POSTECH Vice President for Research Yoon-ha Jeong has been appointed Chair of the Regional Science and Technology Promotion Council under the presidential National Science and Technology Council.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology recently announced 18 members as it reorganized the council from a government-official-centered body to one led by civilian members.

Vice President Jeong will lead deliberations on comprehensive and annual regional science and technology promotion plans; coordination of policies and projects across ministries and local governments; science and technology exchanges and cooperation between local governments; and efficient management of regional R&D budgets.

The term is two years, through September 2012. Six strategically recommended members with advisory experience for national councils, major science organizations, and ministries include Jeong, KISTEP Policy Planning Director Gu-seon Park, and R&D Human Resources Development Institute President Sang-seon Kim.

Twelve local-government nominees include Dae-jin Kim, Director of the Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics; Seon-ho Kim, President of the Korea Photonics Technology Institute; and Du-cheol Kim, Dean of Natural Sciences at Jeju National University.