CNU held its 73rd anniversary celebration on June 5 at the university's Convention Hall.
The event was attended by over 300 people, including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Alumni Association President Ryu Hye-kyung, former presidents Chung Byung-seok, Ji Byung-moon, and Kim Yoon-soo, as well as students, faculty, and alumni. Attendees reflected on the university's legacy and celebrated its journey toward the next 100 years.
During the ceremony, various awards were presented to alumni and university members who have brought honor to the university. The Hugwang Scholarly Award was presented to Professor Han Hong-koo of Sungkonghoe University. The Yongbongin Grand Honor Award was given to Kim Woong-ki, Chairman of Global Sae-A Group, and Kim Cheol-soo, President of the Korean Red Cross.
The Proud CNU Alumnus Award was presented to Kim Kyung-ho (Mayor of Gwangjin District, Seoul), Lim Sung-bok (Head of Communications at Lotte Corporation), Lee Dong-won (CEO of MBN), Moon Jae-woong (Plant Manager at Kia Motors Gwangju), and Kim Byung-joo (Member of the 22nd National Assembly).
The Yongbong Academic Award was awarded to Professor Kim Do-heyoung (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Associate Professor Han Eui-soong (Humanities Institute of CNU).
Outstanding university faculty and staff were also recognized:
Eighty professors for teaching excellence, ninety-one for service excellence, fifteen outstanding new professors, three as outstanding administrative staff, twenty exceptional lecturers, twenty outstanding teaching assistants, thirty-five excellent staff members, and four outstanding departments were awarded.
Long-term service awards were presented to employees who have worked for ten, twenty, thirty, and forty years, with three employees honored for 40 years of service. Six employees from the CNU R&BD Foundation were also recognized.
This year, the university increased the prize money for the Hugwang Scholarly Award and Yongbong Academic Awards to ten million KRW each. It also changed the award process from a designated nomination to an open competition to enhance prestige and transparency.
Following the ceremony, an alumni gathering titled “Night of Yongbong-in” was held at the same venue.
Around 200 people, including current and former National Assembly members, local government officials, former university presidents, and alumni association members, enjoyed performances and shared congratulatory remarks as well as visions for the university's development.
CNU President Lee Keun-bae stated, “For the past 73 years, CNU has grown alongside with the region as a university of the people and democracy. Now, we will fulfill a new mission: ‘A university that revitalizes the region, and a region that supports the university.’ We will overcome the crisis of regional universities with community strength and once again leave a significant mark on the Korea’s future.”
CNU, established in 1952 with five colleges (Engineering, Agriculture, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Commerce, and Medicine), is celebrating its 73rd anniversary this year. Its origins trace back to Gwangju Agricultural School, founded in 1909, making this the 116th anniversary of the university’s founding.
