Kim In-chul, the president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was recently elected head of the Korea Arab Society, officials said Friday.

According to HUFS, Kim was appointed the KAS chief on Wednesday at the organization’s board of directors meeting. Kim began his two-year term immediately after the appointment, succeeding Ali Hamad Mubarak Al Marri, the former Qatari Ambassador to South Korea.

The 56-year-old educator recently emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation between Korea and Arab countries in areas of “soft power,” such as education and pop culture. Korea needs to look beyond its traditional partners like the U.S., China, Japan and Russia and foster experts in the Arab region, Kim said in an interview with a local daily.

The KAS was established in 2008 to boost cooperation between Korea and 22 Arab countries in areas including business, arts, culture, sports and academic endeavors.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)