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Yonsei News

[YONSEI NEWS] Lee Brothers & Co. Chairman Lee Jong-Koo Donates 100 Million Won to Yonsei

연세대학교 홍보팀 / news@yonsei.ac.kr
2008-07-15

To Fund Construction of Yonsei-Samsung Academy Information Center On May 21, in the Presidential Residence where the Yonsei Presidential Club was held, and elderly gentleman rose and sang the Yonhi College song, recalling memories of the 1930s. When Yonhi College became Yonsei University, the Yonhi song written by Dr. Baek Nak-Jun was replaced by the current “Song of Yonsei”. The gentleman who sang the song admirably despite his 93 years of age was Honorary Chairman of Lee Brothers & Co., Lee Jong-Koo. Mr. Lee visited the Yonsei campus for the first time in 50 years since he graduated from the Yonhi College of Business on 1938. On June 13, Mr. Lee showed his affection for his old school by donating 100 million won to fund the construction of the Yonsei-Samsung Academy Information Center. Mr. Lee shared his memories as a student with Yonsei President Kim Han-Joong: “It was during the Japanese occupation, so we wore military uniforms to campus. The 400 students sang the Yonhi College Song in a single voice. Coming back to this campus has been a very emotional experience.” Mr. Lee also showed interest in the Songdo Project. After presenting his donation, Mr. Lee visited the new Academy Information Center. Despite the university’s efforts to accommodate him in a wheelchair, Mr. Lee insisted that he was strong enough to walk through the building himself. Lung Surgery in Middle School, Entering Yonsei in 1938 Born in 1915, Mr. Lee underwent lung surgery in middle school, causing a four-year delay in his academic plans. After graduating from Chuncheon High School, Mr. Lee became a student at Yonsei in 1938 and went on to establish Lee Brothers & Co., a paper products company. His son, Lee Jeong-Bok, is carrying on the family tradition as chairman. Two years ago, Mr. Lee suffered from elderly depression and was admitted to the Severance Hospital. There, Mr. Lee was able to completely overcome his depression with the help of Dr. Nam Goong-Gi. Mr. Lee has three sons and one daughter and has previously donated 100 million won in 2006 for the advancement of Yonsei’s Economics department.