Before You Vote: A Breakdown of the Three GSA Candidates’ Visions

The election for the president and vice president of the Pusan National University (PNU) General Students’ Association (GSA) for the 2026 academic year will begin on November 25th. This 58th GSA election marks the first three-way race in nine years since the 49th council, “Pride IN U,” was elected in 2016.

Ahead of the GSA election, “Channel PNU” met with the three campaign teams to help students make an informed choice. Each team was asked about their key pledges, motivations for running, areas they hope to improve, plans, strengths, and the meaning and goals behind their team name. Their responses were compiled following in-person interviews conducted at the Channel PNU seminar room on November 12th and 13th after candidates were provided with a set of preliminary questions.

The three campaign teams, whose electioneering began on the 11th, will participate in the “Candidate Debate” hosted by the Central Election Commission on the 18th, as well as “Channel PNU”’s “Meet the 2026 GSA Candidates” event on November 19th, which is scheduled to be reported and broadcast on November 21st.

■Candidate No. 1 — “PASS”: Main Candidate Choi Yeon-Woo (Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, 21) and deputy candidate Choi Seo-Yoon (Dept. of Plastic Arts, 21)

Q. What are the main pledges of “PASS”?

A. [Academic Affairs] Introduce a “credit forgiveness system” that allows students to discard up to six credits.

[Campus Culture] Organize group viewings and live attendance events for the World Cup.

[Student Welfare] Expand the Saebyeokbyeoldang late-night study space program.

[Student Autonomy] Expand the career and startup fair.

Q. What motivated you to run in this election?

A. Serving as the president of the College of Human Ecology Student Council, and with the deputy candidate serving as the chairman of the Interim Student Council for the College of Arts, I gained a closer perspective on the student community. I expected to move in step with the changes needed within student society, but instead, I felt a sense of helplessness as the community remained far more stagnant than anticipated. At times, the GSA felt more like a subordinate body carrying out tasks for the Head Office of PNU than an organization advocating for student rights. For several years, the GSA has campaigned on the same pledges, been elected, and yet consistently failed to deliver meaningful results. This repeated inability to meet expectations has steadily eroded students’ interest in and confidence toward the GSA. To prevent the student community from further decline, it is now time to push for bold change and follow through with action.  I decided to run because I want to demonstrate a GSA that acts decisively and without hesitation. Pledges represent a promise between the GSA and the students. Rather than relying on desk-bound administration, we will confront problems head-on and actively work in the field to resolve them. Our goal is to build a GSA that the students can truly trust. When students encounter challenges in their campus life or want their voices heard, I want the GSA to be the first organization that comes to mind.

Q. What is the first thing you would like to change if elected?

A. Students at PNU face intense daily competition. The Saebyeokbyeoldang 24-hour study space is consistently full, resulting in a significant shortage of available seats. To address this problem, we plan to renovate existing reading rooms so they function like Saebyeokbyeoldang, improving overall study convenience. We also intend to expand rest areas and convenience facilities, so students can take breaks whenever they need to while studying. I also believe our cultural programs need restructuring. Students currently have limited opportunities for cultural experiences, so more diverse programs are necessary. In 2025, participation in cultural events — from the Daedong-Je Festival to the sports competition — was extremely low. Beyond revising the invited performance lineup, we aim to revive aspects of our past festival culture and design events that feel fresh and engaging. Our goal is to create events that students genuinely want to participate in, rather than ones we merely hope they will attend.

Q. If elected to the GSA. What are your plans moving forward?

A. If elected, our first priority will be preparing for the Daedong-Je Festival. Unlike the Seoul Metropolitan area, Busan faces geographical limitations that make it difficult to invite artists. To address this, we plan to collaborate with the Busan Federation of Student Committees, a coalition of GSA presidents from universities across Busan, to coordinate festival dates and pursue joint artist recruitment. This approach will help us invite major artists more efficiently and secure the best possible conditions for the festival at PNU. We are also planning a group viewing event for the World Cup in 2026. To ensure smooth execution, we will begin preliminary tasks immediately, including negotiating broadcasting rights and completing other necessary preparations to fulfill our pledges.

Q. What sets PASS apart from the other campaign teams?

A. Both of our candidates have served as college-level student council presidents, which gives us a deep understanding of the student community. I was the president of the College of Human Ecology Student Council in 2024, and my experience in student leadership extends back to high school. In 2021, I also worked as a member of the 53rd GSA ‘Hangyeol,’ gaining direct experience with GSA operations. The deputy candidate is equally experienced as well, having served multiple terms as president of the College of Arts Student Council and as chairman of its Interim Student Council. Unlike the other candidates, we have firsthand experience with the GSA’s administrative structure and decision-making processes, which we consider a major strength. Through our experience leading college-level student councils, we understand the expectations that college councils have of the GSA. College councils often have lower name recognition than the GSA, making it difficult to communicate with large companies or PNU’s Head Office. By facilitating clear communication channels and ensuring smoother coordination, we believe we can provide far greater benefits to our students.

Q. What is the meaning behind the name “PASS,” and what are your goals for the 58th GSA election?

A. “Together, without obstacles, PASS.” Our name reflects the belief that when we move forward with the students of PNU, nothing can stand in our way. A single small voice can grow into a louder one, and that collective voice becomes the starting point of change and the driving force of a larger student community. We do not aim to create another student council indistinguishable from those before it. We want to build a GSA unique to PASS. The GSA should not function as a subordinate unit of the Head Office, but as a body that draws out students’ opinions, confronts problems directly, and resolves the inconveniences they face. Even when presenting survey data, the impact of 100 responses differs greatly from that of 10,000. PASS will not rely solely on desk-bound discussions. We will be out in the field, listening closely to students and staying by their side. We aim to represent the voices of 10,000 students and solve problems without obstruction. A year from now, when students look back, we want them to remember a proud and confident GSA, one that stays with them for life.”

■Candidate No. 2 — “Woori”: Main candidate Na Seok-Ho (Dept. of History, 21) and deputy candidate Park Eun-Young (Dept. of Psychology, 23)

Q. What are the main pledges of “Woori”? 

A. – Take joint action for student demands

-Introduce “Let’s Meet Now”—weekly student meet-up day

- Remove delegated voting rights provisions from the GSA Charter

- Publish a White Paper on the Tuition Fee Deliberation Committee

- Conduct pre-course-registration surveys to identify preferred courses 

Q. What motivated you to run in this election?

A. Before deciding to run, I was active in an external student organization called “PNU Student Autonomy Initiative.” To better understand students’ inconveniences, our group surveyed around the Chuseok holiday. Based on the results, we drafted the “Ten Demands for Solving On-Campus Issues at PNU” and submitted them to the Head Office. Through this process, I realized that there are many long-standing problems students continue to face that remain unresolved. From that experience, I came to believe that if I took on the GSA directly, I would be able to reflect students’ voices more effectively, which ultimately led me to run in this election.

Q. What is the first thing you would like to change if elected?

A. I want to restore students’ decision-making power so they can determine the course of resolving their own issues. In the past, the GSA successfully empowered students in this way. A representative case is the 2018 Student General Assembly. At the time, a national policy pushed for a merger between PNU and Pukyong National University without reflecting students’ opinions. The GSA convened the Student General Assembly, the highest decision-making body, and successfully blocked the merger. I see this as a decisive moment in which the GSA placed the authority to decide their own future back into students’ hands.  More recently, controversies such as the demolition of the department student lounge in the College of Humanities and the proposed integration of the College of Education with Busan National University of Education(BNUE) sparked strong backlash precisely because students' opinions were not reflected. These issues were pushed forward with a “going along to get along” attitude. Had the GSA demonstrated the same determination it demonstrated in the past, these matters could also have been resolved through the Student General Assembly or other democratic processes. My goal is to restore students’ decision-making power.  I also aim to rebuild students’ sense of political efficacy within the student self-governance system, helping restore their interest in the GSA.  While welfare events such as festivals are important, if students do not feel that their opinions genuinely influence policies, their engagement with the GSA will inevitably decline. By creating processes in which students can genuinely feel that their voices shape decisions, I want to raise expectations for the GSA and reinforce the idea that it is a dynamic organization where students’ perspectives truly matter.

Q. If elected to the GSA. What are your plans moving forward?

A. Even during the current campaign period, many students have shared the inconveniences they face in their daily campus life. The most frequently mentioned issues are the campus shuttle bus and course registration, which will be our first priority. In addition, rather than limiting ourselves to the pledges on our platform, we also want to address pressing issues raised by students during the campaign — such as water leakage on the fourth floor of the Student Union Building or poor air quality from air conditioners — issues that are not part of our official pledges but still require immediate attention.

Q. What sets Woori apart from the other campaign teams?

A. Experience is certainly important. Past actions often help shape future performance. However, what matters more is sincerity. Although we do not have prior student council experience, “Woori” has consistently upheld the belief that students should be able to have the power to make decisions about their own issues and we have worked more closely with students than anyone else. General surveys conducted by student councils can provide objective information about students’ inconveniences. But surveys alone cannot fully capture the urgency students feel about these issues. We believe that only by directly experiencing that urgency can we develop the determination needed to solve those problems. Our strength lies in working most closely with students through autonomous activities outside the GSA. These experiences have given us a clear understanding of what the GSA must be like if it is to truly reflect students’ pressing concerns and act with sincerity.

Q. What is the meaning behind the name “Woori,” and what are your goals for the 58th GSA election?

A. The name “Woori” carries the message that problems should not be handled alone but addressed together. We believe that the GSA works effectively when it operates with the active interest and participation of students. The quality of student life does not improve simply because the GSA works on its own. Every step of the process involves students, and our goal is that by the end of our term, we will hear students say, “This is our GSA.” We also aim to build the GSA that does not limit itself to what is easy or convenient, but instead focuses on what needs to be done.

■Candidate No. 3 — “O-reum”: Main candidate Kim Ho-Young (Dept. of Economics, 24) and deputy candidate Lim Eun-Young (Dept. of Political Science and Diplomacy, 23)

Q. What are the main pledges of “O-reum”?

A.   - Introduction of a credit forgiveness system

- Development of a Student Qualification Comparison Program

- Separation of maximum credit limits for Seasonal terms and the Leap semester 

- Expansion and improvement of the Daedong-Je Festival

Q. What motivated you to run in this election?

A. I had been considering running for some time. My motivation goes back to my military service. While serving my duty at the Presidential Security Service, I often spoke with friends studying at universities in the Seoul Metropolitan area. What was taken for granted for them were things felt nearly out of reach for us — easier access to internships during semesters and breaks, and various cultural experiences such as inter-university exchanges. As a student at PNU, I felt envious and frustrated to see that environmental differences alone could determine whether opportunities were even accessible, and I started thinking about how I could make a difference. Among many possible paths, I wanted to speak for PNU and our students in a way that was both sincere and impactful. I also understand the weight and responsibility of the GSA president’s role. Since students spend four years at PNU, the GSA shapes roughly 25 percent of that university experience. We must therefore take full responsibility and provide everything we can. I spent a long time questioning whether I was truly prepared and qualified to run. Fortunately, I found people who shared my vision, and their support gave me the courage and confidence that I could carry out the role of the GSA president well. That is why I ultimately decided to run in this election.

Q. What is the first thing you would like to change if elected?

A. I want to ensure that the voices of the student community receive the attention they deserve. While serving as a student representative on the Academic Committee, I noticed that the Head Office often does not fully listen to students. During the proposed integration of PNU and the BNUE, for example, the concerns of students in the College of Education were overlooked despite the possibility of relocating to the BNUE campus. Even issues related to academic spaces for undergraduate students remained unresolved, yet the process moved forward with an attitude of “let’s implement it first and deal with the problems later.” It made me question who these decisions were truly for. Curriculum restructuring, academic status changes, and campus integration are all matters for which students ultimately bear the consequences. These are our issues, yet we are unable to decide them ourselves — a reality that is difficult to accept. This is why I am fully committed to strengthening the power of students’ voices. We will actively gather feedback from students and share detailed updates on both major and minor issues, so that we can respond together. Regardless of the situation, I will prioritize PNU students above all else and consistently ask what is truly needed and what must be done on their behalf.

Q. If elected as the GSA. What are your plans moving forward?

A. The first issues I want to address immediately upon taking office are the problems concerning the Undergraduate College and the Glocal University Initiative. These matters directly affect students at this very moment and require urgent action. I plan to clearly convey the perspectives of the College of Education students to the Head Office and firmly advocate for their rights. I will also push for more in-depth discussions regarding curriculum-related issues affecting Undergraduate College students to ensure that concrete and satisfactory solutions are reached. In collaboration with the Division of Employment and Career Support, we will quickly develop a program that allows students to compare their qualifications. We also plan to further improve the corporate field-trip initiative, which was successfully carried out in 2025, so that students can benefit from even higher-quality experiences. Since 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of PNU, we will begin full-scale preparations for an expanded Daedong-Je Festival. Because securing artists requires early and thorough planning, we intend to begin discussions with the Head Office well in advance. If necessary, I am prepared to visit entertainment agencies directly to negotiate. Additionally, detailed implementation plans for all of O-REUM’s campaign pledges have already been drafted and are currently under review with the relevant departments. We will begin working on every promise as quickly as possible to ensure that we deliver on what we pledged to students.

Q. What sets O-reum apart from the other campaign teams?

A. O-reum’s greatest strength is its practical expertise, as both the main and deputy candidates previously served as vice presidents within their respective student councils. While presidents generally handle external affairs and vice presidents manage internal operations, O-reum’s main candidate gained experience in both during his term as vice president of his college, taking charge of tasks such as participating in the Academic Committee and facilitating communication with other colleges. The deputy candidate also brings substantial hands-on experience, having served as chair of the Audit Committee and contributed extensively to practical tasks, including design work for both the previous student council and the current campaign. With our combined expertise in practical operations, O-reum is well-equipped to manage every aspect of the GSA’s work. Their ability to oversee the full scope of student council affairs enables them to establish precise roadmaps and ensure efficient administrative execution.

Q. What is the meaning behind the name “O-reum,” and what are your goals for the 58th GSA election?

A. The name “O-reum” literally means “to rise.” Everyone has their own goals and dreams, and each step they take is part of their climb toward the summit they envision. O-reum aims to accompany students throughout that climb. We hope that the journey toward goals will not feel overwhelming, and we intend to quietly support students along the way, helping to lighten the burden wherever we can. Grounded in our determination to rise higher together with all Hyowon students (Nickname referring to PNU Students), we hope to join them on their path toward their personal summit.

Reporter Song Min-Soo

Translated by Seo Young-Chae