Korea University Professor Emeritus and Yonsei Alumnus Shim Jae-woong (Mathematics, 1955) has donated 100 million won to the Baekyang-ro Renovation Project.  Professor Shim’s generous gift reflects his enduring desire to improve the academic environment for Yonsei students, and for his alma mater to have a beautiful campus rivaling those of elite universities throughout the world.
 Professor Shim entered Yonsei in 1953 as a premed student, but after two years he switched his major to mathematics.  Eventually, he would teach mathematics at Yonsei from 1963 to 1967, before going on to earn a master’s degree at SUNY Stony Brook and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico.  Although he spent more than two decades teaching mathematics education in Korea University’s School of Education, Yonsei has always remained Professor Shim’s first love.  Matriculating at Yonsei immediately after the ceasefire concluding the Korean War, Professor Shim has painful memories of the poor state of the campus, much of which was due to damage caused during the war.  At this time, there were only a handful of buildings on campus; premed students took their courses in Hangyeong Hall (now the faculty cafeteria), which tended to leak when it rained.  While Yonhi Hall was erected in 1955, improving the academic environment to a degree, Professor Shim’s abiding recollections are of a decrepit and derelict campus. In particular, he remembers Baekyang-ro being like a country road, one that made for difficult going in the snow, or when it rained, and the road turned to thick mud.  Because of these experiences, Professor Shim has been a longstanding donor to Yonsei, giving what he could over the years to ensure that Yonsei students have a high-quality learning environment. 
 Professor Shim, therefore, was delighted when the Baekyang-ro Renovation Project was first announced.  He was particularly taken by the vision of a beautiful and innovative academic environment, one in which students freely walk about a leafy campus, undisturbed by cars or motorcycles.  As such, Professor Shim enthusiastically decided to donate to the project.   
As he delivered his donation to Yonsei officials, Professor Shim, who celebrates his eightieth birthday this year, expressed satisfaction with the fact that his gift will contribute to the rebirth of Baekyang-ro.  He also thanked his wife and children, who have always supported and encouraged his desire to give back to Yonsei.