From all around the world, 13 regional representatives representing the 60,000 Korean Language Institute (KLI) alumni assembled in Seoul. KLI, the Korean language division of the Institute of Language Research and Education (Director Choi Moon-Gyoo), hosted "The 1st Conference of Global Network Representatives” from November 5th to the 7th at Yonsei University. The representatives were invited to discuss plans for activating the Global Network, the culmination of KLI’s “Global Network Project” which began in 2006 for the purpose of creating a world-wide organization of international KLI graduates. Looking forward to its 50th anniversary in 2009, the KLI successfully established the foundations for a network of its 60,000 graduates and affirmed its position at the vanguard of Yonsei University’s globalization efforts. Representatives from 13 Countries of the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia The representatives from Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, and United States spent three busy days meeting with currently enrolled students of KLI and discussing strategies for developing the Global Network. On the first day of the Conference, they attended the "Yonsei Global Network Activation Seminar" and worked out plans to activate the Global Network, focusing on common objectives while not losing sight of the unique characteristics of each region from which they came. On November 6, they met with Acting President of the University Yoon Dae-Hee, who thanked them for their roles in spreading the image of Yonsei’s KLI world-wide as the premiere institution of Korean language learning. He called on the representatives to “serve as the bridge between Yonsei and the world.” The events for the final day, November 7, included meetings with current KLI students and current Yonsei undergraduates. The second of the meetings, announced to Yonsei students as a "Social Meeting with International Alumni," was sponsored by the Center for New Humanities. The participants exchanged information on the situation of Korean language learning, teaching methods and the competitiveness of the Korean language in each region. It was an eye-opening experience, both for the international representatives and for the Yonsei undergraduates who are constantly being reminded of the importance of sustaining national identity and pride in the age of globalization. The representatives left the Conference with a greater awareness of their importance in the success of the “Global Network Project” and in making Yonsei widely known all over the world. KLI Directory “Yonsei Global Network” Published The KLI published the “Yonsei Global Network” directory and distributed it through the campus. The directory lists the names and contact information of the KLI alumni of 60 nations, organized by continent and country. The directory currently lists 800 graduates, including 260 from Japan, 180 from North America, 90 from China, and 70 from Europe. The “Yonsei Global Network” is expected to help KLI graduates to gather and work together under the name of Yonsei. Director Choi Moon-Gyoo of the Institute of Language Research and Education commented on the directory, saying, “I hope many university organizations and departments will be able to make use of this directory in their globalization efforts. It is also our hope that the Global Network will increase the international brand value of Yonsei University and the Yonsei KLI.”