[Korea’s First Program to Secure Tenure Extension to Age 70 at Mid-Career… Four Faculty Members Selected]
“Freedom to Focus on Research Without the Uncertainty of Retirement” — One of the biggest concerns for university professors is uncertainty about retirement. Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has launched a groundbreaking initiative that resolves this anxiety early, by allowing outstanding faculty members to secure tenure extension to the age of 70 as early as age 50s. This is the first such program in Korea.
The ‘Faculty Tenure Extension Program’ is an innovative initiative that allows eligible faculty members in their 50s to obtain early confirmation of their extended retirement age from 65 to 70. By securing this extension in advance, faculty can gain long-term stability and peace of mind, enabling them to focus solely on research.
The program targets top-tier faculty members with outstanding global research achievements and academic leadership. It was launched this year with an initial selection rate of just 3% of eligible tenured faculty members, with the goal of gradually expanding to 30% over the next decade.
The first four faculty members selected through this program are distinguished scholars recognized for their exceptional contributions and global impact:
● Prof. Hyun-Woo Lee (55), Department of Physics, pioneer of orbitronics, developing next-generation information devices by controlling electron orbitals.
● Prof. Unyong Jeong (53), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, a leader in flexible and stretchable electronic materials, expanding applications in wearables, healthcare, and IoT.
● Prof. Wook-Shin Han (53), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, renowned expert in databases and big data, known for developing the high-performance graph analytics engine ‘TurboGraph’.
● Prof. Seung-Ki Min (52), Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, a world-leading climate scientist providing critical scientific evidence on extreme water cycles and Arctic sea ice decline related to global warming.
The essence of this program is simple yet powerful: it fosters an environment where researchers can plan and pursue long-term, high-impact projects without the uncertainty of mandatory retirement.
By offering a stable institutional foundation for globally active faculty, POSTECH expects that the Faculty Tenure Extension Program will significantly enhance its international research competitiveness and academic reputation.
“The program will serve as an important stepping stone for faculty to continue creative and ambitious research in a stable environment,” said Jong-Bong Lee, Vice President of Academic Affairs at POSTECH. “We are committed to fostering a research-centered culture and strengthening POSTECH’s global research leadership.”