Five Faculty Members Including Former President Kim Sang-rae Retire from Samyuk University

Professor Kim Sang-rae of the Department of Theology, who served as the 13th president of Sahmyook University, along with Professors Kim Sung-woon of the Department of Art and Design, Lim Dong-sul of the Department of Pharmacy, Cho Chi-woong of the Department of Environmental Design and Horticulture, and Choi Seon-soon of the Department of Artificial Intelligence Convergence, will retire on the 31st of this month.

From the top left, Professor Kim Sang-rae of the Department of Theology, Professor Kim Seong-woon of the Department of Art and Design, Professor Im Dong-sul of the Department of Pharmacy; from the bottom left, Professor Jo Chi-ung of the Department of Environmental Design and Horticulture, Professor Choi Seon-sun of the School of Artificial Intelligence Convergence
Photo by Yonhap News

Upon retirement, former President Kim will receive the Hwangjo Geunjeong Medal, Professor Choi will be awarded the Nokjo Geunjeong Medal, Professor Cho the Okjo Geunjeong Medal, Professor Lim the Geunjeong Medal, and Professor Kim will be honored with the Prime Minister’s Commendation.

Former President Kim, who served Sahmyook University for 29 years and 6 months, is a theologian dedicated to the internal and external establishment of Seventh-day Adventist theology. As a mentor, he encouraged his students to explore the profound messages of the Bible, and as an administrator, he devoted himself to the university’s development by serving in various positions including president. After retiring as president, he founded the academic journal "Theology and Scholarship" as director of the Sahmyook University Institute of Theology, elevating it to a journal registered with the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Professor Kim (with 24 years and 6 months of service) is a renowned painter who has continued his artistic career by deconstructively addressing a sense of hometown based on cattle (牛) and childlike innocence. He held two solo exhibitions in France in 2015, as well as 23 solo exhibitions domestically and internationally in cities such as Seoul and Tokyo. He has participated in over 250 group exhibitions. His works are held in collections including the U.S. Library of Congress, Korea Development Bank, Etang in France, and Hitachi in Japan.

Professor Lim (with 35 years of service) is a first graduate of Sahmyook University’s Department of Pharmacy. He joined his alma mater as a professor and has devoted himself to nurturing future scholars. In 2009, he served as the inaugural dean of the College of Pharmacy, laying the foundation for the transition to a 6-year curriculum. As a researcher, he has made various achievements in the field of pharmacognosy and contributed to academic development by serving as president of the Korean Society of Pharmacognosy and the National Association of Herbal Medicine Centers of Pharmacy Colleges.

Professor Cho (with 31 years and 6 months of service) contributed to the university’s development by serving in various administrative roles such as director of planning, director of external cooperation, director of administration, and dean of the College of Science and Technology at Sahmyook University. Outside the university, he was recognized for his academic authority and expertise, serving as a member of the transition committee for the 8th elected mayor of Namyangju City, director of the Seoul Campus Town Project, and as a member of urban planning, architecture, and landscape committees in Namyangju, Yangju, Goyang, Gimpo, and Pocheon cities.

Professor Choi (with 35 years and 5 months of service) demonstrated stable leadership during each departmental reorganization in response to educational paradigm shifts in the Departments of Kamechatronics, Computer Mechatronics Engineering, IT Convergence Engineering, Intelligent Information Convergence, and Artificial Intelligence Convergence. While serving as dean of the College of Future Convergence in 2021, he contributed to the university’s selection as a Software-Centered University, a major national government project.

On the 28th, Sahmyook University held a retirement thanksgiving service for the five professors at the Hong Myung-gi Hall in the Yohang Building on campus. President Kim Il-mok expressed his gratitude in his congratulatory speech, saying, "We deeply appreciate the hard work, passion, and dedication of the professors who have devoted themselves to the university. To ensure that their efforts are not in vain, we who remain will do our utmost to nurture the seeds and bear fruit, pouring our passion into Sahmyook University."