At the invitation of the South Korean President Yi Myŏngbak, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Kim Toyŏn, KCUE Chairman Yi Changmu, KCUE Secretary-General Kim Yŏngshik, and over 180 presidents of national and private universities, including Sŏgang University President Son Pyŏngdu, met at the Blue House reception hall for lunch and discussed current issues on education.

During the talks President Yi said the current government’s policy of autonomy in higher education would likely be implemented sooner than the attendees expect and asked that universities change in accordance.

He emphasized that the new government would continue to advance this goal despite unforeseen opposition to university autonomy. He also stated that developing superior talent is the job of university presidents, and building an advanced country requires cultivation of skilled labor, which is ultimately the responsibility of universities.