Marking its 30th anniversary of integration, Seoul National University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering heard from its first chair after integration, Professor Emeritus Wook-Hyun Kwon, who emphasized, “Just as the ECE Department achieved integration, barriers between departments must be broken down to further strengthen the competitiveness of engineering research.”

The 30th anniversary ceremony took place on September 5 at SNU’s College of Engineering Building 1. Back in 1995, the departments of Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Control and Instrumentation Engineering were merged into a single unit under the name “Department of Electrical Engineering”, integrating curricula, academic systems and research activities.

At the time, Professor Kwon, then with the Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, joined his colleagues—including the late Professor Song-Yeop Han and Professor Hong Shick Min—in spearheading a voluntary integration. They believed that unifying disciplines would enable larger-scale research and reduce redundancy in research and education, thus opening pathways to progress. The newly merged Department of Electrical Engineering was later named the “Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering” in 2012, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration ever since.

In an interview with Chosun Ilbo, Professor Kwon remarked, “Just as economies of scale create efficiencies, research must also expand in scale to enable convergence and enhance global competitiveness. Thirty years ago, the objective of the ECE Department’s integration was to broaden the scope of research and contribute to industrial development.” He added, “Engineering entails the responsibility of advancing industries to raise national competitiveness, and engineers must continue to highlight the importance of STEM in our country.”

On the issue of the so-called “crisis in STEM education,” Professor Kwon cautioned, “Top students are disproportionately heading to medical and dental schools, narrowing the talent pool.” He reflected, “In the 1990s, engineering drove industrial growth, and at SNU it stood as the most sought-after discipline in STEM, with the highest entrance scores. However, after the IMF financial crisis, talented individuals increasingly gravitated toward more stable career paths. It is now up to us engineers to demonstrate, through our efforts and achievements, the extent to which engineering contributes to national development.”

In his address, Professor Kwon also urged the university to address concerns of “talent outflow” at SNU. “When outsiders evaluate our department, they often point out that there are no ‘star professors,’” he said. “We must cultivate an atmosphere where such faculty can emerge, because when outstanding individuals stand out, they become role models and inspire others.”

At the ceremony, commemorative plaques were presented to the late Professor Song-Yeop Han, Professor Hong Shick Min, and Professor Wook-Hyun Kwon for their contributions to the integration of the department. Alumni including Joo-Kwan Kim, CEO of Naver Shopping, and Kay Woo, CEO of MVL, were also in attendance.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/national/national_general/2025/09/07/ZXFEXD7UKZCAHEDFFUUARLWOXY/

Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr