Selected Speeches
Dr. Chungserved as the President of SNU from 2002 to 2006. These are selected speeches during his presidency.
Dinner Speech for the 2002 BESETOHA Conference (Oct. 12, 2002)
HIT: 6443
On the occasion of the 2002 BESETOHA Conference of four major universities in East Asia
Dinner Speech
President Un-Chan Chung
October 12, 2002
Honorable Presidents Dr. Sasaki Takeshi from the University of Tokyo, Dr. Dao Trong Thi from the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Dr. Wu Zhipan from Peking University, and dear colleagues!
I hope the first day of the conference went successfully. I also hope you had some time today to enjoy our campus, which is considered one of the most scenic in Korea, especially in the falltime. The Koreans believe that, “in autumn, as the sky is high and clear, so grow horses fat and sturdy.” This is an expression of the desire for an abundant harvest in this beautiful season. I wish that our gathering will bear many fruits through our joint efforts.
As you know, the 14th Busan Asiad, which opened under the slogan “New Vision, New Asia,” is coming to an end the day after tomorrow with deepened friendship among the peoples of Asia. We, too, will conclude this short conference tomorrow. I hope that this has been an opportunity for our four leading universities to understand one another better and to help create a common academic culture in East Asia.
Seoul National University seeks to foster not merely “graduates of knowledge” but also open-minded elites with intelligence, integrity, and sensibility. Such intellectuals will pursue not only personal success but also a life of selfless service and commitment to the community.
There is an old Korean saying that goes, “If you find the magpie singing in the morning, you will have a welcome visitor that day.” This morning, I came across a magpie chirping near my apartment. It is a rare encounter in Seoul. The moment I saw the magpie, I said to myself, “Oh, I am going to have welcome guests at my university today.” This magpie reminded me of none other than you.
Though this is a humble table, I hope you will enjoy our traditional dishes this evening. I also wish you a pleasant time during the rest of your stay in Seoul. Thank you.
Dinner Speech
President Un-Chan Chung
October 12, 2002
Honorable Presidents Dr. Sasaki Takeshi from the University of Tokyo, Dr. Dao Trong Thi from the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Dr. Wu Zhipan from Peking University, and dear colleagues!
I hope the first day of the conference went successfully. I also hope you had some time today to enjoy our campus, which is considered one of the most scenic in Korea, especially in the falltime. The Koreans believe that, “in autumn, as the sky is high and clear, so grow horses fat and sturdy.” This is an expression of the desire for an abundant harvest in this beautiful season. I wish that our gathering will bear many fruits through our joint efforts.
As you know, the 14th Busan Asiad, which opened under the slogan “New Vision, New Asia,” is coming to an end the day after tomorrow with deepened friendship among the peoples of Asia. We, too, will conclude this short conference tomorrow. I hope that this has been an opportunity for our four leading universities to understand one another better and to help create a common academic culture in East Asia.
Seoul National University seeks to foster not merely “graduates of knowledge” but also open-minded elites with intelligence, integrity, and sensibility. Such intellectuals will pursue not only personal success but also a life of selfless service and commitment to the community.
There is an old Korean saying that goes, “If you find the magpie singing in the morning, you will have a welcome visitor that day.” This morning, I came across a magpie chirping near my apartment. It is a rare encounter in Seoul. The moment I saw the magpie, I said to myself, “Oh, I am going to have welcome guests at my university today.” This magpie reminded me of none other than you.
Though this is a humble table, I hope you will enjoy our traditional dishes this evening. I also wish you a pleasant time during the rest of your stay in Seoul. Thank you.