'Mandarina Duck' Chairman Lee Gyu-yong Donates 10 Billion Won to Alma Mater Sungkyunkwan University

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Sungkyunkwan University announced on the 2nd that Lee Gyu-yong, Chairman and CEO (age 71) of Najin Co., Ltd., which imports and sells the Italian fashion brand 'Mandarina Duck,' donated 10 billion KRW. This is the largest single donation ever made by an individual in the history of Sungkyunkwan University's development fund.

On the 1st, at the fund transfer ceremony held at the International Hall of Sungkyunkwan University Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, Lee Gyu-yong, CEO and Chairman of Najin Co., Ltd. (left), and Yoo Ji-beom, President of Sungkyunkwan University, are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Sungkyunkwan University

At the fund transfer ceremony held the day before at the International Hall on the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University, Chairman Lee said, “I hope to establish a platform research institute that encompasses both domestic and international fields to propose sustainable policies in the economic, political, and social sectors facing humanity, and to nurture graduate talents who will lead future society.” He added, “I hope Sungkyunkwan University becomes a central university leading national policies in response to rapidly changing international circumstances.”

Sungkyunkwan University bestowed upon Chairman Lee the honorary title ‘Yangjae (養齋),’ meaning ‘to nurture gifted individuals and bring peace to the world,’ and presented him with a merit plaque. The honorary title was created by Professor Lee Ki-dong of the Department of Confucian Studies and Oriental Studies at Sungkyunkwan University, a renowned scholar of Zhu Xi philosophy, and the calligraphy was done by Seokji Kim Eung-hak, a famous calligrapher and professor at the Graduate School of Confucian Studies at Sungkyunkwan University.

Najin Co., Ltd., founded in 1999 based on Geumheung Trading Company established in 1979, has grown into a global total fashion company, achieving more than 20 times sales growth since permanently acquiring exclusive trademark rights for Mandarina Duck from the Italian Burani Group in 2010.

Chairman Lee, who enrolled in the Law Department in 1972 at this university, has consistently donated more than 1.4 billion KRW in development funds for the construction of the Law Building, law school scholarship funds, and the creation of commemorative lecture rooms and lounges.

President Yoo Ji-beom of Sungkyunkwan University expressed gratitude, saying, “Chairman Lee’s generous donation of a large development fund is expected to greatly contribute to the advancement of the university.” He added, “In accordance with Chairman Lee’s life motto, ‘Self-cultivation leads to family regulation, which leads to governance of the state and peace under heaven (修身齊家治國平天下),’ we will strive even harder to fulfill the university’s mission so that our students can grow into global leaders equipped with the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, as well as the qualities of self-discipline and governance.”