Dear Yonsei Family, The New Year has dawned. I wish all of the Yonsei family the endless blessings of God. Despite hardships both inside and outside the university, we were able to reap plentiful results last year. In addition to achieving our goal of being ranked among the international top 100 for SCI articles at 96th place, we opened the new Yonsei-Samsung Academy Information Center and began construction on the Songdo Global Complex. In major university rankings, both domestic and international, Yonsei’s status as the top Korean private university was verified. Although all of these achievements were built on the previous efforts of our former president and other members of the Yonsei community, 2008 will be remembered as the year when all of these efforts bore fruit in Yonsei’s confirmation of its place as “the First and the Best.” The New Year has come in the midst of international economic hardship. The economic crisis that began in the U.S. has shaken the foundations of the global economy and plunged into depression the economies of nations worldwide. This may be seen as a process of correcting the imbalance between the globalized financial sector and other economic sectors such as production, labor, and consumption. Be that as it may, some decade after the IMF crisis, we are once again being sorely tested in our ability to survive the perils of a globalized economy. In the face of the hardships and challenges we face, we must plan the year ahead of us and establish specific goals to be reached. It is our obligation not merely to preserve what we have achieved in the past year, but to inspire hope in the entire Korean society. Especially in times of crisis, we must strive to close the gap in research between Yonsei and the top international institutions. Our top priority will be supporting research. In line with this goal, we will continue our Global 5-5-10 Project in conjunction with the WCU, BK, and HK programs; we shall increase our support of star faculty, and reinforce incentives for research. We shall also improve our research facilities, by among other things, adding three stories to the Advanced Science and Technology Center. Economic Crisis Scholarship Campaign In order to make Yonsei a place where the youth of the world aspire to join, I plan to hoist up the level of the education provided at Yonsei one step higher. University facilities will be continuously enhanced, and a foreign language accreditation program will be implemented, beginning with the incoming students of 2009. Globalization of the Yonsei campus will be accelerated by attracting more international faculty and students. New dormitory and lecture hall facilities will greatly improve the educational environment of the Wonju Campus. We will also conduct our Economic Crisis Scholarship campaign, encouraging donations of 100,000 won for student scholarships, to prevent students from dropping out due to the economic situation. In order to improve the quality of administrative service, we will implement efficiency measures and assign administrative staff to each department. In consideration of the current economic situation, undergraduate and graduate student tuition will be maintained at last year’s rates, while the university management will reflect a more rigorous budget control. In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to secure funds to reinforce our financial base. We will aggressively encourage donations, reduce management costs, and enhance the effectiveness of our budget. In preparation for a long-term depression, we will vigilantly monitor our financial structure and improve the profits of accounting divisions and funds. Construction of the Songdo Global Complex is now fully in motion following the groundbreaking ceremony held last year. Three committees are contracted to make their best efforts to increase research space, provide opportunities for students to develop community education and leadership, and facilitate globalization at Songdo. Songdo is a long-term project, which anticipates decades’ or even a century’s changes in the future. We must move toward our future despite current hardships. Yet we also stand firm in our proud tradition, for we return to the spirit of Dr. Underwood, who came here 124 years ago and established a university on the barren grounds of Joseon. It is no longer meaningful to discuss the Songdo issue: we must continue to carry on our mission to complete our founder’s vision of globalization. Faith is the realization of hopes and the proof of intangible things. Universities are in a difficult position due to the conflicting expectations of society. On the one hand, society demands that we lead efforts in valuing equal opportunity for all members of the community, but at the same time we are expected to match the best of the world in research and education. Despite the lackluster funding from the government, state regulations are not being relaxed. Yonsei stands in the midst of such difficult expectations and obligations. As a leader among the private universities of Korea, all eyes are fixed on us to see how we rise to this challenge. Discovering and Encouraging Outstanding Students as a Community Effort The noble duty of a university is to understand human and social problems, to analyze natural and social phenomenon, and to present new directions and values for humanity. In times of crisis, we must look toward the community and social unification. Reaching out from the university campus to mankind in general, we must make contributions to create a beautiful community. The Korean society today is facing numerous problems due to the disintegration of the community. As a part of the community, Yonsei University will raise awareness of this issue and enter into a comprehensive, systemic, yet academic contemplation of community development. We will focus especially on reinvigorating the regional communities, which are often neglected in the rush toward globalization. We will lead the nation in bringing the grassroots community of Korea alive by discovering and encouraging outstanding students in regional communities. Without reinvigorating the regional communities, globalization can only remain an empty dream. Proposing an “Academic New Deal” to the Government Meanwhile, this is the time for the government and the society to increase investments for the future. We are at a point where we must relieve the economic burden on young students’ shoulders but also prepare for the future. If you agree that the youth are the future of the country and the university is the hope of the society, you must show your support for qualified private universities. In order to develop technology and explore the future, I propose a governmental “Academic New Deal” to support university education and create jobs for the young people. I ask those at influential positions in the community to participate in this investment for the future of universities. Looking back on the 124 years of the Yonsei history, I am impressed how we have never turned away from hardship. We have weathered greater hardships than most of other universities in the world, but managed to become the pride of our nation and a vital member of the global community. Carrying on our founding spirit and taking courage from the model set by those who came before us, we do not fear anything. We shall waver neither to the left nor to the right, but move steadily forward to fulfill our destiny. We shall prove that we are indeed the pride and the torchlight of this nation and of the world. Servant Leadership, a Leadership of Sharing, a Leadership of Warmth Dear Yonsei Family, Especially in times of hardship, we must remember and declare the Yonsei spirit. Founded through altruistic love and devotion, it is clear what we must show to the world. A warm leadership that strives with itself for excellent constantly but is always considerate of others, a servant leadership that vies to serve the needs of others, and a sharing leadership that unstintingly distributes the fruits of its hard work with others. This is what we must show. 2008 was a year in which we reconfirmed our place as “the First and the Best”. 2009 will be a year during which we serve as the salt and beacon of the world. Dear Yonseians, On this first day of the new year, I ask you to consider once again the historic importance of our position and calling. I invite you all to join the noble mission of serving the Yonsei community, and thereby serving our nation and the world. Thank you. January 1, 2009 Yonsei University President Kim Han-Joong