The “ㅇ” and “ㅅ” in the University shield are derived from the first letters of “연세” (the word “Yonsei” in Korean). The circle “ㅇ” represents the ideal of a complete and well-rounded person, while the “ㅅ” symbolizes the upward-looking pursuit for scholarly excellence. Viewed hieroglyphically, the circle “ㅇ” stands for Heaven (as represented by the Sun in heaven), the straight line “-” represents the flat Earth on which we stand, and the bipedal “ㅅ” signifies the human being as expressed in the Chinese character (人). The three combine to form a powerful hieroglyph of heaven and earth and man, the symbol of harmony, unity, and completion. The remaining two symbols point to the core principles of Yonsei University: the open book stands for Truth, and the torchlight signifies Freedom. Finally, the shield as a whole protects these two core principles that make Yonsei the foremost private university in Korea. The Yonsei mascot is a soaring eagle and the school color is blue. These two images, when brought together, conjure up the vision of an eagle powerfully soaring into the blue sky. The eagle, by inhabiting the sky (a symbol of truth), personifies at once the most reliable guardian of truth and also the truly free creature that calls the sky its habitat (thus living "in" truth). The color blue stands not only for the color of the sky, but also for an untainted intellect and a genuine idealism. Thus the university mascot of the eagle and the school color blue faithfully represent Yonsei's guiding principles of truth and freedom. The Yonsei University emblem pictures a soaring eagle, epitomizing both the historic traditions that Yonsei is grounded in and its spirit of rising ascendancy.