Yonsei President Kim Han-Joong Gives Speech at Entrance Ceremony Dear New Students and Parents, I am glad to meet all of you and would like to congratulate you. I welcome you to the Yonsei family. Yonsei University is Korea’s first university, established in 1885, and is also the best university in Korea. However, we are not going to remain satisfied with what we have achieved. With our slogan of “Yonsei, the First and the Best,” we strive to live up to this title every day. Already in our 124th year, we have for more than a century produced professionals with the highest qualifications in all areas of society. At present, we have exchange relationship with 578 universities worldwide; students and professors from 59 countries have visited us. In addition to our Sinchon and Wonju campuses, we are establishing our new Songdo Global Campus. The Yonsei of today is the result of continuous efforts to keep up the founding spirit of pioneering in higher education on a barren soil. As iron transforms into useful tools after tempering and hammering, we can grow as human beings only through hardships and trials. In life, we often meet unexpected difficulties. You must spend your time at Yonsei acquiring the wisdom and courage to overcome any hardships. Our fine professors will give you guidance. Yonsei will be the beacon to lead you through life. However, in order to achieve these things, your own hard work is crucial. First, dream your own unique and creative dreams. The finest students make the finest universities, and the finest universities in turn produce the finest students. You are Yonsei. You must become the best in your field. Next, create a world of your own. They say a creative life is the best kind of life. To be creative, you need courage. All innovations seem ludicrous at first. To turn ludicrous ideas into great inventions, endless diligence and courage is needed. The magic number for greatness is 10,000 hours. According to an old saying, you cannot reach your goal if you remain sane. In order to become the best, you must put in a remarkable effort. It took Beethoven five years to compose his Symphony No. 5. During the most tragic period of his life, he spent five years working on a mere 35-minute piece. The result is a masterpiece that is still loved 200 years later. They say his final score was so worn that it was hard to read, reflecting the amount of work he had put into it. The composers who came after Beethoven thought it would be impossible to create something that surpassed this work. However, if someone had worked as hard as Beethoven, I believe that it would not have been an impossible feat. I hope that one of you will become the second Beethoven. Your college years should be a period for exploring worlds you have never experienced before. In addition to regular academic work, books, travel, volunteer work, club activities, hobbies, and interpersonal relationships will enrich you college life. These will also serve as the fertilizer for your future growth. You must take along provisions in proportion to the length of the journey you wish to undertake. Do not waste your time at college. Your time at Yonsei must be a time of accumulating knowledge, wisdom, and acquaintances. The noble duty of universities is to study the problems of humanity and society, and to provide the direction and values for the nation and society. We must contemplate the true values that we ought to pursue and respect. College life is not only for the betterment of individual careers but also for the progress of the community, of the nation. We must go beyond the development of Yonsei to find ways to coexist and grow together with other members of our society. Dear parents, thank you for helping your children come this far and entrusting us with their future education. Please continue to show us your love and interest. I would like to welcome you again as we leave on our journey toward hope. May the Lord’s blessing and grace always be with you. Thank you. February 16, 2009 Yonsei University President Kim Han-Joong