The History of Sogang to be Rewritten,
Powerful Companionship for Sogang’s 100 Years
- Sogang Development Committee and Sogang Advisory Committee officially launched -
In just two months since taking office, President Sim Jong-hyeok, who has actively met with various alumni members and external personnel committed to walking side by side on this new path for Sogang (▶Go to article), has succeeded in commissioning members for the ‘Sogang Development Committee’ and ‘Sogang Advisory Committee’ that will help form the future of Sogang. With these members and the executive officers of the school’s Executive Department, the president has begun full-scale discussions on the future development plan. In order to form these committees, President Sim held active meetings with each of the members on several occasions and, as a result, was able to induce their acceptance and participation on the committees.
The members of each committee were selected from among renowned figures from different fields across the Sogang community (four Sogang Development Committee members and five Sogang Advisory Committee members) who will establish the vision for the upcoming 100 years of Sogang and promote innovation, and through meetings with the school’s Executive Department at least twice a year, in-depth and detailed discussions will be held on the direction and status of Sogang’s growth and development. The term of office for each member is five years (from March 1, 2021), and new members may be appointed additionally through recommendations from each committee. The first meeting is scheduled to take place around the end of May, when the official development plan is to be announced.
President Sim directly delivered the appointment plaques through individual meetings with nine members over the course of a month from early April to early May.
• The central axis of centennial Sogang, the ‘Sogang Development Committee’
- Serving as a compass for the future of Sogang
The ‘Sogang Development Committee,’ with alumnus Kwon Hyuk-bin (Electronics ’92, CVO of Smilegate Hope Studio Foundation) as chairman alumnus Kim Sang-soo (Economics ‘81, CEO of Soo Value), alumnus Namkoong Whon (Business Administration ’91, CEO of Kakao Games Corp.), and alumnus Lim Won-hyun (Business Administration ’84, auditor at Woori FIS Co., Ltd) will serve as a compass that suggests and advises on the direction that Sogang should take in the future. The members of the Sogang Development Committee were selected as representative role models for Sogang members as alumni who have continued to provide generous support to their juniors, and the committee is expected to play an active role in bringing progress and innovation to the school over the next five years.
▲ Delivering the appointment plaque to Chairman Kwon Hyuk-bin while visiting Smilegate (April 20)
On April 20, President Sim visited Smilegate, located in Pangyo, in person and delivered the appointment plaque to Chairman Kwon Hyeok-bin. During the visit, President Sim held an in-depth discussion with Chairman Kwon about the role of university education in our modern era. Chairman Kwon emphasized the social need for problem-solving abilities, spirit of challenge, and creative talents with transformative ideas, saying, “Today, universities must convert their direction and role from providing unilateral education to putting students on the main stage while acting as observers and helpers.” Chairman Kwon is expected to play a key role as chairman of the Sogang Development Committee based on this educational philosophy and the leadership he has demonstrated by successfully starting and leading a company.
▲ Delivering the appointment plaque to CEO Namkoong Whon while visiting Kakao Games (April 27)
On April 27, President Sim visited the headquarters of Kakao Games for delivery of the appointment plaque for the Sogang Development Committee to Kakao Games CEO Namkoong Whon. The meeting was also attended by Executive Vice President Kim Soon-kee of Research & External Affairs, Professor Ha Byung-cheon of Sogang Business School, and Vice President Im Ji-Hyun (Business Administration ‘91) of Kakao Games.
CEO Namkoong expressed his desire to offer practical help to junior students who want to advance into the gaming industry, saying, “I hope that I will have an opportunity to meet younger students by teaching a course on electives at Sogang University next year.” In this regard, President Sim said, “We will actively review ways to provide classes based on the concept of the industry-academia track project for fourth-year students while customizing the education to nurture talents required at Kakao Games.”
▲ (Left) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony for CEO Kim Sang-soo (April 22), (Right) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony for Auditor Lim Won-hyun (April 16)
President Sim also directly delivered appointment plaques to Kim Sang-soo and Lim Won-hyun to mark their selection for the Sogang Development Committee. At a meeting with CEO Kim on April 22, President Sim said, “I once again express my gratitude to you for accepting this position on the Sogang Development Committee. In the future, Sogang will actively reflect the opinions of this committee composed of benefactor alumni who serve as key role models for our students.” In response, alumnus Kim replied, “I am grateful for your efforts toward the development of my alma mater, and I will do my best in my service as a member of the committee.”
Meanwhile, Auditor Lim Won-hyun, who will serve as the secretary of the committee, is an expert in the field of finance, having served as executive director of Samil PwC and vice president of Deloitte Anjin LLC. As a representative alumnus who has been actively engaged in activities to establish a network between alumni (auditor of the Sogang Alumni Association, Alumni Chairman of the Graduate School of Business, a council member of the University Council, a member of the Tuition Deliberation Committee, etc.), Auditor Lim is expected to make great contributions to enhance communication within the Sogang Development Committee as well as to smooth out collaborative efforts between the school and the committee.
On April 16th, alumnus Lim said, upon receiving the appointment plaque for the Sogang Development Committee from the President’s Office, “I am truly grateful that President Sim, who is also a Sogang alumnus, actively reached out to alumni at the right time in order to help the school during a difficult situation.”
• ‘Sogang Advisory Committee,’ a reliable partner for 60 years at Sogang
- Presenting the path to 100 years of Sogang
The Sogang Advisory Committee was specifically commissioned to appoint individuals who can provide practical advice and insight on the design of the school’s profound and broad future, based on their close relationship with Sogang and years of experience across various fields of society. With former President Sohn Byungdoo serving as chairman, Hong Seong-yeol (chairman of Mario Outlet), Suh Byung-soo (member of the National Assembly), Kim Kwang-ho (Sogang Alumni Association chairman), and Jeon Jun-soo (emeritus professor of Sogang Business School) will serve as members of the Sogang Advisory Committee for the next five years.
▲ (From left) Executive Vice President Kim Soon-kee of Research & External Affairs, Former President Sohn Byungdoo, President Sim Jong-hyeok, and Executive Vice President Song Tai-kyong of Academic Affairs
On April 20, Sohn Byungdoo, the 12th president of Sogang University (2005-2009), who was appointed as chairman of the Sogang Advisory Committee, received an appointment plaque from the President’s Office. Dating back to the time of his inauguration in 2005, President Sohn emphasized his role as ‘CEO President’ and focused on external activities like raising funds for school development, rallying donations amounting to roughly 20 billion won in his first year in the position, marking the highest amount collected in the history of the university.
In addition, former President Sohn served as a director of the president’s secretary’s office of Samsung Group, senior vice president of the Korea Productivity Center, and full-time vice chairman and standing advisor of the National Federation of Entrepreneurs before taking office. After completing his term as president of Sogang University, he served as the chairman of KBS, chairman of the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation, and chairman of the Hoam Foundation, now acting as a standing advisor to the Samsung Economic Research Institute. The wealth of experience and human networking accumulated by former President Sohn in various fields is expected to serve as nourishment for advising and contributing to the development of the school in the future.
▲ (Left) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony for Chairman Hong Seong-yeol (Arpil 28), (Right) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony Rep. Suh Byung-soo (May 10)
On April 28 and May 10, respectively, Mario Outlet Chairman Hong Seong-yeol and National Assembly Member Suh Byung-soo visited the President’s Office for the delivery ceremony of the appointment plaques. Chairman Hong has maintained a close connection with the university, including the Sogang Top Executive Program (STEP) at the Graduate School of Business and the Opinion Leaders Program in the Graduate School of Economics, and he was selected as the 21st Proud Sogang Alumnus by the Sogang Alumni Association in 2018. National Assembly Member Suh Byung-soo, who enrolled in the Department of Economics in 1971, is the recipient of the ‘1st Proud Sogang Economic Entrepreneur Award (2011)’ and is also a representative alumnus who has actively participated in events related to the university.
Chairman Hong and National Assembly Member Suh are expected to present practical suggestions for the future of Sogang based on their strong ties with the school as well as their rich experiences in the roles of professional manager and politician, respectively.
▲ (Left) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony for Professor Jeon Jun-su (April 16), (right) Appointment plaque delivery ceremony for Chairman Kim Kwang-ho (May 4)
On April 16, the appointment plaque was delivered to Emeritus Professor Jeon Jun-su, who was appointed as a member (secretary) of the Sogang Advisory Committee. Professor Jeon served as a professor at Sogang Business School from March 1989 to August 2013. During his tenure as a professor, he served the school through various positions, such as vice president of Student Affairs, head of the Development Support Office, vice president of HR and General Affairs, and executive vice president of Research & External Affairs. As a professor, he taught Business Administration in English as a supervisor of Dasoni, a club that supports students with disabilities, for more than 10 years, and showed special devotion to his students. He also participated in the operation of various external organizations, such as SK Shipping Co., Ltd as a standing advisor, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries General Advisory Committee, and chairman of Busan Port Authority’s Port Committee. Professor Jeon is, therefore, expected to be able to analyze the school’s situation from a comprehensive perspective and provide strategic advice on the school’s development plan.
Sogang Alumni Association Chairman Kim Kwang-ho was also appointed as a member of the Sogang Advisory Committee and received an appointment plaque on May 4. Chairman Kim, who has served as chairman of the Sogang Alumni Association from 2019 to present, said in an interview with the Sogang Alumni Association at the beginning of his inauguration, “I hope that we will become an alumni association where all members unite with one heart while acknowledging and respecting diversity, fostering a mind that focuses on the future rather than the past,” adding, “We will create an atmosphere and conditions where alumni can voluntarily contribute to the development of the school.”
Upon receiving his plaque, Chairman Kim said, “I will make every effort to ensure the development of my alma mater based on my love for students entering our school and out of friendship for my fellow alumni.” In addition, he set forth a few focal points, including, “As the key to success in companies is internal reform, reforms will be needed inside schools, as well,” and “In line with these changing times, we will need to strengthen education in fields like AI, robotics, and bioscience, and to lead overall undergraduate curriculum reformation,” expressing his desire for school development.
Meanwhile, the school is about to announce its development plan and will conduct the Sogang University Vision Declaration Ceremony in early June. The development plan is being put forth based on the opinions of alumni, students, and staff, while detailed contents for each area will be finalized together with the Sogang Development Committee and Sogang Advisory Committee.
In relation to this, President Sim said, “I am deeply grateful for the willingness of members to accept their positions on the Sogang Development Committee and the Sogang Advisory Committee, sharing love and caring for Sogang despite their busy schedules,” adding, “I hope that Sogang University will prepare for the next 100 years with competitiveness in the ‘accompaniment’ of the proud alumni that Sogang has been producing over the past 60 years, sharing their aspirations for the advanced future of Sogang.”
