All Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. graduates, congratulations! I sincerely wish you all the best in your new beginnings. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to your families and friends who have supported you, and to the faculty and staff who have taught you with love and spared no effort.It’s already been a semester since I started my tenure as President of Seoul National University, this past February 1. I have already had many opportunities to communicate directly with our students. We have had a graduation ceremony in February, a matriculation in March, the annual SNU festival in May, and two “On the Lounge event”s in March and May. Through these events, I was able to meet, talk, and interact closely with our excellent students.
Each and every one of our students I have met and talked with is a precious and valuable asset to our country. Your journey to graduation today has been extraordinary. During the global pandemic, you've faced and overcome unexpected and difficult circumstances. You've worked hard, and we're so proud of you for making it here to finally walk across this stage. It's been a challenging time, but the experience you’ve gained in facing the unknown in the past few years will prove to be an invaluable trove of wisdom and courage in the many opportunities and moments of crisis you'll encounter outside of school.
The great transformation of human civilization accelerated by COVID-19 is demanding of us a different, new set of capabilities. With the fast-paced changes of the modern world comes more and more uncertainty. In times like these, we need more than just knowledge; we need the ability to cope with uncertainty itself, and the interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate with others amidst such uncertain times. The complexity and volatility of the crises that lie ahead of us cannot be navigated by any one individual. The challenge now is to pool the wisdom of many, to find ways to achieve goals that have never been reached before. We need to confront these unknown challenges with creativity and determination, communicating and working together to make a better future, step by step. The unique experiences gained at Seoul National University will give every graduate the strength to navigate the future.
Today, we are honored to welcome Professor Jae-Chun Choe, who has advocated for the term "Homo symbious,” meaning co-existing man. He has claimed that "symbiosis” and "cooperation” are the very survival strategies adopted by all species that have experienced growth and development. The recent pathologies in our society and the climate crisis can be seen as the result of our lack of symbiotic efforts. We must use our individual excellence to realize symbiosis and coexistence for the community as a whole. Through sharing, individual excellence can be expanded, and the process of coexistence creates a stronger and richer foundation. We must create a harmonious community on the basis of inclusiveness. In this community, we should be able to enjoy happiness through ‘sensitivity to diversity’ and ‘empathy for others.’As an innovative effort to educate leaders with such sensitivity and empathy, SNU is actively promoting its new“Living and Learning” program, LnL. It is our university’s goal to guarantee all SNU graduates at least one year’s experience in LnL within the next couple of years.
As a graduate, you may be feeling a bit wistful as you look back on your student days. Leaving school and going out into the world may stir some fear in you. At Seoul National University, you practiced how to work with people of different ages, tastes, and backgrounds to learn and get better results. You went through a process of growth, during which you constantly reflected on what it means to be human, acknowledged who you are in the present moment, and realized and filled in whatever you found lacking. Through the time of togetherness and rebirth experienced at Seoul National University, you will be able to blossom more vividly out in the world. So, push aside your fears, and work with others to accomplish what you think is right. I implore you to continue your efforts and innovations for the community, as a proud graduate of Seoul National University with a sense of responsibility for our country and society. Seoul National University will continue seeking a vision that fits the times, taking on creative challenges in order to innovate and grow.
When the going gets tough and the road ahead seems dark, remember that your alma mater will always be with you. Cherish the dignified, brilliant selves to be memorialized in the photos you take of yourselves today, to be remembered twenty, even thirty years from now.
We wish you all the best in your new beginnings.