Yonsei University owes its origin to the first Western hospital founded in 1885 in Seoul, Korea. Since then it quickly grew into the center for modern learning based on the principles of Christian spirit of striving to educate a community of people who may contribute to the nation and humanity in the name of “truth and freedom.” Yonsei's founding philosophy of "Truth" and "Freedom," which is grafted on the university motto, is based on the Gospel of John: "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (8:31-32). "Truth" here is understood to refer not only to the words of God, but also to the research and teaching missions of Yonsei, whereby the University pursues excellence in research and a leadership role in academic innovation. "Freedom," taken from the words of the Lord, in turn connotes a life of genuine freedom achieved through the pursuit of honorable thought and righteous action. Founded upon the principles of Christian love and sacrifice, Yonsei hopes to imbue its graduates with the motivation to pursue truth in the spirit of freedom, which go hand in hand with their sense of responsibility for the nation and the world. Yonsei’s Pioneering Spirit Yonsei re-invented itself as a full-scale research university in 1957 when Severance Medical School and Yonhee College were joined to form the Yonsei University. There was nothing surprising about this move. Severance Medical School, which bore the legacy of Gwanghyewon (Korea’s first modern hospital, founded in 1885), was the leader in medical education and missionary work in Korea, while Yonhee, first established as the Chosun Christian College (1915), was at the forefront for half a century of Western-style education and Korean Studies among the private institutions of Korea. Founded and managed by the same group of missionaries, both institutions shared the pioneering spirit, based on Christian values of Truth and Freedom, and of Service to humanity. This pioneering spirit was consolidated into Yonsei. The Yonhee-Severance incorporation occurred during a period that was especially trying for the Korean people, namely, in the aftermath of the devastating Korean War that literally razed the country to the ground, and that when the nation had been barely released from the clutches of Japanese colonial occupation. During these times of tribulation (of both the Japanese occupation and the war), Yonhee and Severance revealed to the world the greatness of their pioneering spirit, functioning as preservers of Korean culture and identity despite the persecution by the Japanese: the colonial Japanese forces sought to eradicate and stifle Yonsei spirit, even forcing Yonsei to change its very name. History was on our side, however, for the Japanese had to leave the country when they surrendered to the Allied Forces. After the liberation, Yonsei faculty, students, and alumni worked together to restore the university’s spirit and body. But another disaster soon followed, the Korean War, which tore apart the university as well as the nation as a whole. Faced with the tragic wound left behind by the War, Yonsei rallied all its potential forces, most significantly, bringing together the sister institutions of Yonhee and Severance into a single unified front of striving for excellence, truth, and freedom. Yonsei Symbols The "ㅇ" and "ㅅ" in the University arms are derived from the first letters of "연세" (the word "Yonsei" in Korean). The circle "ㅇ" represents the ideal of a complete and well-rounded person, while the "ㅅ" symbolizes the upward-looking pursuit for scholarly excellence. Viewed hieroglyphically, the circle "ㅇ" stands for Heaven (as represented by the Sun in heaven), the straight line "-" represents the flat Earth on which we stand, and the bipedal "ㅅ" signifies man as expressed in the Chinese character (人). The three combine to form a powerful hieroglyph of heaven, earth, and man, the symbol of harmony, unity, and completion. The two remaining symbols point to the core principles of Yonsei University: the open book stands for Truth, and the torchlight signifies Freedom. Finally, the shield bearing the symbols protects these two core principles that make Yonsei the foremost private university in Korea. Yonsei Mascot The Yonsei mascot is a soaring eagle and the school color is blue. These two images, when brought together, create the vision of an eagle powerfully soaring into the blue sky. The eagle, by inhabiting the sky (a symbol of truth), embodies at once the guardianship of truth and soaring freedom, for the eagle is a creature that calls the sky its habitat. The color blue stands not only for the color of the sky, but also for untainted intellect and genuine idealism. Thus the university mascot of the eagle and the school color blue faithfully represent Yonsei's guiding principles of truth and freedom.