Lee Jin-sook (academic)
Lee Jin-sook | |
|---|---|
| 이진숙 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education | |
Designate | |
| Assumed office TBD | |
| President | Lee Jae-myung |
| Preceded by | Lee Ju-ho |
| President of Chungnam National University | |
| In office 28 February 2020 – 27 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Oh Duk-sung |
| Succeeded by | Kim Jeong-kyoum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 June 1960 Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Chungnam National University (BS, MS) Tokyo Institute of Technology (PhD) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이진숙 |
| Hanja | 李眞淑 |
| Revised Romanization | I Jin-suk |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yi Chin-suk |
Lee Jin-sook (Korean: 이진숙; Hanja: 李眞淑; RR: I Jin-suk; MR: Yi Chin-suk; born 17 June 1960) is a South Korean professor of architectural engineering at Chungnam National University (CNU), who served as its 19th president. She was the first woman to become president of CNU or any of the other Flagship Korean National Universities.[1]
Early life and education
Lee earned her bachelor's degree in architectural engineering and a master's degree in architectural planning from Chungnam National University. She later obtained a doctorate in architectural environment planning from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.[2]
Career
Lee began teaching at Chungnam National University (CNU) in 1989.[3] Over the years, she has held several leadership positions within the university, including Dean of the Department of Architectural Engineering, the College of Engineering, and the Graduate School of Industry.[4] She also served as Director of the Office of International Affairs,[1] and as President of the Council of CNU Women Professors.[5]
Lee is the second president of Chungnam National University (CNU) to have also graduated from the institution.
In addition to her university roles, Lee has served in multiple advisory capacities to the South Korean government. She has participated in national bodies such as the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology and the Presidential Committee on Architecture Policy, as well as in subcommittees of various ministries, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the current Ministry of Science and ICT, and the National Agency for Administrative City Construction.[6] She has also provided advisory support to the local governments of Daejeon, where CNU is located, and the nearby South Chungcheong Province.[5]
Lee previously served as president of the Korea Society of Lighting and Visual Environment and the Korea Society of Color Studies.[6]
She was the first president of CNU to be directly elected by all members of the university, including academic staff, administrative staff, and students. In the first round of the CNU presidential election, she placed second with 22.55% of the vote, receiving the highest support from administrative staff, teaching assistants, and students.[7] In the second round, she secured 52.34% of the vote. Her nomination was subsequently approved by the Ministry of Education and confirmed by President Moon Jae-in.[8]
Her term as president of CNU ended on 27 February 2024.[9] She was succeeded by Kim Jeong-kyoum.[10]
Minister of Education
On 29 June 2025, President Lee Jae-myung nominated Lee Jin-sook, former president of Chungnam National University, as the new Minister of Education. Her appointment is seen as aligned with the administration’s major education pledge to develop “10 Seoul National Universities” by significantly investing in nine regional flagship universities.
During the presidential campaign, Lee led the initiative and emphasized education as a vital instrument for promoting regional revitalization and equity.[11]
References
- ^ a b "[만났습니다]②국립대 첫 여성총장…"지역 사랑받는 대학 만들겠다"". 이데일리 (in Korean). 16 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ ORCID. "Jinsook Lee (0000-0003-4715-5192)". ORCID. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "충남대 이진숙 총장 임명..첫 여성 총장 탄생". 디트news24 (in Korean). 28 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "[속보] 이진숙 교수, 제19대 충남대학교 총장 당선". 뉴스티앤티 (in Korean). 28 November 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b "총장프로필 > 총장실 > CNU > 충남대학교". plus.cnu.ac.kr. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ a b "충남대학교 제19대 이진숙 총장 임명". Kyosu Shinmun (in Korean). 28 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "충남대 총장 '1순위' 이진숙 만든 일등공신은". 디트news24 (in Korean). 3 December 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "이진숙 충남대 총장 1순위 선출 '긴박했던 4시간'". 디트news24 (in Korean). 29 November 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "역대총장". plus.cnu.ac.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ 고, 미선 (1 April 2024). "김정겸 충남대 총장 취임 "구성원이 행복한, 미래사회 선도하는 강한 대학으로"". 중도일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Choi Jeong-yoon, "First female university president tapped as education minister," The Korea Herald, published 29 June 2025. [1]