Annual Lectures, Overseas Study Tours, and Book Publications Continue
Shinsegae Group announced on September 7 that its humanities social contribution project for young people, Knowledge Feast, is celebrating its 12th anniversary this year.
Participants of the Knowledge Feast Grand Tour are taking a commemorative photo in the village of Arahova, Greece. Photo by Shinsegae Group
Knowledge Feast was launched in 2014 under the vision of "A Korea where all citizens are happy." The program has been consistently carried out every year with the goals of nurturing young talent in the humanities, sharing humanities knowledge, and discovering humanities content.
Previously, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yongjin personally attended the first Knowledge Feast in 2014 and delivered a lecture on the importance of the humanities. At the time, Chairman Chung stated, "Shinsegae pursues creating a happy lifestyle for its customers," adding, "I believe spreading the humanities is a practical way to give back, even in a small way, to society and young people."
Since its first year, which saw participation from around 10,000 students, Knowledge Feast has operated a variety of programs each year, focusing on figures and events that have shaped the times. In 2015, marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the program featured "Napoleon, the Young Man Who Changed the World." In 2016, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, the theme was "The Era That Produced a Genius, The Genius Who Shaped the Era," with lectures and overseas study tours. In collaboration with major universities such as Korea University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Kyungpook National University, and Chosun University, approximately 45,000 university students participated in lectures over six years.
In May, a large-scale humanities festival titled "A Journey to Gain Insights for the Future, Grand Tour" was held, with participation from about 780 university students nationwide. In June, after a competition and interviews, 30 finalists were selected to embark on a ten-day Grand Tour in Greece in August. The Grand Tour is a learning method in the form of travel that was popular among young intellectuals in Europe from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Shinsegae Group plans to invite leading humanities scholars to give special lectures once a month from October this year through February next year, targeting 50 applicants among past Knowledge Feast participants each time. In December, the company will hold the "Knowledge Feast Homecoming Day," inviting all past overseas study tour participants.
A Shinsegae Group representative said, "Knowledge Feast is more than just a lecture that unilaterally delivers knowledge; it is a platform for young people to ask questions and reflect on their own." The representative added, "We will continue to support Knowledge Feast so that even more young people can gain humanities insight and contribute to society in the future."
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