In 2025, Yonsei University is celebrating its 140th Anniversary during the month of May, with a special emphasis on the theme “A Vision for the Future.” An important moment in these celebrations was held on May 10th, 2025, in a ceremony with over 1,000 attendees who came together to commemorate Yonsei’s legacy and reaffirm its commitment to global leadership. The event was held at the Centennial Hall Concert Hall of Yonsei University’s Sinchon Campus.
Among the participants, the ceremony included Heo Dong-soo, the Chairman of the Yonsei Foundation, and Dong-Sup Yoon, Yonsei President. Kyung-Ryul Lee, the President of the Yonsei Alumni Association, and Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly in South Korea, were present also, together with leaders from government, academia, industry, alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Participants reflected on Yonsei’s 140-year history and reaffirmed the university’s vision for the future.
This special event was moderated by Mi-Hyun Jung, the University Chaplain, who prepared a liturgy that included the national anthem, hymns, biblical readings, and congratulatory remarks as well as musical performances, awards, and a benediction.
Addressing the participants, Chairman Heo expressed gratitude to all members of the Yonsei community, stating, “Yonsei’s transformation from a mission-based institution founded in 1885 by Allen and Underwood into a leading private university in Asia has been made possible by the collective efforts and dedication of its people.” He pledged continued support for Yonsei’s advancement, both as an alumnus and as chair of the board. Similarly, President Yoon remarked that “the small seeds planted 140 years ago by missionaries Allen, Underwood, and Avison have grown into a flourishing forest of knowledge that now lights the world.” He emphasized that Yonsei’s journey has been closely intertwined with Korea’s modern history and that the university has consistently paved the way for national, societal, and global progress.
True to its origins, Yonsei University celebrates the connection between Mission and Education, going back to its Methodist and Presbyterian roots. The institution was founded in 1885 and eventually merged Yeonhui College and Severance Medical School to become a world-class institution combining the initials of these two educational institutions: Yon-Sei. Building on this past, President Yoon outlined three strategic pillars for the future: Research Innovation, Educational Innovation, and Global Engagement:
- In Research Innovation, Yonsei has secured seven major national research projects worth over 120 billion KRW and is achieving significant progress in cutting-edge fields such as AI, batteries, semiconductors, and biotechnology. New investments in science and technology include the Yonsei Quantum Complex, the AI Innovation Institute, the Institute for Contemporary Arts and Culture, Bio-Y Biomedical Convergence Research Institute, and the Underwood-Avison Science Institute.
- In Educational Innovation, Yonsei is redesigning its curriculum around to address digital learning and student-centered project-based models through initiatives such as the Self-Designed Major and Flexible Major Selection System. Yonsei is among the first Korean institutions to introduce personalized learning through generative AI.
In Global Engagement, Yonsei continues to expand international education by promoting exchange agreements with 732 universities in 78 countries. This is based on the motto “Connecting Yonsei to the World.”
President Yoon also reflected on Yonsei’s contributions to civil society, including the important developments in South Korean democracy in recent months. He then concluded: “The true greatness of Yonsei lies not only in its accomplishments but in its founding spirit rooted in truth and freedom. Guided by this spirit, Yonsei will continue its journey toward deeper knowledge, greater humanity, and a more peaceful world.” The school motto is “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32).