The 20th CNU President Jeong Byung-seok finished his four-year term on January 12, 2021. 

Former President Jeong ended his duty by saying goodbye to the faculty members after having a quiet resignation ceremony at Yongbong Hall, wishing the endless development of the university and the well-being of the faculty and staff. President Jeong is planning to return to CNU Law School to continue his education and research.

Staff and faculty also regretted the goodbye and took a commemorative photo with a hand signboard bearing a cheering phrase. They wished that the future would be full of glory and blessings for President Jeong, who gladly took the bouquet and a small gift.
 
In the ceremony, Kim Soo-gap, (President of the National Council of National and Public University Presidents and Chungbuk National University), Park Seong-hyun (Chairperson of the Gwangju and Jeonnam Regional University Presidents' Council and President of Mokpo National Maritime University), Jeong Seong-taek (succeeding President of CNU), Ahn Young-keun (Director of CNU Hospital), and current major post members and deans paid homage to the hard work that had been done by former President Jeong.
 
After completing his term of office, President Jeong Byung-seok will return to CNU Law School, which he belonged to prior to his presidency, to pursue education and research, while also seeking ways to contribute to the development of education in Korea by utilizing his various careers and experiences gained while serving as president.

In his retirement speech, President Jeong said, “Our university has produced numerous talents and is a witness and protagonist which has kept the precious values of democracy, human rights, and justice in this country. Every day, we have made history at the university. I am grateful to all of you who shared the responsibility.”

To the local people, he added, “CNU is the cradle of local talent, the source of youth culture, the birthplace of knowledge and technology, and the foundation of lifelong education for citizens of Gwangju and nearby cities and provinces. Please continue to cherish and support CNU.”
 
For the past four years since he was inaugurated as the 20th president in January 2017, President Jeong has contributed to transforming CNU into a future-oriented leading university by ▲ reorganizing departments in high-tech fields ▲ maintaining the highest level of research projects and research funds ▲ attracting campus town-type urban regeneration projects and regional innovation platform projects ▲ creating cultural spaces such as the Democratic Trail.