When navigating campus for classes, students often find classrooms by the names displayed beside them instead of the room numbers. While attending lectures in classrooms named after alumni, many students remain unaware of the stories behind those names. This article shares the inspiring journey of the alumni who have excelled in their fields and generously given back to support future generations.
• Soong-duk Economics & Business Building room 211 Kim Yong-hun (Business,59)
Kim Yong-hun graduated from Kyungsin High School, which produced prominent leaders Ahn Chang-ho and Kim Kyu-sik. He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from SSU and graduated first in his class from Seoul National University’s inaugural MBA program. He completed his MBA at Virginia Tech and earned both master’s and doctoral degrees from Pennsylvania State University.
Kim was invited to teach at the University of Cincinnati in the United States, eventually serving as department chair. He later returned to Seoul National University as a business professor through the Fulbright Foundation, actively promoting dialogue between Korean and American management scholarship. He founded the Korea-U.S. Finance Association and served as president of the Korea-U.S. Economics Association. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, Kim received the Hyungnam Academic Award at SSU’s ninth awards ceremony.
Despite financial hardship that nearly prevented him from attending university, Kim credits pastor Ryu Ui-sung for enabling him to continue his studies. Ryu, whose father was dormitory director at Young Lak Church, provided crucial support during those difficult years. Though Kim excelled from high school—regularly reading The Times and the prestigious magazine *Sasang Gye*—he faced the challenges of attending university as the eldest of eight siblings. At SSU, he flourished and now supports junior students through scholarships bearing his name alongside Park Kyung-sook, dedicated to developing global talent.
Kim emphasizes that students must develop integrative leadership that transcends past, present and future orientations. This approach unifies society’s members into one cohesive whole through reciprocal exchange. It aligns with the university’s teachings on servant leadership—prioritizing service to others, demonstrating care and consideration through both word and action. He advocates for students to embody a Christ-like humility, modeling integrity for future generations.
• Jo Mansik Memorial Hall room 525, Park Young-lip (Law, 75)
Park Young-lip completed only elementary school, passing middle and high school equivalency through qualification examinations. He later founded the General Alumni Association for Qualification Exam Graduates to advocate for the rights and unity of fellow alumni who took similar paths.
After graduating from SSU’s Department of Law, Park passed the 23rd National Judicial Examination and began his career as an attorney. During his tenure as chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Korean Bar Association, he served as head of the Hansen’s Disease Human Rights Legal Team. In this role, he helped 590 victims of *Sorokdo* Island during the Japanese colonial period receive compensation. After liberation, he assisted 530 victims of forced sterilization and abortion in obtaining compensation from the Korean government. He currently represents *Sorokdo* victims in seeking compensation from the Japanese government.
He has also served as chairman of the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee and Chairman of the Private School Dispute Mediation Committee. He was managing partner at Hwawoo Law Firm and Chairman of the Hwawoo Public Interest Foundation. He currently serves as managing partner at Choi & Park Law Firm and as a board member of SSU. In 2024, he received the Myeongdeok Award from the Seoul Bar Association in recognition of his significant contributions to human rights protection and social justice.
He nearly abandoned his dream of attending university due to financial constraints. The university’s scholarship system allowed him to continue his education, which he credits as the foundation of his success today. To repay what the university provided, he has made continuous contributions to various funds, including the dormitory construction fund, law school scholarships, talent development fund and the 120th anniversary building fund.
He advises younger students that life is not about pursuing predetermined answers but about finding your own path. He encourages students to look around with fresh eyes as they search for their direction. “The path lies in libraries and books,” he says. Through acquiring knowledge, contemplation and reflection, students can grow and discover their own way forward.
Alumni excelling in their respective fields serve as beacons guiding juniors toward their own paths. Through interviews, it became clear that these graduates genuinely hope their younger peers embrace their identity as Soongsil alumni and pursue their dreams with confidence. They aspire for juniors to find their callings, work diligently toward them and bring honor to the university across diverse fields. Juniors are encouraged to meet these expectations, striving to become exemplary Soongsil alumni wherever they serve.
Ihm Jae-young (ST Reporter)
pausoon@soongsil.ac.kr
Lee Geon-yong (ST Reporter)
rjsdyd0414@soongsil.ac.kr
