◆Creating a Pleasant Campus Environment
◆From Tradition to the World
◆Veteran Actors from Korea University Take the Stage
In celebration of its 120th anniversary, Korea University has adopted the slogan "Next Intelligence" as it seeks to transform itself into a globally oriented institution. The university has set ambitious goals: to rank among the top 30 universities worldwide by 2035 and to achieve top 20 global research competitiveness by 2040. To this end, Korea University is investing in infrastructure, promoting academic exchange, and expanding cultural and artistic activities.
Dongwon Kim, president of Korea University, is speaking at the completion ceremony of the landscaping work at the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus Central Plaza on the 25th of last month. Photo by Korea University
◆Creating a Pleasant Campus Environment
On the 25th of last month, Korea University held a completion ceremony for the landscaping project at the Central Plaza of the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, aiming to renovate outdated facilities and create a more pleasant campus environment. This landscaping project, part of the 120th anniversary commemorative initiatives, was launched to improve the growth conditions for trees and to provide an open rest area accessible to all.
With this project, the central lawn plaza and the pine forests on both sides have been visually connected, further enhancing the continuity and openness of the campus landscape. The campus environment has been made more comfortable through the planting of trees and grass, installation of new rest facilities such as benches and deck structures, maintenance of the fountain, and the addition of streetlights, garden lights, and tree uplights.
Notably, under the slogan "Our Name, My Name," a bench donation campaign attracted 1,592 supporters, raising approximately 670 million won. This fund served as a major financial resource for the landscaping project. As a token of appreciation, the university engraved the names of donors on the newly installed benches.
President Dongwon Kim stated, "The Central Plaza, created to commemorate the university's centennial, was the first underground campus development in Korea and changed the paradigm of university spaces. This landscaping project will serve as a milestone marking the beginning of the next 120 years." Student Council President Jeongwon Lee said, "The Central Plaza is not just a space, but a place for our lives. I am grateful to everyone who helped us create a safer and more sustainable space where we can make memories."
◆From Tradition to the World
On the 11th and 12th of this month, Korea University hosted an international academic conference titled "Korea University and Pioneers of Korean Studies Around the World," focusing on Korean studies. The event reflected on the global expansion of Korean studies rooted in tradition and traced the footsteps of scholars who have been at its center.
The conference highlighted the achievements of key figures who have laid the academic foundation for Korean studies over the past 120 years, viewed from the perspective of Korean language and literature. It covered pioneers of Korean studies in Korea, such as Jintae Son, Namsun Choi, and Jihoon Cho, as well as overseas trailblazers like Peter Lee, Seungbok Cho, and John Ross.
On the first day, eleven scholars from Korea and abroad-including Namwook Kang (Sungkyunkwan University), Hyejeong Kang and Junghoon Kim (Korea University), Noja Park (University of Oslo), Barbara Wall (University of Copenhagen), Chulwon Seo (Seoul National University), Jerome de Wit (University of Vienna), and Taewon Choi (Senshu University)-presented their research. They examined the formation and spread of Korean studies from multiple perspectives, focusing on the academic achievements of major figures, and newly uncovered the contributions of previously overlooked scholars.
On the second day, emerging researchers from leading universities such as George Washington University, Syracuse University, and Sun Yat-sen University presented their work via the online platform Zoom. Participants shared the latest trends in Korean studies research from various countries and explored possibilities for international collaboration. Director Hyungdae Lee commented, "This event is a meaningful opportunity to revisit the 120-year history of Korean studies at Korea University and to reflect on its global expansion. We will continue to foster a research ecosystem that combines the inheritance of tradition with forward-looking academic exchange."
◆Veteran Actors from Korea University Take the Stage
Korea University will present Shakespeare's final tragedy, "Coriolanus," featuring a cast of alumni actors. The performance will be held ten times from September 6 to 14 at Seoul Theater 202 in the Seoul Theater Creation Center. "Coriolanus" tells the story of Roman general Gaius Marcius, who earns the title Coriolanus after his victory over the Volscians and rises to the highest office of consul, only to be exiled from Rome due to political intrigue and the people's rejection.
The production will be directed by Hyunwoo Lee, a Shakespeare expert and professor of English and American Studies at Soonchunhyang University, who will reinterpret the original work in a contemporary context. Director Hoonkoo Kang, winner of last year's Dong-A Theater Award and this year's Baeksang Arts Award for Young Theater, will serve as co-director, while Changsoo Hong, professor of Media and Creative Writing at Korea University and former president of the Korean Playwrights Association, will serve as dramaturg to enhance the play's quality.
This production will use two cameras to film scenes in real time, transforming the audience and stage into the Roman Senate and battlefield. The stage design will feature red panels and symbolic objects, and the costumes and music will be arranged as a collage that transcends eras, vividly conveying the theme that "history repeats itself."
The cast spans generations, from veteran actors returning to the stage after 40 years since their university theater days to freshmen in their twenties, presenting the "Stage of Korea University Alumni." The lead role of Coriolanus will be played by newcomer Byungseol Moon, with Seongyong Lee as his mentor Menenius. Youngae Won will play Coriolanus's mother Volumnia, and Geon Hwang will appear as the enemy general. Veteran actors such as Sujeong Ye, Byungsook Sung, Jinmo Joo, Eunju Han, and Haemu Yoo will make special appearances, creating a dense and powerful ensemble.
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