Wonju Campus’s Third RC Festival

- Poetry Night

On November 4, the Center for Teaching and Learning at Yonsei’s Wonju Campus held its third RC Festival, which was attended by 1,500 freshmen, along with several faculty members who serve as residential masters at Wonju’s Residential Campus.  The event provided an opportunity for students from around the world to recite poems amidst the autumnal beauty.  Special guest, Professor Ahmed Reza, from the Department of English at Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh, read a poem and played the piano, while several student clubs put on performances to celebrate the event.  The award for the best poem was given to Environmental Engineering student Kim Chang-min, who composed and recited his work “Malcolm X—You Calling Me Colored” in English.

RC Lecture Series: Guest Lecture by Peter Alexander Underwood

On October 30, the Yonsei Residential College (RC) Training Institute invited Peter Alexander Underwood to give a guest lecture on “Development of an Environment for Creation and Innovation” at the Underwood Memorial Library in Songdo.  Mr. Underwood’s lecture largely focused on his book First Mover, which, written in Korean, calls for fundamental social and business changes to transform Korea into a “hub of excellence.”  The great-grandson of Yonsei founder Dr. Horace G. Underwood, Peter Underwood’s fluent and humorous Korean created a convivial atmosphere even before his talk began.  For instance, when RC Director Jang Soo-chul commented that the concept of the “First Mover” is very interesting from an evolutionary theoretical perspective, Underwood replied in Korean:  “The book’s about business; it is far from science.”  Despite the fact that the lecture was advertised as being conducted in Korean, many of the students were astonished by Mr. Underwood’s fluency.  When the lecture began, Mr. Underwood spoke of the background concerning First Mover.  “If you say that only Koreans can talk about Korea,” he said, “then I do not have a right [to write a book such as this].  But I have had numerous requests to give my views on Korean society and business culture.”  Mr. Underwood continued by discussing both the successes and limitations of South Korea’s modernization during the past half century, while also emphasizing the need for new strategies going forward.  Essentially, he argued that in the past the Republic of Korea achieved success in development through strong, far-sighted leaders who implemented a “fast follower” strategy.  Now, however, that success can only be continued and augmented by establishing “first mover” strategies. That is, instead of following the practices and strategies of other successful nations, Korea needs to find ways of leading from the front.  Standing in the way of becoming a “first mover” nation, he argued, is Korean society’s emphasis upon specification instead of capacity and its rigid hierarchical structures. After the lecture, students were given thirty minutes to ask questions.  While expressing doubts about his ability to answer “difficult questions,” Mr. Underwood greatly impressed the audience with his eloquent and detailed responses.  In particular, when a student expressed dismay that though he would like to be a “first mover,” Korea is not ready for individuals like him, Mr. Underwood offered words of encouragement: “Korea is already moving towards becoming a ‘first mover.’ What is important is for us to find ways to accelerate this transformation.”  During his visit, Mr. Underwood was also given a tour of the RC’s Underwood House by RC Director Jang, Underwood House Residential Master Kim Tae-hoon, and Underwood House Chief Residential Assistant Hwang Dae-hoon.  While visiting one of the community rooms at Underwood House, the Pioneer and Sharing Room, Mr. Underwood expressed his pleasure that the Underwood family’s missionary spirit continues to be embodied at Yonsei and the YIC.  More humorously, he mused on the fact that male and female living spaces at the RC are segregated:  “Some overseas universities have co-ed rooms,” he quipped.  At the conclusion of the tour, several student representatives gave Mr. Underwood an official Underwood House hooded sweatshirt, a gesture that was met with warm applause by all who were present.