‘Itaewon Tragedy Victim’ Late Park Gayoung Awarded Honorary Degree from Mokwon University

Mokwon University awarded an honorary diploma to the late Park Gayoung, a victim of the Itaewon tragedy. She was a sophomore majoring in Textile and Fashion Design at Mokwon University at the time of the 2022 Itaewon tragedy.

On the 20th, at Mokwon University's '2024 Academic Year Spring Degree Conferment Ceremony,' the late Park Gayoung's father bowed his head as he looked at his daughter's honorary graduation certificate. Photo by Mokwon University

According to Mokwon University on the 20th, Park developed her dream of "wanting to tell people's stories through fashion" after watching a fashion show by Mokwon University fashion design students on TV during middle school. She took her first step toward this dream by being admitted to the Textile and Fashion Design department at Mokwon University in 2021.

After entering university, she planned to continue her fashion studies in New York, USA, and worked part-time for 12 hours a day during vacations to save money for studying abroad. On the day of the Itaewon tragedy, she had visited Itaewon with a friend to attend an exhibition after finishing her part-time job.

Moreover, Park was so passionate about her studies and dreams that she even applied for an exchange student program at a local university in Canada, but she never received the acceptance news and passed away.

Recognizing her dedication to her studies, Mokwon University presented an honorary diploma to her mother at the ‘2024 Spring Semester Degree Conferment Ceremony’ held that day.

Her mother said, "It pains me that only I am here at the graduation ceremony where my daughter should have been," and added, "I am grateful that the school and friends Gayoung loved remember her and cherish her dreams."

Lee Heehak, president of Mokwon University, said, "She never hesitated to take on challenges and worked to create a more beautiful and warm world through fashion," and added, "Mokwon University decided to award the honorary diploma to remember and honor her shining passion."

Meanwhile, at the degree conferment ceremony that day, Mokwon University awarded degrees to ▲90 doctoral candidates ▲157 master's candidates ▲1,388 bachelor's candidates.