A view of the Xi Jinping Collection Room. The wooden sign reads"Explore Truth and Seek Light," President Xi's message to SNU students.

Last year, on July 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a visit to Seoul National University (SNU). Accompanied by the then SNU President OH Yeon Cheon, the Chinese leader entered the Global Education Center for Engineers to give a special lecture titled"Jointly Create a Beautiful Future of China-ROK Cooperation and Accomplish the Great Cause of Asia's Revitalization and Prosperity." More than 400 people were invited to hear the 30 minute lecture, including some 200 SNU students, Seoul Mayor PARK Won-soon, Gyeonggi Province Governor NAM Kyung-pil and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman LEE Jae-yong.

In his speech, President Xi promised to donate 10,000 books to the SNU Library. His donations, delivered through the Chinese Embassy earlier this year, include 9,297 books and 755 DVDs about not only Chinese culture, history, literature, philosophy and medicine, but also ancient Korean history and the ethnic Chinese living in Korea.

President XI Jinping and former SNU President OH Yeon-Cheon when Xi visited SNU on July 4, 2014

As an expression of gratitude, Seoul National University recently dedicated a Xi Jinping Collection Room on the fourth floor of the Central Library in honor of the Chinese leader. The opening ceremony for the collection room, held on October 13, was attended by SUNG Nak-in, President of Seoul National University; QIU Guohong, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea; and HONG SungGul, General Director of the SNU Central Library.

The Xi Jinping Collection Room stores 4,410 books from the donations, along with the list of all donated materials and a video recording of President Xi's lecture at SNU last year. The rest of the donated books are kept in other book stacks in the Central Library, while overlapping books will be redistributed to the Department of Chinese Language and Literature and the Graduate School of International Studies. Professor JEONG Jong Ho, Dean of the Office of International Affairs, explained that"these books will be of great academic value since Chinese publishers rarely reprint books once they’re out of stock."

Although President Xi was not the first person to donate books and video materials, a collection room was specially assigned to commemorate his visit because he was the most prominent political leader to visit SNU ever since it was established in 1946. He was also the first Chinese leader to deliver a speech in front of the general public. Generally, it is difficult for foreign political leaders to visit SNU due to security reasons, as the university is quite far from Cheong Wa Dae and most embassies, located in the northern area of Seoul. Nevertheless, President Xi specifically decided to come to the SNU College of Engineering so that he could communicate with future engineers of Korea. The reason for his emphasis on engineering was primarily because both President Xi Jinping and President PARK Geun-hye are"engineers," having earned an engineering degree from Tsinghua University and Sogang University, respectively. To further emphasize his intention to speak to students, the Chinese President proposed that the invited students sit towards the front of the lecture room.

Entrance of the XI Jinping Collection Room

During his special lecture, Xi Jinping stressed the Korea-China friendship, saying that the two countries should cooperate together to achieve common development. He stated that China, as a peaceful country, seeks to work with Korea to promote peace in Asia as well as world prosperity. President Xi also had a few words for students, saying that the Chinese and Korean youth are the future of both countries and Asia."I hope that the youth will enhance communication and mutual understanding between China and Korea, so as to continue the China-Korea friendship," expressed the Chinese leader. He added that besides donating 10,000 books to SNU, China will invite 100 SNU students to participate in the"Chinese Bridge" Summer Camp to bolster bilateral ties among the youth of both countries.

In this respect, the books donated by Xi Jinping will serve to especially strengthen the academic relationship between Korea and China. Representatives of the SNU Central Library stated that the opening of Korea's sole Xi Jinping Collection Room will"invigorate Korea-China academic exchange and mutual research." This idea is well conveyed in the message that President Xi wrote in his guest book upon his visit to SNU. His message to SNU students, engraved on a wooden sign that is also displayed in the collection room, reads"Explore Truth and Seek Light."

Written by YOON Jiwon, SNU English Editor, jiwonyoon@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr