August 2025 Commencement Address
Beloved Yonsei family,
Today, you graduate from Yonsei University and become part of a proud network of 400,000 alumni. I warmly congratulate you on this milestone. From the moment you first set foot on this campus, filled with curiosity and hope, to this day of stepping into a wider world and a brilliant future, you have made us proud. I would also like to sincerely thank your parents and families, who have supported and encouraged you in every possible way throughout this journey.
I am deeply grateful to the distinguished guests who have joined us to honor this important new beginning for our graduates—Honorable Chairman Hur Dong-Soo and Members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Lee Kyoung Ryul, President of the Yonsei Alumni Association, Dr. Kim Byung-Soo, former President of Yonsei University, and all our distinguished alumni.
Above all, I offer my deepest respect and gratitude to the professors who have dedicated themselves with passion and devotion to nurturing these bright graduates, and to the staff who, with constant attentiveness, have supported them every step of the way.
Throughout your years at Yonsei, you have walked Baekyang-ro countless times. The history of this path began in 1917, when Professor Miller oversaw the planting of silver poplars (Populus alba) along both sides of the main entrance as the Sinchon campus was first established. For decades—until the 1960s—these trees thrived, becoming a lasting emblem of Yonsei’s path. Sadly, in recent times, they had nearly disappeared. Then, this past April, the National Institute of Forest Science gifted our university 30 silver poplar saplings. As you were completing your final semester at Yonsei, the way was opened for Baekyang-ro to once again live up to its name. Ten of the saplings were planted on Sinchon campus as part of a “Silver Poplar Symbolic Space,” while the rest are being carefully nurtured in our nursery. Just as you have grown strong and capable here at Yonsei, these trees too will grow year by year into tall, magnificent poplars. And when you return as alumni, they will shine in silver along Baekyang-ro, welcoming you home.
Beloved Graduates,
While you have been growing into exceptional Yonseians, our university, too, has made great strides together with you. Today, we live in a time of unprecedented scientific and technological change. Quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and life sciences now stand at the very heart of the forces transforming our lives and societies.
In response, Yonsei University has created an innovative campus-based research ecosystem that integrates quantum computing, AI, and biotechnology. We are proud to be the first university in Korea—and the second in the world—to adopt a quantum computer. Through the operation of our Quantum Research Group and the recruitment of world-renowned scholars, we are deepening the scope of our work. At the Yonsei Quantum Institute, pioneering research is underway in applying quantum computing to precision medicine and new drug development. This achievement has led Yonsei to be chosen as the lead institution for Korea’s very first national R&D project in advanced drug discovery powered by quantum computing and AI. In addition, on July 28, Yonsei’s Institute for Basic Science (Yonsei-IBS), together with Germany’s Max Planck Society, celebrated the opening of a joint research center, marking the beginning of full-scale collaboration. On the strength of such excellence, Yonsei continues to challenge conventions and extend its positive impact on the future of humanity.
Just as alumna Han Kang made history as the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, I firmly believe Yonsei will also give rise to future Nobel laureates in science.
Graduates who will shape the future,
Despite remarkable advances in science and technology, we are still confronted with humanity’s shared challenges: the climate crisis, shrinking populations, and widening inequality. Yet nationalism and self-interest have weakened international solidarity, and at times, technological progress has worsened division and isolation. This is why we must rekindle the spirit of community and human connection. Above all, to rebuild solidarity across nations, we must develop the sensitivity of global citizens. In a world where cultures and values intersect, I urge you to serve as bridges that foster justice and peace.
Our predecessors at Yonsei—beginning with missionaries Allen and Underwood—practiced a love that transcended national and ethnic boundaries, serving both community and neighbor. It was through their respect for freedom of spirit and their devotion to community that the righteous struggle of martyr Lee Han-Yeol and the literature of writer Han Kang were made possible. Like the words of a gospel hymn, they lived not to “shine only their own path, but helped light the way for others.”
Yonsei University will continue to practice “servant leadership,” fulfilling its duty to contribute to both local and global communities. We will take the initiative in fostering cooperation and providing support to strengthen research, education, and governance in developing nations. Our placement at 50th in this year’s QS World University Rankings, and our fourth consecutive year as the top private university in Asia, is a testament to the dedication of our graduates and the entire Yonsei family. One of the key criteria in the QS evaluation is “internationalization.” By broadening our exchanges with world-class institutions and deepening our partnerships with developing countries, Yonsei will continue to live out the “spirit of service.”
As Yonseians, may you rise as leaders who balance technological progress with respect for human dignity, ensuring that innovation’s rewards are shared by all.
Honored Graudates,
In the midst of recent social unrest, we have seen clarly how vital it is for intellectuals to reflect critically and to rebuild the values of community. The hardships endured by students due to conflicts over medical policy have placed before us a challenge we must all face together. This was not merely an internal issue of the medical field; rather, it highlighted the broader task of how our society negotiates conflicts and achieves social agreement. With this as a lesson, Yonsei University pledges to respond more proactively to social problems and to uphold its responsibility to safeguard a stable educational environment.
For the past 140 years, Yonsei University has stood at the forefront of modernization, industrialization, democratization, and globalization, leading society through each era of transformation. Such progress is not the accomplishment of one institution alone, but the living history written by countless Yonseians who practiced freedom with responsibility, and sharing through devotion. Today, I trust that you will carry on this tradition, leading Korea toward reconciliation and unity, and extending your influence to light the path of humanity’s shared future.
Learning does not end with a degree. I hope you will continue to view the world with intellectual curiosity and critical thinking throughout your life, and walk alongside others in society with kindness and consideration. Such practice will surely become a precious force that uplifts the lives of many.
Beloved Graduates,
Stay connected with Yonsei even as you step forward into the next chapter of your lives. Through platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, we share research excellence, global partnerships, and key updates with audiences around the world. Yonsei’s official Instagram has surpassed half a million followers, ranking first among Korean universities and placing 8th globally among the world’s top 50 universities, following only Harvard, Oxford, and MIT. These digital spaces are bridges that keep us close, and we will treasure your ongoing attention and support.
You are now proud alumni of Yonsei. As you embark on a new journey, I hope you will carry with you a deep sense of social responsibility and commitment to community, living lives that shine with the name of Yonsei. You are the hope of Yonsei and the future of our society.
I warmly congratulate you once again, and I pray for God’s grace and blessings to be with you always.
Thank you.
August 29, 2025
Dong-Sup Yoon
President, Yonsei University