Song Ja

In this Korean name, the family name is  Song.

Song Ja

Born| 1936 (age 87-88)

Daejeon, South Korea

Occupation| Politician
Academic
Korean name
Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Song Ja
McCune–Reischauer| Song Cha

Song Ja (born 1936) is a South Korean politician and academic. He has served as chancellor of Yonsei University and Myongji University, and as Minister of Education.

## Career

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Song was named a professor of business management at Yonsei University in 1977.[1] He was elevated to the position of twelfth chancellor of Yonsei University in August 1992.[2] In November 1994, Yang Dong-kwan of the Seoul Western District Court ruled that his nomination to the chancellorship had been invalid because he formally had not yet applied for restoration of South Korean citizenship at the time, and so was legally stateless.[1] Song had naturalised as a U.S. citizen in 1978, but gave up U.S. citizenship in 1984.[3] However, an appeal court ruled in May 1995 that his lack of citizenship was not sufficient reason to invalidate his nomination.[4] In January 1997, Song announced that he was resigning from his professorship at Yonsei University.[5]

In June 1997, Song was appointed chancellor of Myongji University, also in Seoul.[6] He became Minister of Education in 2000 during the presidency of Kim Dae-jung.[3] He was the third former Myongji University chancellor to receive a cabinet position in the past decade.[7]

## Personal life

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Song was born in 1936 in Daejeon.[8] His family is part of the Eunjin Song bon-gwan.[9] He graduated from Yonsei University in 1960 and received a scholarship from the U.S. to study at Washington University in St. Louis. He obtained U.S. permanent residence through adjustment of status in 1970.[10] He is married and has two daughters.[3]

## References

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1. ^ a b "宋梓 연세대 총장,총장선임 무효판결" [Yonsei University chancellor Song Ja's chancellorship invalid]. Yonhap News Agency. 1994-11-09. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
2. ^ "연세대 宋梓교수, 제12대총장 취임" [Yonsei U. professor Song Ja takes office as 12th chancellor]. Yonhap News Agency. 1992-08-03. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
3. ^ a b c "송자 신임교육장관 가족 '이중국적' 논란" [Controversy over dual citizenship of new education minister Song Ja's family]. The Dong-A Ilbo. 2000-08-07. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
4. ^ "<焦點> 연세대 宋梓총장 항소심판결 내용" [Focus: Yonsei U. chancellor Song Ja appeal decision contents]. Yonhap News Agency. 1995-05-17. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
5. ^ "宋梓 前총장,교수직 사퇴" [Former chancellor Song Ja announces resignation of professorship]. Yonhap News Agency. 1997-01-16. Retrieved 2013-10-18..
6. ^ "명지대 총장에 宋梓씨 선임" [Song Ja named to Myongji U. chancellorship]. Yonhap News Agency. 1997-06-13. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
7. ^ "명지대: 총장은 '입각 코스'" [Myongji U.: chancellorship is 'cabinet course']. Hankook Ilbo. 2000-08-08. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
8. ^ "전 연세대 총장 송자" [Former Yonsei U. chancellor Song Ja]. New Dong-A. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
9. ^ Choe, Song-su (2012-10-05). "'동춘당 문화제' 대전서 개막" ['Dongchundang Culture Festival' opens in Daejeon]. Asia Economy. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
10. ^ "송자장관 의혹: 82년 입국 신고서에 '송재'로 기재" [Doubts on Minister Song Ja: name recorded as 'Song Jae' in 1982 entrance declaration]. The Dong-a Ilbo. 2000-08-29. Retrieved 2013-10-17.