Hyun-Sik Yoon, an undergraduate in the School of Computing, and HyeJeong Han, a PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Policy, have been elected as the student members of the KAIST Council. The two will dedicate themselves to represent the student body for the development of the KAIST community in KAIST Council. 

In November 2017, an amendment to the Act of Higher Education and the Bylaws of University made it mandatory for every university in South Korea to establish a council that deliberates and evaluates important decisions regarding the operation and development of its parent university. However, KAIST, which is managed under the laws of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), was not required to follow the aforementioned policy. However, in December 2018, an amendment to the KAIST Act was made official by the MSIT, making it mandatory for KAIST to have a similar organization. 

The KAIST Council is designed to deliberate on the long-term goals of the institute (Vision 2031), important decisions on curriculum and research, the general welfare of KAIST members, and any other matters that a third or more of members find necessary to discuss. However, the KAIST Council does not have any legal force over the board of directors and President Sung-Chul Shin. This means that the KAIST Council cannot overturn decisions nor force them to be made. However, the council’s deliberations will provide a legitimate collection of KAISTians’ voices, which can be a valuable contribution when KAIST sets its long-term vision and decides on any policies. Seamless communication between students and decision-making directorates will also be expected from this decree. 

According to Article 14-2 of the KAIST Act, a KAIST Council must include 11 or more members. It must include at least one member from three communities, professors, students, and staff, and they are to be elected by the community they represent. While each member’s term in office is officially two years, student elections are to be held each year. On March 3, KAIST Council Elections Commissions announced that five professors, two staff members, and two students were to be selected within the campus. 

On March 27, the two elected student representatives, Hyun-Sik Yoon and HyeJeong Han, were announced through KAIST Portal. Both are very qualified for the job as they are currently presidents of the KAIST UA and GSA (Graduate Student Association) respectively. Therefore, voices of undergraduates and graduates will be equally heard and represented in the council.