—“With the Third Founding, Yonsei continues to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, guided by the devotion and pioneering spirit of its founders. Today, Yonseians remain pioneers, paving the way for the university’s next 100 years.”
On May 9, Yonsei’s official 130th Anniversary Ceremony was held in Baekyang Concert Hall. The ceremony was attended by more than 800 people, and it included a luncheon and reunion event. In his address, Yonsei President Jeong Kap-young reflected on the vision of the “Third Founding” and the next 100 years of the university, emphasizing that the spirit of Yonsei’s founders remains very much alive today. “Yonsei,” he said, “should do its utmost to focus on the individual student and raise each one as a future global leader. The expansion of the university and the ongoing infrastructure projects are contributing to this aim.”
President Jeong reiterated that Yonsei’s goal of producing outstanding graduates capable of effecting positive change both locally and globally is being achieved through efforts to increase the university’s research and educational capacity. In this regard, he cited the establishment of the Institute for Advanced Studies, the development of specialized educational programs, and initiatives to enroll students from underprivileged backgrounds. Yonsei, President Jeong stressed, is a prestigious global university, and he is determined to see one of its remarkable scholars awarded a Nobel Prize in the future. To that end, he announced the creation of the Yonsei Nobel Initiative, the goal of which is to bring a Nobel Prize to Yonsei within twenty years, in time for the university’s 150th anniversary.