제 28 호 New University President Jonghee Kim
Kicker : SM NEWS
New University President Chonghee Kim
By Myung-Kwan Kang, Editor-in-chief
Are you familiar with university presidents? Unlike in elementary, middle, or high schools, universities do not hold inauguration ceremonies with all students gathered in one place, so some people may not know who the president is. On September 26, 2025, Chonghee Kim was inaugurated as the 15th president of Sangmyung University at the Seoul campus, and began a four-year term starting on the 27th.
Who Is Chong-hee Kim
President Chong-hee Kim was born in 1955 in Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from Yale Girls’ High School and entered the Department of Physical Education at Sangmyung Women’s Teachers College. She later earned a master’s degree in Physical Education from Sangmyung University and a Ph.D. in Physical Education from Hanyang University. From 2002 to 2020, she served as a professor at her alma mater, Sangmyung University, in the Department of Physical Education, the Department of Sports and Dance, and the Sports Health Care program.
President Chong-hee Kim has left a significant mark on women’s sports by holding key positions in various social organizations alongside her academic career. She studied aerobics directly under Professor Yeong-Suk Lee, a pioneer of aerobics in Korea, at Sangmyung Women’s University, and later served as the chairperson of the Korea Aerobics Association. After assuming the position of president of the Korea Women’s Football Federation, she also became a board member of the MBC Dream Soccer Foundation, further strengthening her ties with the football community
She later served as the president of the Alumni Association of her alma mater, Sangmyung University. From 2015 to 2025, she held the positions of Vice President for Administration and Vice President for External Affairs at Sangmyung University. In addition, she has been serving as the president of the Korea Girl Scouts Association since 2018.
In 2013, President Chong-hee Kim served as the chairperson of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Committee for Sangmyung University and donated 200 million won to fund the construction of the 50th Anniversary Memorial Hall. Reflecting on her motivation for this generous contribution, she said, “Sangmyung is not merely the name of a school; it is the name of my life.” She added, “I have learned at Sangmyung and taught there for over 40 years. Having grown from a student to a professor and from an alumna to the president of the Alumni Association, the scale of the donation was never something I needed to consider over such a long period.” She emphasized, “Nothing holds greater value for me than Sangmyung.” Her actions and words clearly demonstrate the deep affection and commitment she has for her alma mater.
Meeting with Student Representatives
Soon after the start of her term, President Chong-hee Kim held a meeting with the student self-governing bodies of the Seoul Campus. The meeting was attended by senior university officials, including President Kim, Vice President for Academic Affairs Young-joon Kim, Dean of Student Affairs Jeong-ah Lee, Director of Planning and Coordination Dong-geun Kim, Director of External Affairs Jun-young Lee, and Director of General Affairs Seong-bon Gu. This was especially significant as it marked President Kim’s first official event after her inauguration, reflecting her strong commitment to active communication with students.
During the meeting, in-depth discussions were held on key student concerns such as campus facility maintenance, the expansion of student welfare, and the enhancement of various academic and extracurricular programs. The university offered concrete action plans and thoughtful responses, engaging in a productive exchange of opinions with the students.
President Chong-hee Kim stated, “After my inauguration, meeting with the students was my top priority. I will actively address their needs and provide full support to help Sangmyung grow into an outstanding university that serves as a foundation for students' growth.” She also mentioned that this meeting will mark the beginning of efforts to strengthen continuous communication channels with students and expand institutional frameworks to ensure that student voices are reflected in the overall operation of the university.
The day after the Seoul Campus meeting, President Chong-hee Kim held a meeting with student representatives, including the Student Council and various college student councils, at the Cheonan Campus. Key university administrators, including Vice President for Academic Affairs Se-won Oh, Dean of Student Affairs Dong-hwa Jeong, Director of Planning and Coordination Dong-geun Kim, and Director of Academic Affairs Tae-han Kim, attended the meeting, interacting directly with the student representatives to exchange views on current issues.
Beginning her remarks, President Kim, who started her career as an alumna professor at Cheonan Campus, expressed her special affection for the campus. She stated, “We will actively review matters necessary for student growth and develop concrete measures to improve the educational environment. I also want to emphasize the importance of actively engaging in university life, fostering a shared sense of ownership, and creating an efficient learning environment.”
The Cheonan Campus Student Council President added, “We greatly appreciated that President Kim chose to hold her first official event after inauguration with student representatives, which shows how much she values communication with students. We were pleased with her positive and proactive responses to our opinions today as well. As the first alumna president, we believe she will play a key role in enhancing the educational environment and advancing the university’s development.”
Award for Contribution to Cultural Policy
On the 30th, President Chong-hee Kim received a commendation from the Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council for her contributions to the development of cultural policy. She established the Arts Management Asia Center at the Seoul Campus, which was approved by the International Alliance of Arts Management (IAAM), to open a new horizon in Asian arts management. The center systematically assesses Korea’s cultural industry competitiveness and lays the policy foundation for measuring performance across key cultural sectors. By creating a comprehensive cultural indicators system that measures the global influence and export indices of core K-content areas such as music, drama, and gaming, the center has paved the way for South Korea to become a hub of Asian arts management.
President Kim stated, “Sangmyung University has devoted itself to presenting a vision for future arts management and nurturing talent in the arts and design fields, centered on the Department of Global Cultural Contents and the Department of Cultural Arts Management, where academia, industry, and the local community are harmoniously connected. The Arts Management Asia Center at Sangmyung University will serve as a strategic foothold for South Korea to become a key hub for arts management exchange in Asia, and a center of collaboration that links academia, industry, the local community, and the world.”
President Chong-hee Kim is a distinguished figure who has continuously contributed to both students and the cultural sector through her academic achievements and leadership. During her tenure as a professor at Sangmyung University, she made significant contributions to physical education and women’s sports, while also serving as a leader in the alumni association, student organizations, and various social institutions. As the 15th president, she is focusing on enhancing communication with students, improving the educational environment, and strengthening Sangmyung University’s global presence in arts management. Through initiatives such as the establishment of the Arts Management Asia Center and policies reflecting students’ voices, President Kim is guiding Sangmyung University toward becoming a forward-looking hub for global education and culture.
Her leadership is collaborative and inclusive, fostering an environment where students can take initiative and engage meaningfully, while also strengthening connections between the university and the cultural and social communities. Under her guidance, Sangmyung University is well-positioned to face the challenges of the global era, with high expectations for its continued growth and development.
Sources:
https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/310/0000045994?sid=102
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=759912&article.offset=20&articleLimit=10
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=759963&article.offset=20&articleLimit=10
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=760578&article.offset=0&articleLimit=10
