Performance by the the department of Korean Music

On Friday, August 27, we celebrated our 75th summer graduation ceremony online. Performances by the Department of Korean Music, an address by novelist and Minister of Culture Lee O-Young, and snippets of some of the graduating classes’ favorite school memories were featured on our livestreams. “You have my deepest respect, for you have committed yourselves to furthering your education in spite of the difficulty of our times,” said SNU President Oh Se-Jung. “As leaders of tomorrow, may you continue to strive for a society defined by truth, justice, and equality.”

Commencement address by novelist, literary critic, and Minister of Culture, Lee O-Young

In his commencement address, Lee O-Young stressed the importance of togetherness in creating a better post-pandemic society. Just as how our individual efforts to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the virus can collectively contain the pandemic, the sum of our dreams of a brighter future will go far in creating a better society.

Each college had something special to offer its graduating students, from photo zones to graduation photo contests. The Graduate School of Public Health hosted a Zoom concert event featuring the band, Even You, Broccoli, which consists of alumni members. Graduation photos that best suited the theme, “All I want is you, Graduation” were presented and funny college stories were read by Even You, Broccoli. All of this made for a very memorable experience.

Photo zone at the College of Education

The levity of the occasion, while sweet for most, could not have been more satisfying than for the SNU students receiving their honorary diplomas 50 years after their admission. Recipients of the honorary diplomas were those who participated in the 1970 Independence Movement, and as a result of their fight for freedom, were stripped of their rights to continue their education. SNU has so far honored a total of 22 such students. “To our heroes who have sacrificed for our nation’s independence, we will not rest till we have honored all of you. We will never forget your sacrifices,” said Oh Se-jung.

Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=133057

Written by Cheesue Kim, SNU English Editor, cheesuerocket@gmail.com Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr