KAIST president Lee Kwang-hyung steps down, urging spirit of fearless challenge

"The time I spent thinking about and pioneering KAIST's future was the greatest honor of my life. I hope KAIST grows into a university that contributes not only to South Korea but to the future of humanity."

Lee Kwang-hyung, widely known as an icon of innovation and an unconventional leader, completed his term and stepped down from KAIST on Wednesday.

During his tenure, Lee transformed KAIST into an institution that placed the spirit of challenge at the center of its identity. From the outset of his presidency, he championed "fearless challenge in the face of failure," establishing the country's first Institute for Failure Studies, expanding question-and-discussion-based instruction, and cultivating a campus culture built around bold academic risk-taking.

That philosophy translated into tangible results. Lee introduced a "one lab, one startup" vision, extended student startup leave to an effectively unlimited period, and streamlined faculty entrepreneurship procedures to build a startup-friendly environment. As a result, 568 companies were founded at KAIST between 2021 and December 2025, of which 24 have gone public, with their combined valuation surpassing about 22 trillion won ($14.2 billion).

The university's educational competitiveness also rose sharply. Applications to the undergraduate program climbed from 5,687 in the 2021 academic year to 10,661 in 2026 — an increase of roughly 87.5 percent over five years, or an average annual growth rate of 13.4 percent. Over the same period, applications from international graduate students grew from 902 to 2,205, a rise of about 144.5 percent, or 19.6 percent annually. The figures reflect recognition of KAIST's educational reforms and research capabilities both at home and abroad.

Innovation in research and education continued throughout his term. Lee established South Korea's first AI college, presenting an educational model for the post-AI era, and expanded future-oriented interdisciplinary fields including a graduate school of engineering biology and brain and cognitive science programs.

The university's fiscal and research foundations also expanded significantly. Lee secured a total budget of 1.61 trillion won for 2026 — the largest in the institution's history — and raised 329.6 billion won in development fund pledges during his tenure, accounting for roughly 35 percent of the institution's cumulative total.

Global research collaboration grew as well. Lee strengthened KAIST's international network through partnerships with New York University, an Intelligent Digital Integrated Security campus in Silicon Valley, Germany's Merck, Taiwan's Formosa, and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Investment in future national strategic technologies was also a priority. Lee created new interdisciplinary academic units — including departments and graduate schools in semiconductor systems engineering, AI semiconductors and quantum science — and pushed forward plans to build research infrastructure at a next-generation semiconductor campus in Pyeongtaek and a biomedical campus in Osong.

"I hoped KAIST would break free from existing frameworks, forge new paths and advance toward greater dreams," Lee said. "I hope it continues to lead the future of science and technology with creativity and the spirit of challenge."