Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Sukhee Kang, and I served as the mayor of Irvine, from 2008 to 2012. I was the first Korean-American to serve as mayor for a major city of the United States.

We have heard that you are the most informed advisor regarding the MoU between UC Irvine and KAIST. Can you elaborate on why the signing of the MoU is important to both parties?
The MoU is pretty broad, but it’s just the beginning of the work ahead. Three and a half years ago, Chancellor Drake of UC Irvine came to KAIST in Daejeon and was impressed. He came back with the idea that we would like to have a very close and robust relationship between KAIST. So, we consider KAIST as a sister university, not just a school with a ceremonial relation. We are driven to share more programs through more practical exchange of students and faculty. That is what we would like to do and the MoU is the first step to getting there.

What will be the future of this mutual agreement and what benefits will it bring to students and faculty for both institutions?
It opens up many opportunities like student and faculty exchanges. Even further, we may be able to do a mutual research project together. UC Irvine professors can come here and collaborate on research projects and vice versa. We want both universities to get this going and get it done. We are looking forward to the months and years ahead through this long-term relationship between both institutions.

Having served as the mayor of the city of Irvine, you are one of the most respected Koreans in the Korean-American society in the U.S. Would you sharing your personal life to the readers?
My life is very simple. I’m just a first generation immigrant, and I started from the bottom when I worked as a salesman and gradually worked my way up to management in a big firm. But experiencing the Los Angeles Riot in 1992, I was inspired to become more involved in politics. So that is when I began to conceive the desire to get involved in community service. I got involved in a scholars foundation, the Korean American Coalition, which was the beginning of my political activities. I ran for city council of Irvine and knocked on 20 thousand homes. And that effort brought me victory in 2004. In 2008, I had a chance to run for mayor and became the first Korean-American mayor in a major U.S. city. When you work hard, stay focused, and have the desire to serve the community, the people will welcome and embrace you. I think it is something that I want to tell Korean leaders - that you have to have an open mind and embrace the people in your neighborhood, your community, your country, and the world. By embracing, you will become you stronger.

How would your personal experience and your philosophy strengthen the partnership between UC Irvine and KAIST?
There couldn’t have been a better opportunity to serve both Korea and the U.S. with my knowledge by making sure to connect the two dots by engaging and helping both universities. I am very excited about the opportunity I have. I chose to work for universities, rather than work for the private sector after I finished my term as city mayor. I take this as destiny.

Do you have any last words or comments you wish to say to the readers?
My expectation from both students and faculty of KAIST is that they are the innovators that create innovative products, policies, and thinking. They are the cornerstones of Korea’s success. So we hope that KAIST continues to be an advanced and innovative school that always looks for new opportunities and creative thinking. This can make this country into an even more advanced country in the future.

I always tell young people that you have to try your best. If you don’t do your best, and don’t try your best, your chance to become successful will be less than anticipated. It is very simple to say, but it is the hardest thing to do. But I have the feeling that everybody who attends KAIST, if they do their best, will make enormous contributions to the country. Have confidence. Without confidence, your vision and your dream cannot be achieved. Lastly, I want KAIST students to be themselves; your identity means a great deal. It is important to be you.