141st Anniversary Commemorative Address
Dear Esteemed Yonsei Family,
Today we stand together on the occasion of Yonsei University's 141st founding anniversary.
First, I extend my deep gratitude to the distinguished guests who have graced this occasion despite their busy schedules: National Assembly Members The Honorable Cho Jung-hun, and Mo Gyeong-jong; esteemed Chairman Hur Dong-soo and members of the Board of Trustees; Alumni Association President Lee Kyoung-Ryul; former Presidents Kim Byung-soo and Kim Yong-hak; and all our honored guests. I also offer warm congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our 400,000 alumni who elevate Yonsei's name around the world, and to our faculty, staff, and beloved students who are building today's Yonsei together.
Standing before 141 years, we ask ourselves anew: Where did our journey begin? Where are we now? And what road lies ahead? In 1885, the seed planted by Missionaries Allen and Underwood grew gradually yet steadfastly—nourished by devotion, faith, and the strength of unseen roots. A seed does not merely begin; it carries within it the sure possibility of becoming a tree. And a tree, in turn, is not an end in itself, but part of a greater becoming — a forest that flourishes through time, care, and shared commitment.
This forest is more than an inheritance from the past ; it is a solemn responsibility entrusted to us now, and a promise to tend it toward greater beauty and vitality for future generations. I take this opportunity to express profound reverence and gratitude to all who have founded and faithfully stewarded Yonsei across 141 years.
Yonsei University has always grown through a culture of intellectual truth and freedom in spite of circumstance. The legacy of Yun Dong-ju is more than poetic language—it is the courage to think freely even in dark times, ask questions without fear, and seek truth. And today, alumna Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature shows how this spirit of freedom connects with the world. This is a testament to how the spirit of truth and freedom shines forth as a light to the world; an enduring ethos – free inquiry and deep engagement with the human condition – that we hold onto to guide us in these turbulent times.
Dear Esteemed Yonsei Family,
Yonsei is more than a place that imparts knowledge; we are a wellspring of intellect devoted to understanding the human condition, reflecting upon our world, and pursuing dignity and freedom. Standing on this legacy, every member of our community moves steadily toward our collective vision: to become "a global research and education hub with worldwide impact, solving the critical challenges facing humanity."
Today we stand on a foundation of 141 years. But history doesn't let us stand still. History challenges us: What Yonsei will we build from here? And what must we do right now to make it happen? In response to these questions, let me share three strategic directions we must focus on moving forward.
First, Yonsei will achieve financial stability befitting a great university and leap forward through self-reliance.
A university is a living organism. It must breathe on its own, grow on its own, and forge its own future. “That a university earns as befits a university, and expends as befits a university"-- this is the principle of financial independence we pursue. This is not merely a matter of fiscal management. It is a matter of Yonsei's dignity and self-respect.
We're already proving this vision is achievable. Outstanding research translates into patents and technology transfers; creative assets and student innovation fuel new ventures—yielding concrete results: 630 billion won in secured research funding and subsidiary companies valued at 640 billion won.
Building on this foundation, Yonsei is pioneering "Gap Fund” initiative that bridges the gap between research outcomes and market entry by transforming innovative ideas and technologies into high-value enterprises, and reinvesting the returns into research and education.
Our fundraising has also reached record levels. These achievements point toward one goal: a sustainable university where financial resources accumulate, fuel research and education, and generate outcomes that benefit both Yonsei and society. This represents the sustainable future we are creating for Yonsei.
Second, we will forge stronger connections among our three campuses—Sinchon, International, and Mirae—unified under the vision of "One Yonsei." These three campuses will become integrated spaces of discovery where humanities, sciences, medicine, engineering, and the arts converge.
Yonsei's future now transcends physical campus boundaries, reaching toward the world and into frontiers humanity has yet to explore. The International Campus marks our bold launch point for Yonsei's next century. We're transforming it into an innovation powerhouse driving cutting-edge convergence science. Anchored by Yonsei Science Park, we will establish hubs for quantum computing and the national biotechnology ecosystem. Yonsei's history is a story of pioneering—taking on the impossible and forging new paths. Now, with quantum science and technology as civilization's newest instrument, we stand poised to launch a research paradigm that transcends existing limitations.
The Mirae Campus will become a truly integrated campus that merges Industry, Research, and Advanced Education (MIRAE). Through close partnerships with local governments and businesses in northern Gangwon, we'll deliver education and research tailored to real needs, building an open campus that connects seamlessly with Korea and the world.
Beyond this, we'll integrate all three campuses—Sinchon, International, and Mirae—into one unified network. When each campus's distinctive strengths reflect, enhance, and amplify the others, Yonsei will leap beyond geographic boundaries to become a vast, living "intellectual organism."
Third, we will move beyond being a university that merely utilizes artificial intelligence well, to building a "Human-Centered AI Campus" that places people, not technology, at the center.
The AI age confronts us with fundamental questions: When knowledge seems to be everywhere, what should universities do? Whose knowledge are we tapping into? Is having quantity of knowledge count as good enough knowledge? Technology is only a tool. What really matters is how it’s wielded. Humanity has the exceptional capacity to formulate worthy questions.
To this end, Yonsei will integrate AI as core infrastructure for teaching and research, but we’ll do it intentionally. We'll establish an educational framework that develops AI literacy and utilization capabilities for all students so they can use it with responsibility and discernment. We’ll further expand AI-powered data analysis and research support systems for our faculty. We'll also make world-leading AI learning and research tools available to everyone in our community and upgrade our entire AI-enabled learning environment.
Beyond this, we will transform the educational paradigm itself. We will move away from a university that transmits knowledge, toward a university that questions and solves problems. We will break down boundaries between disciplines, expand convergence education, and broaden opportunities for students to engage in self-directed research and global experiences. On this foundation, we'll build a culture where students, faculty, and all who guide this institution create and exchange meaningful questions.
Beloved Yonsei Family, partners in building our future,
We stand today in the heart of Yonsei's forest. But it’s not done growing. It must grow thicker, sink deeper roots, and spread wider still. Someday—150, 200 years from now—someone will stand where we stand now and look back at the Yonsei of today. How will they judge us? The choices we make now, the seeds we plant, will shape their answer.
Yonsei's spirit is truth and freedom. "The truth shall set you free." Keeping this spirit in our hearts, I wish now to take one step further and reflect upon it from another perspective: "Freedom shall lead you to truth."
Only through free inquiry can we draw near to truth. And that truth becomes the power to transform the world. A community where we speak openly, honor each other, and collectively pursue better answers—this is the Yonsei we must uphold.
Beloved Yonseians,
Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to our predecessors and alumni who have built 141 years of history, and to our entire Yonsei family. Now we carry that proud legacy forward, stepping toward new paths ahead. With the spirit of "Empowering Yonsei," let us gather the wisdom and strength of our community and walk forward together. I invite each of you to join this noble journey—forging a path worthy of Yonsei.
Thank you.
May 9, 2026
Yoon Dong-sup
President, Yonsei University