- Yonsei University's 132nd Commemorative Address 2017.04.08
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April 8, 2017
Respected Yonsei family,
Today is a very meaningful day. This day marks the first time we commemorate the official merging of Chosun Christian University and Severance Union Medical College 60 years ago. It has been 132 years since Gwanghyewon was founded and 102 years since the establishment of Chosen Christian College. I would like to express my gratitude to Chairman Dong-soo Hur of the Board of Directors, President Sam-Koo Park of the Yonsei Alumni Association, former Yonsei presidents, and distinguished guests for joining us on this joyous occasion.
Today, Yonsei University and Yonsei University Health System celebrate together the 132nd anniversary of Yonsei University and the 60th anniversary of the official merging of Chosun Christian University and Severance Union Medical College. This joint commemoration is the first step towards achieving the long-desired dreams of missionaries Horace Allen, Horace Underwood, and Oliver Avison. After our founder Dr. Allen left Chejungwon, missionaries Underwood and Avison worked closely together. They raised funds for Yonsei and served as the principal and vice-principal of Chosen Christian College after its establishment. Since the early days, Severance and Chosun were one entity, and different only by name and location. In October 1956, the name of Yonsei University was born and finally, "Yon" and "Sei" were officially merged to become “Yonsei” in April of the following year. However, the merge remained limited to physical integration and the two were not joined essentially.
Now, as we stand on the path to become a global university, we must integrate "Yon" and "Sei" organically. It is time to create a synergy effect that can help us reach beyond our previous limitations. There are so many things we must achieve together in this rapidly changing world. In order to fulfill the university's fundamental duty of research, education, and service to society, an intimate connection is urgent. We can become a new “Yonsei” only when we become truly one.
Respected Yonseians,
The study of life phenomena, the last unknown area for mankind, will soon become a key research area at universities. Yonsei University is the ideal place for convergence learning, as it is home to medicine, life science, engineering, and all related disciplines. Yonsei University and Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) plan to create a “Convergence Science Park” for the convergence of research in life science. Here, research will be conducted on roads that connect the two to each other and cross into boundaries. This park will become a model of interdisciplinarity among various academic fields, ranging from fields of YUHS, life science, science, and engineering to humanities and social sciences. As one merged campus, we must go beyond the limits we experienced as separate campuses. Interaction between faculty should also go beyond respective colleges to the overall university and YUHS. I am certain that convergence research is the only way for Yonsei to pioneer into the fourth industrial revolution.
Fortunately, convergence has begun albeit in a small step. Yonsei Institute of Convergence Science conducts convergence research in 232 research areas, 44 research centers and 17 graduate student groups. In addition, the Colleges of Medicine and Engineering have started collaboration on developing state-of-the art cardiovascular treatment equipment and medical image equipment. I hope that this first step will advance Korea's medical equipment industry and lead to start-ups, which will provide a new path for the education, research and financial stability of Yonsei.
Convergence is also a key word in the future of education. We must re-establish the objective of education to strengthening problem-solving creativity that is based on convergence thinking. We should nurture students who question out of curiosity rather than students who know all the answers to test questions. Moreover, future society will highly value non-cognitive ability that is measured by interpersonal skills more than cognitive ability expressed in terms of intelligence. Our current students will live on into the 22nd century, and I believe that the future leaders of their era should possess the ability to empathize with others and encompass their pain. Soft skills such as sociability, sympathy, and consideration are the values ought to be pursued by “Yon” and “Sei” together. We already began instilling these skills in our students through Residential College (RC) education, where classroom and living blend together and students from different majors interact.
We have also begun convergence in volunteering work. As we celebrate the 132nd anniversary of Yonsei University and the 60th anniversary of the official merging, we are opening the Institute for Global Engagement that will merge missionary work and volunteering activities previously carried out separately at the main campus and YUHS. We plan to efficiently integrate the diverse and overlapping social work both campuses have carried out so far in Korea and overseas. From this endeavor, Yonsei will emerge as an "engaged university" that strives to solve social problems in Korea as well as all corners of the global community.
Respected guests,
As we look back upon the past 60 years, we should also take a moment to look forward into the next 60 years. If “Yon” and “Sei” educate and research together, as well as learn to share while sharing learning, Yonsei students will look back in 60 years and remember the significance of today's first joint ceremony of the official merging, the day when Yonsei truly became one. Today will be remembered as the day Yonsei takes its first step towards a complete union.
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” As we accept God's intention as shown through the founding of Yonsei on a land where there is no church to worship, no school to study, we have made the first step in making Yonsei truly one. As I once again thank all valued guests for attending this meaningful occasion, may each and everyone of you be blessed and graced by God.