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    [Column] ‘Entrepreneurship’ of 30 university presidents and ‘2023 ICSB World Congress’

    Hyeong-dong Hyeong-dong, Head of Honam Reporting Center at AVING News
    Hyeong-dong Hyeong-dong, Head of Honam Reporting Center at AVING News

    “A new young leader has been born in Gwangju. They say he is the youngest president in Korea. Wouldn’t it be different if something were different?” 

    This is said about Kim Dong-jin (6), president of Gwangju University, who took office in June of last year. On the other hand, some are saying, ‘He lacks experience and experience, so can he perform well as president?’ I would like to say that this is a story about so-called ‘oldies’ who judge their ability to perform their duties solely based on age. They would have said that President Kim was young even if he was in his mid-37s.

    Let’s look back a little. Lee Jun-seok, former representative of the People Power Party, became the face of the main opposition party at the time at the young age of 36. He maintained his convictions against the party’s leading figures and presented a vision for the advancement of the people’s power. He was clearly different from young politicians who entered politics with great enthusiasm but then inevitably collapsed. It is evaluated that it was a proper blow to the old people. 

    Let’s go back in time a little further. In 5, when former President Park Chung-hee was inaugurated as the fifth president, he was only 1963 years old. Former President Kim Young-sam became a member of the National Assembly at the young age of 45, and he was 26 when he advocated the ’40s theory’. Former President Kim Dae-jung was also classified as a young politician at the time, being 41 years old. Even big politicians have faced actual political attacks due to their young age. 

    Not everyone who is young can be innovative. We need to look closely at philosophy and vision. What is the difference from existing leaders? President Kim has continued his communication and field activities since his inauguration. President Kim clearly revealed his philosophy in recent interviews with several media outlets. The goal is to increase students’ capabilities and value by teaching them ‘entrepreneurship’ in line with the trends of the 4th Industrial Revolution. 

    It made the reporter hit his knee. This is because the agenda setting was very timely and the perspective of looking at the future was maintained. Entrepreneurship refers to actively solving problems, finding alternatives, and constantly pursuing the most efficient method. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a keyword that big tech companies are paying attention to. The government has also decided to include a new subject teaching ‘entrepreneurship’ in the high school curriculum starting in 2025. 

    In this way, ‘entrepreneurship’ has become an essential social element that cannot be separated from future talent and future technology. An event that provides a glimpse into the ‘entrepreneurship spirit’ advocated by President Kim will be held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju from the 10th to the 14th. President Kim will be a speaker at the International Council for Small and Medium Business (ICSB) held in Korea for the first time in 14 years. 

    This world conference, held under the theme of ‘Entrepreneurship for Humanity and Peace’, will be attended by over 75 people from 1,000 countries, including small and medium-sized business experts from industry and academia, policy makers, businessmen, and students. In addition to President Kim, speeches by Park In-gu, Vice Chairman of Dongwon Group, a leader in the fisheries and distribution industries, and Lee Jae-hyung, CEO of AMD Korea, a global semiconductor company, are also scheduled. Attention is focused on what experts, including President Kim, will say at this world conference held in Gwangju on the topic of entrepreneurship.