The University of Southern California has appointed Beong-Soo Kim, the current interim president, as its 13th president, marking the first time a Korean American has led the university in its 146-year history. The decision represents a symbolic milestone for both the Korean American community and the broader academic world.
On February 4, USC announced that its Board of Trustees unanimously selected Kim as president, effective immediately. The board said the appointment reflected broad confidence in his leadership throughout the search process. It described him as a next-generation leader capable of guiding the university through a rapidly changing higher education landscape.
Kim, who has served as interim president since July 1 of last year, focused on strengthening collaboration across departments and schools. In addition, he expanded opportunities for open dialogue between faculty and students. These efforts aimed to rebuild trust and promote transparency within the university community.
During his interim tenure, Kim launched the Presidential Open Dialogue Project, a platform designed to encourage direct communication across campus. He also established the AI Strategy Committee to address the academic and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in education. Through public forums involving students, faculty and industry experts, the committee examined how AI should be responsibly integrated into teaching and research.
The board noted that Kim worked closely with trustees, senior leadership, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni. As a result, he helped establish a foundation of trust across university governance.
In a statement, Kim thanked the board and the USC community, often referred to as the Trojan Family, for their confidence. He said he plans to lead the university by emphasizing academic excellence, innovative research and global impact.
Before becoming interim president, Kim served as USC’s senior vice president and general counsel beginning in 2020. During that period, he played a key role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw efforts to strengthen compliance and restructure governance within the university’s health system. In addition, he taught as a lecturer at the USC Gould School of Law.
Prior to joining USC, Kim held senior leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente. He also worked as a partner at an international law firm and served as a federal prosecutor.
A Los Angeles native, Kim earned his bachelor’s degree and law degree from Harvard University. He later completed a master’s degree at the London School of Economics. His parents, both Korean immigrants, also attended USC for graduate studies.
Reflecting on his appointment, Kim said that growing up as the son of Korean immigrants shaped his journey alongside the university. With his selection, the USC Korean president now steps into a historic role at one of the nation’s leading private universities.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
