The 2018 Korea University Matriculation Ceremony
KU President Jaeho Yeom encourages freshmen not to be passive and timid, but to train themselves to serve their communities and humanity
CEO of Bear.Better Jungho Kim advises them to start with what they are good at first before doing what they love

On February 28 (Wed.) at 10:30 a.m., Korea University held the 2018 Matriculation Ceremony at the Tiger Dome. More than 7,000 students and their families filled the Tiger Dome to attend the ceremony.

KU President Jaeho Yeom introduced the philosophies of Korea University to the students and their parents. “Since the dawn of this century, Korea University has been setting a new paradigm for university-level education. The best private university in Korea – it is called; and the best education in the world – it aims to offer. Korea University helps cultivate your intellectual capabilities, wisdom to live with others in harmony, noble moral virtues, and pioneering minds – all of which you will need to overcome the challenges yet to come,” said Yeom. He added, “There is a lot that will be replaced by science and technologies represented by artificial intelligence or robots. So simply delivering knowledge no longer addresses the core idea of education. For the past three years, Korea University has been pursuing a new direction for education, which places emphasis on problem-solving lectures and “Design Thinking.” Professors offer core lectures via video clips or at large lecture halls, and students engage in small-group discussions with the guidance of Teaching Fellows – this program, called “Liberty, Justice and Truth,” is a brand-new course for 2018 freshmen.”

He also advised the freshmen to train themselves not to serve their own interests, but to serve their communities and humanity. “Korea University will never let you be passive and timid. For those who have engrossed themselves in what they are told to learn – perhaps most of you – it might be shocking. But the 21st century, this new phase in the history of civilization, doesn’t need such passive intellectuals,” said Yeom. He continued, “You have unlimited potential. Here at KU, in the sanctuary of learning, I hope, you build not only your knowledge but also your wisdom. Challenge yourselves and pioneer the future – with the KU values of liberty, justice and truth. It no long matters how many get jobs at big companies. What matters is how much we contribute to the communities we belong to.”

During the ceremony, CEO of Bear.Better and KU alumnus Jungho “Mr. Bear” Kim (‘85, Department of Commerce and Trade) delivered a congratulatory speech.

One of the founding members of Naver, Jungho Kim has contributed some of the most prominent changes to the economy of the nation and has been running a social enterprise called Bear.Better that employs 200+ people with developmental disabilities – some of the most socially marginalized – for six years. He has been providing pro bono services and donations for the disadvantaged and North Korean children, as well as supporting KU students with scholarships for over ten years.

Kim remarked that “The most memorable conversation that I had with my own children – who are as old as most of you – was about whether they should do what they are good at or what they love. I said do what you are good at in your work and what you love to do in your life. You do what you want. But even when things don’t work out, my recommendation is to never give up and do what you can – until you earn the chance to do what you’d like to do. Do your best at what you can, and your success becomes closer. Invest your time wisely in upgrading yourselves while studying at KU, and then, upon graduation, see if you can do what you have always wanted to – after you’ve achieved something that could give you better opportunities.”

Prior to the main ceremony that began at 10:30 a.m., the Korea University Cheerleading Team performed an enthusiastic and energetic welcoming performance for the freshmen beginning at 10 a.m., where they learned KU cheers and the university anthem.