Singers Yoon Hyung-ju and Lee Jang-hee, famous for their performances at the café “C’est Si Bon,” received honorary bachelor’s degrees forty-eight years after enrolling at Yonsei University. On April 28, an award ceremony was held for them at the President’s Residence.
In 1966, Yoon was admitted to Yonsei’s Pre-Med program, while Lee entered the Department of Biology. However, their music success forced them to leave Yonsei in 1968. Soon Yoon and Lee became famous in Korea for their folk music, which was especially popular during the 1970s. Devoting more than forty years of their lives to music and the arts, the two made have made numerous contributions to Korean culture, which Yonsei sought to recognize by awarding them honorary degrees.

Yoon Hyung-ju

Mr. Yoon formed the group “Twin Folio” with fellow singer Song Chang-sik. Together, they had a string of hit songs such as “White Handkerchief” and “Wedding Cake.” Yoon eventually began a solo career, singing hits like “Rain Yesterday,” “Rain and a Wanderer,” and “Seashells.” Over the course of his career, he produced nearly eighty hit songs, while singing for more than 1,000 advertisements.
Yoon is the cousin of Korean nationalist poet Yoon Dong-ju, who also attended Yonsei. An active philanthropist, he has promoted Korea’s version of Habitat for Humanity, while serving as Good Will Ambassador for the Ministry of Law, Korea’s Children’s Leukemia Foundation, and Yonsei Severance Hospital.

Lee Jang-hee

Mr. Lee is famous for hit songs such as “Winter Story,” “It’s You,” and “I Give you all.” He also composed and produced many songs. In 1980, he immigrated to the U.S., where he founded the first Korean American radio network in America, “Radio Korea.” Lee moved to the island of Ullungdo in 2004, where he currently resides, and in 2011, he was named an “Honorary Resident” of Gyeongbuk Province.

“Starry May Night” Concert Held May 31

The “Starry May Night” Alumni Concert took place Saturday, May 31 at the Yonsei Amphitheater on the Sinchon campus. Recent honorary degree recipients Yoon Hyung-ju and Lee Jang-hee were among the performers, which also included Jo Jin-won, Yoon Jong-shin, Horan, Sweet Sorrow, and Ali.