.
Western students are often highly conscious of university rankings. While Korea and some other Asian countries may lack recognition in these rankings, The Catholic University of Korea made significant strides in 2024. You had a notable jump in the Times Higher Education rankings among Asian universities and ranked 19th in Korea. What contributed to this improvement, and what would you say to Western students who are hesitant about studying here?
Rankings from QS, THE, and U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities are heavily research-focused, with 60% to 90% of indicators tied to research output and impact. Naturally, improving our research performance positively affects our rankings. To achieve this, we have been encouraging our professors to engage in international co-research and establish strong networks with overseas scholars.
If university ranking is a key factor for foreign students when choosing where to study, we recognize its importance and will continue efforts to enhance our standing. Additionally, public relations play a vital role in increasing awareness of our university among international students.
Can you summarize the benefits The Catholic University of Korea offers to foreign students?
The Catholic University of Korea is a prestigious private institution with a long history. We provide a safe, supportive environment where students can focus on their studies. Beyond academics, we foster ethical values, enabling students to lead meaningful lives rooted in principles like love, justice, and community.
Students at The Catholic University of Korea receive top-tier education, participate in cutting-edge research, and access various career opportunities. We warmly invite international students to join us.
The goal of this report is to promote the internationalization of Korean universities. In a sentence or two, what message would you like to convey to readers and parents?
Internationalization goes beyond interactions between different countries and cultures—it’s about fostering harmony and unity. We aim to provide international students with research, education, and career opportunities while helping them learn how to collaborate and thrive within Korean society.
For more information, please visit: https://www.catholic.ac.kr/en/index.do
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