President of Korea University visits Chapman 

The president of Korea University, Ki-Su Lee, visited Chapman University on June 27 to discuss a variety of partnerships across both institutions, which include undergraduate exchange programs, collaborations between departments and centers, and visits by scholars between the two universities. It was the first time a Korean university president has visited Chapman.

Korea University, a private university in Seoul with about 30,000 students, is interested in agreements that would involve most of Chapman's programs — everything from science to film and law. The university is considered one of the Top 3 in South Korea, which has more than 200 universities, said Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Ph.D., director of international science programs at Chapman's Schmid College of Science.

"When Korea University sends students, they don't just do it in a small number," she said. "They send in the triple digits." An undergraduate exchange program would provide students from Chapman and Korea with valuable study-abroad experience. Chapman does not have any active exchange programs with South Korea. Korean students coming to Chapman would also be close to the county's Korean-American community.

President Lee was welcomed by Chancellor Daniele Struppa; Menas Kafatos, Ph.D., vice chancellor of special projects and dean of Schmid College of Science; Bob Bassett, dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts; Timothy Canova, associate dean for academic affairs, School of Law; Kristin Beavers, assistant director/international internship and exchange coordinator; Dr. Yang; and Irvine Mayor Suhkee Kang, the city's first Korean-American mayor.

The visit is important, Dr. Yang, emphasized because many Koreans do not know about Chapman University. "They often send their children to universities like Harvard," she said. But the weekend meeting, combined with meetings last month in South Korea, brings the two universities closer to establishing joint programs, such as an undergraduate exchange.

Last month, Dr. Yang and a few Chapman faculty visited Korea University and Ewha Womans University, Dr. Yang's alma mater. She organized a number of activities that included: