Kim Bong-ryol, a Korea National University of Arts professor, was appointed the president of the school on Monday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.

The inauguration ceremony will take place on Thursday. Kim will serve a four-year tenure.

The 55-year-old Seoul National University graduate has been teaching at the KNUA since 1997. He is an authority on Korean architecture.

Kim designed the presidential guesthouse, “Samcheongjang,” the Korean garden in Frankfurt as well as KNUA campus in Seokgwan-dong, Seoul. He also authored several books about traditional Korean designs and houses while serving as a member of the Cultural Assets Committee under the Cultural Heritage Administration.

“We are hoping that Kim will put the KNUA on the international map of arts education, despite the school’s relatively short history of 20 years,” the ministry said in a press release in announcing Kim’s appointment.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)