Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on Sept. 21 it appointed former Samsung Electronics chief executive and chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon (권오현) as its new chairman of the board at its 298th extraordinary board meeting in Seoul.

Kwon graduated in electrical engineering from Seoul National University. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at KAIST and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He joined Samsung Semiconductor Research Institute in 1985 and led the development of the world’s first 64Mb DRAM in 1992.

He later served as president of Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor business, vice chairman and chief executive, and chairman and chief executive as well as head of its Advanced Institute of Technology. After stepping away from Samsung’s management, he served as chairman of the Korea Invention Promotion Association and chairman of the board of trustees at Seoul National University. Since 2021, he has served as chairman of the Orange Planet Startup Foundation.

Kwon, a KAIST alumnus, was appointed as a KAIST board member in August and was elected chairman of the board at this meeting. His term runs from the date of approval by the deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT to Aug. 19, 2029.