Yonsei University Celebrates 127th Anniversary On May 12th, Yonsei University celebrated its 127th anniversary. A commemorative ceremony was held at the 100th Memorial Hall at 11 am. It consisted of awarding ceremonies for the Yonsei Social Services Award, Teaching Award, Volunteer Service Award and Continuous Service Award, in that order, respectively. Following the ceremony, a luncheon was held at the President’s Residence. Attendees included faculty members and Yonsei alumni. A reunion of undergraduate students was also held at the Main Hall from 2:30pm. Yonsei University President Jeong Kap-young said in a commemorative speech, “Yonsei will lead the way for development of universities meeting the demands of the era through the third founding of Yonsei. Starting next year, the school plans to adopt the concept of residential college (RC) implemented in Ivy League-level universities for freshmen in its new campus in Songdo, Incheon. Under the new plan, professors and students will live together in the dormitory so that they can interact at a deeper level after school. Yonsei will nurture global leaders with knowledge and sensibility. Yonsei RC program will introduce a new paradigm to university education in Korea.” In addition, President Jeong said that “Yonsei’s newly emerging stage – Incheon International Campus – will have 24,463m² (74,000 pyeong) worth of facilities by the end of the year, and 31,074 m² (94,000 pyeong) by next year with the completion of the library and the second dormitory building marking the end of the first stage of construction.” In regard to the cooperation between the different campuses, he said, “An intimate network system and an effective collaboration system will be set up between Sinchon, Wonju, Incheon campuses and Yonsei University Health System. The distinctive characteristics of the campuses will be enhanced while working to maximize cross-campus synergy in the integration of education and research. I am certain that the policy of autonomy and integration pursued by Yonsei will become an exemplary case for other universities with multiple campuses.” In his congratulatory speech, President Jeong also emphasized the project concerning “the re-creation of Baekyang-ro” in Sinchon Campus. “The technical evaluation of the Baekyang-ro re-creation project has been completed. If the project goes as planned, by the 130th anniversary the school grounds will have a completely different look: cars will pass through the underground passage and above ground there will be beautiful grass areas,” he said. Winners of this year’s Teaching Award are Professor Lee Kyung-won of English Language and Literature, Professor Han Jun-sang of Education, Professor Lim Sung-il of Physics, Professor Ko Tae-guk of Electricity and Electronic Engineering, and Professor Park Young-nyeon of Medicine. A reunion of 25th- and 50th-year alumni (“Yonsei Within Me”) was held at the Main Hall from 2:30pm. It was a meaningful event reuniting alumni with old school mates and professors. It offered the chance for them to have a look around the much changed campus and gain back the energy in life reminiscing about their school days and their dreams while also solidify their relationship with Yonsei.