“Global Friends With Yonsei”: A Cultural Exchange Festival “ An event was held that showed the true spirit of Yonsei’s “Inbound Globalization.” 1,300 international and domestic students gathered to talk, laugh, hug, and share friendship and warmth with each other. The Institute of Language Research and Education (Director Choi Moon-gyoo, Professor of German) held the “Yonseian International Culture Exchange Festival, Global Friends with Yonsei” event on May 4 at the Centennial Hall. Professor Choi announced that “This is the first step toward a new paradigm of university globalization. I hope this is only a beginning of a continuous exchange of friendships.” In his congratulatory address, University President Jung Chang-Young expressed his hopes that friendships forged on this day would build new bridges for tomorrow: “In the past 50 years, many foreign nationals and ethnic-Korean international students came to our Institute to study the Korean language and culture. These people played an important role in telling the world about Korea and Yonsei University. Regardless of ethnicity or nationality, we are all Yonseians, and we are all members of the global community. I am sure that this event will lead to great things in the future through friendships forged today.” Ahn Seong-mi (Junior, French Language and Literature), a Korean student who participated in the Festival, said, “I hope this will be a chance for Korean and international students to communicate and understand each other.” Christopher Pemberton (KLI, Level 6 Class 4), who is from the U.S., spoke fluent Korean as he said, “It is an honor to be a part of such an event. I am happy that I was able to make more friends today.”