[Meet the President] SeoulTech makes the Korean university experience affordable and approachable

•

03 Mar 2023

•

3 minute read

Lee Dong-hoon, president of Seoul National University of Science & Technology, hopes to create more opportunities for international students to land jobs in Korea after graduation. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Seoul National University of Science & Technology, also known as SeoulTech, is one of the very few four-year national universities in the capital, and its tuition is less than half that of private universities, said Lee Dong-hoon, the school’s president. Lee was quick to point out his university's merit as he sat down for an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily earlier this month in his office in Nowon District, northern Seoul.

“Despite our name, SeoulTech isn’t all about science, technology and engineering,” said Lee. “We have academic programs in business administration, English language and literature, creative writing, public administration and art and design. Next year, we are hoping to establish an International College for international students only.”

During the conversation, Lee explained how Seoul National University of Science & Technology was trying to help its international students land jobs in Korea after graduating and how foreigners can enjoy affordable, high-quality education at the school.

The following are excerpts from the interview.

Marc H. Meyer, a professor at Northeastern University, teaches Kouksundo, a traditional Korean mind-body practice that involves mediation, to international students at SeoulTech last November during a special program on mindfulness. [SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]

“Root Bench,” a park installation created by Lee Yong-ju, an architecture professor at SeoulTech, and winner of the 2020 German iF Design Award, one of the most prestigious design awards in the world [YONG JU LEE ARCHITECTURE]

An aerial view of the Boongeobang Pond at SeoulTech’s campus in Nowon District, northern Seoul [SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]

Vietnamese students in Korea play football during a sports festival organized by SeoulTech last year in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Vietnam. [SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]

A SeoulTech student demonstrates a robotic hand he developed at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, California. [SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]

The entrance of SeoulTech [SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]

Lee Dong-hoon is the 12th president of Seoul National University of Science & Technology. His four-year term began in November 2019. He has taught mechanical and automotive engineering at the university since 1995.

Lee is currently the chairman of the board of directors at Seoul Technopark and previously was head of the Korean Society for Urban Railway.

He earned his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at Seoul National University of Science & Technology and his Ph.D. in the same field from Soongsil University.

Name
Seoul National University of Science & Technology

Type
National

Established
April 15, 1910

English slogan
Our Dream, Your Future

Location
Nowon District, northern Seoul

Campus size
504,922 square meters (124.77 acres)

Undergraduate colleges and departments
Colleges: 9
Schools and departments: 34

Graduate schools
6

Students (2021)
Undergraduates: 12,637
Postgraduates: 1,552
Total: 14,189

Full-time academic staff (2022)
404

Administrative staff (2021)
421

Employment rate (2021)
67.2 percent

English website
en.seoultech.ac.kr

International students

Number of students (2022)
Undergraduates: 443
Postgraduates:274
Short-term students (language learning, exchange program, etc.): 259
Total: 976

By country
Vietnam 20 percent
Mongolia 15 percent
China and Hong Kong 11 percent
Uzbekistan 10 percent
Other 44 percent (64 countries)

Department with the most international students (2022)
Department of Business Administration

Dormitory acceptance rate (2022)
All international students are eligible to live on campus.

Average tuition of self-funded undergraduate students per semester (2023)
2.5 million won ($1,900)

Website of the International Affairs Office
global.seoultech.ac.kr

Instagram of the International Affairs Office
@ seoultech_internationalaffairs