단국대학교

Dankook University and the government are cooperating closely to foster experts in future technologies at the private school’s two campuses under a partnership in five sectors — bio health, next-generation displays, semiconductors, global culture and governance. Of them, Dankook University’s bio health education program was nominated as one of the government’s “Best consortiums” for three consecutive years since the school opened the related education courses in 2021. Some 27,000 students have attended about 150 classes under the program in the meantime. In a bid to incubate experts in future semiconductor technologies, the university also opened the DKU Clean Room Center with a floor area of 926 square meters at its Jukjeon Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in October. The center offers comprehensive education tracks in semiconductor technology, including design, process and device simulation as well as post-processing and packaging, thanks to its cutting-edge facilities. The campus has also been designated as the government’s educational partner in next-generation display technology this year. Under the partnership, Dankook University said it will open five different related tracks for 79 classes to foster future experts in display technology. Dankook University is also operating various educational courses in culture at its Cheonan Campus in South Chungcheong Province. They include cinema, dramas, webtoons, animation, music and performance. The entire courses are assimilated with future coomunications technologies to foster future experts in media. The education institution’s relentless efforts were also recognized by foreign academia. Stanford University and global analytics publisher Elsevier nominated 29 Dankook University scholars for their latest list of the “World Top 2 percent Scientists” based on the Scopus, an Elsevier-owned academic database offering a comprehensive overview of global interdisciplinary scientific information, covering the areas of science, technology, medicine, social science and the arts and humanities. “Dankook University has invested a huge amount of money in renovating its educational environment to satisfy its students’ expectations,” Dankook University President Ahn Soon-cheol said in a press release. “The school will continuously strengthen its educational courses for future technologies to foster prospectives.” "Dankook University joins hands with gov't to foster experts in future technologies" (The Korea Times, 2024.12.19)

Dankook University ranked 3rd among private universities in Korea in the National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) survey conducted by the Korea Productivity Center. Scoring 79 points in this year’s NCSI survey, the university ranked behind Sungkyunkwan University (1st) and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2nd), sharing 3rd place with Yonsei University and Hanyang University. This marks an improvement from 4th place last year, securing a spot in the Top 5 for two consecutive years. The survey included 23 four-year universities nationwide (10 national universities and 13 private universities), with our university participating for the second year in a row. Our high ranking was credited to being the “university with the most selections for government-supported convergence talent development projects.” The university is actively engaged in three "Advanced Field Innovation Convergence Universit[y]" initiatives focusing on bio-health, next-generation displays, and semiconductor materials and components. Additionally, we lead convergence talent development in the humanities and social sciences, addressing global cultures and social structures. Setting “student satisfaction” as a core goal, the university has transformed its educational platforms and infrastructure, providing tailored education based on students’ developmental stages. To enhance students’ academic choices, the university has expanded its multidisciplinary major programs and implemented the "DanCare" student counseling model to support students' growth and career development. President An SoonCheol emphasized, “with the belief that a prestigious university must prioritize student satisfaction, we are heavily investing in building educational infrastructure. By fostering a culture of responsible administration through student satisfaction-driven management, we aim to assist students in their growth and success, ultimately enhancing trust and satisfaction through value-based management.” In 2013, our university became the first in Korea to establish the CS Management Center, dedicated to student satisfaction. The center has pioneered initiatives, including the development of Korea’s first data-driven university management model (DK-UCSI), the launch of the country’s first student-led speaker group "Dan-Ulim," and the establishment of the first integrated call center among Korean universities. The university has also developed proprietary satisfaction diagnostic indicators, including Department Satisfaction, Administrative Service Satisfaction, Faculty Satisfaction, and External Customer Satisfaction (focusing on corporations, high school career counselors, alumni, parents, and local residents). These indicators have been registered for copyright and patents (2013–2019) and validated through publications in the Journal of Korean Educational Research (2013–2014). Regular diagnostic data is provided to administrative departments and academic units to enable a virtuous cycle of identifying and addressing areas for improvement.

NVIDIA (CEO Kim Seung-kyu) and Dankook University hosted an AI technology seminar on November 24th at Hye-dang Hall on the Jukjeon campus, providing insights into the future of AI computing. Jointly organized by the Ultra-low-cost AI System Research Center for Edge Devices (Director Kim Hyun-jin), the Career Development and Entrepreneurship Office (Director Min Dong-won), and NVIDIA, the seminar attracted over 500 students, demonstrating their keen interest in AI technology, a future growth industry. During the seminar, Lee Deuk-woo, Executive Director of NVIDIA, gave a lecture entitled "Artificial Intelligence and NVIDIA GPUs." He covered topics such as the history of NVIDIA, the evolution of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) technology, and the importance of GPUs in on-device environments, offering valuable insights into the upcoming era of artificial intelligence. The venue also featured a demonstration booth where participants could experience NVIDIA’s latest GPU, the "GeForce RTX GPU," in action. Attendees explored NVIDIA’s cutting-edge on-device AI features, including the AI chatbot "ChatRTX," an AI-based video calling app "NVIDIA Broadcast," and an AI-powered image generation application. Vice President for Industry-University Cooperation, Oh Jwa-seop, stated, “through this seminar, we hope to create a foundation for collaboration between our university, which is leading the cultivation of professionals and research in advanced fields such as AI, semiconductors, future mobility, robotics, and digital healthcare, and NVIDIA, a global leader in industry innovation.” Seo Jong-hyu, a junior in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, shared his impressions. “The seminar not only enhanced my understanding of AI technology, but also allowed me to experience cutting-edge innovation firsthand, making me realize how rapidly AI is integrating into daily life.”

Dankook University received the top ‘S’ rating for the first time in the educational innovation category during the second annual evaluation of the University Innovation Support Project, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. In attaining an ‘S’ rating, DKU will be eligible for additional incentives and be provided KRW 13.273 billion in grants, which is a 38% increase compared to the previous year. The University Innovation Support Project helps universities strengthen their educational bases through self-innovation in order to provide quality higher education and foster future talent. A total of 117 universities nationwide, including 51 in the Seoul metropolitan area, are taking part in the project. Participating universities are evaluated and grouped into grades S, A, B, and C and receive tiered incentives depending on their respective grades. Over the past five years, Dankook has invested around KRW 40 billion from the grants received through the project into educational innovations to nurture creative talent. Obtaining an ‘S’ rating acknowledges DKU’s achievements in delivering convergent education guided by the goal of ‘cultivating DKU future talent who can transcend borders and grow together.’ In this year’s evaluation, Dankook was highlighted for its efforts to expand choices for students when selecting majors. For the 2025 school year, 33.8% or 1,041 incoming students will be admitted with undeclared majors. Toegye (Jukjeon) and Yulgok (Cheonan) Innovation Colleges have been established to provide comprehensive education for freshmen enrolling in the open major program. To support freshmen with selecting majors more effectively and planning their careers, dedicated professors (JA Faculty) are assigned and a roadmap called ‘D-DanCare’ is provided for students to adjust, grow, and design their career tracks. Assistance programs, such as Danjjak Mentoring (buddy-pairing between senior and junior students), Danpum Mentoring (one-on-one professor to student mentoring), and Danbi Mentoring (student and alumni mentorship groups), are also offered to help incoming students take more initiative in planning their college life. Meanwhile, a personalized growth management program called DanCare offers support to enrolled students in building skills in six core competency areas (communication, self-direction, problem-solving, professional knowledge, dedicated cooperation, and global citizenship). DKU’s flexible academic system that offers multiple majors, supports department transfers, and allows credit exchanges was also recognized. The number of students that chose double majors, multidisciplinary majors, convergence majors, joint majors, and micro credentials jumped 15.1% from 1,171 in 2022 to 1,348 in 2023. A total of 728 courses are available for credit exchanges with 53,167 students completing such courses. Dankook’s hyperconnected educational innovation platform was praised in the evaluation. Dankook implemented Dan.i (AI-based customized learning support), D-ESK (AI-based teaching support), and e-Campus (learning management system for no-boundary learning) to support customized teaching and learning. Moreover, DKU is advancing D-MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), D-OER (Open Educational Resources), a metaverse campus (AI-driven tailored learning supports), and Young熊 Story+ (AI-based self-directed learning) to expand and converge hyperconnected learning experiences for students. “Receiving an ‘S’ rating in the educational innovation category recognizes Dankook University’s performance in realizing strong convergent education,” said DKU President Soon-Cheol An, who added that “[we] will step up our efforts in building an educational infrastructure to nurture innovative and convergent talent fit for a new age of digital transformation.”

President An SoonCheol presents the direction of university innovation aimed at providing education that satisfies students On the occasion of his first anniversary as the president of Dankook University, President SoonCheol An conducted an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo. He unveiled his vision for university management, including improvements to the educational environment, plans for freshman selection, and the establishment of the PRIMUS International University. He particularly highlighted the university's efforts for innovation that ensures student satisfaction in education and the restructuring of systems to enhance major selection rights. He stated his commitment to creating a university where students are satisfied with their education and alumni take pride in their institution. Link to the full interview with JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) Link to the full interview with Korea JoongAng Daily (English)

Young musicians from Korea and Germany come together to create a stage of friendship and harmony. On July 17, the DKU Symphonic Band (conducted by Professor Gunyong Lee) held a cultural exchange concert with the State Symphonic Wind Orchestra of Baden-Württemberg from Germany (conductor Björn Bus) at Dankook University’s Nanpa Concert Hall. Dankook invited the Baden-Württemberg Orchestra to campus for the concert during the orchestra’s visit to Korea to take part in the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles’ (WASBE) 20th International Conference. The joint concert at Dankook featured 122 musicians, 49 from DKU and 73 from Germany. More than six hundred people filled the concert hall. The packed audience included the Dankook Foundation’s Honorary Chairman, Choong-sik Chang, DKU President, Soon-Cheol An, internal and external guests, along with international and DKU students. The concert started with an exhilarating samulnori (Korean percussion music) performance from students majoring in traditional Korean music that immediately grabbed the attention of the audience, especially foreign guests. Afterward, the Wind Orchestra of Baden-Württemberg performed Mathias Wehr’s ‘Earthen Echoes Unveiled,’ Alexandre Kosmicki’s ‘Danse Satanique,’ Christiaan Janssen’s ‘Capriccio,’ and Bert Appermont’s ‘a Brussels Requiem.’ Then, the DKU Symphonic Band delivered a beautiful combination of Philip Sparke’s ‘Hanover Festival’ and Robert E. Jager’s ‘Sinfornia Nobilissima.’ The 122 young and talented musicians from the two countries created magnificent harmony and a grand atmosphere that made the audience forget about the hot summer and rainy season. “We were able to deliver a memorable performance and make unforgettable memories at the Dankook campus thanks to the special invitation from Dankook’s Honorary Chairman, Choong-sik Chang, who is well-versed in culture and known for his love for music,” said Ilka Hermann, the principal horn of the Baden-Württemberg Orchestra. She went on to express her “deepest gratitude to DKU officials, including the Dankook Foundation Chairman, Hosung Chang, DKU President An, and Professor Lee who helped organize the concert [over] the past six months.” The DKU Symphonic Band and Baden-Württemberg Orchestra also gave a joint performance of Alfred Reed’s ‘Armenian Dances Part 1,’ led by conductor Björn Bus, and John Barnes Chance’s ‘Variations on a Korean Folk Song,’ conducted by professor Gunyong Lee. The concert ended with a performance of variations on Arirang, the traditional Korean folk song most loved by the Korean people. The audience held their breath as the notes of Arirang, played by the German principal clarinet, spread throughout the silent concert hall. When the song ended, the audience roared with applause and a standing ovation. It was a beautiful moment when people of different nationalities and ages were united by music.

Dankook University’s student volunteer corps, part of the Office of Student Affairs area, are traveling to Mongolia and Cambodia over the summer break to exemplify Dankook’s guiding principles of truth and service. Thirty-five members from the Jukjeon campus overseas volunteer corps (32 students, 3 faculty) will visit Puok Elementary School in Siem Reap, Cambodia from June 24 to July 4. On June 21, the volunteers held a kick-off ceremony at the small auditorium in the Jukjeon campus’ Humanities Hall in hopes of a successful trip. The volunteer corps will start by serving meals through the Dail Community’s Babfor Services. They will teach math, science, art, physical education, and Korean language and culture, draw murals, repair school facilities, and conduct musical and cultural performances. Meanwhile, 24 members of the Cheonan campus overseas volunteer corps (lead by Professor Il Suk Lee) will embark on a volunteer trip to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from June 29 to July 8. The delegation will visit School #9 to volunteer. They will teach Korean language, science, art, physical education, carbon neutrality, and environmental education. Additionally, they will create wall murals, carry out maintenance work around the school, install recreational facilities, offer health education, and deliver a special performance and village festival for the local community. “[I] see our students’ efforts of practicing and preparing for the volunteer trip will help them flourish at the volunteer sites,” said professor Sung-soon Park, head of the volunteer corps, who added, “I hope everyone will be able to share our values of truth and service and return home safely.” Since the volunteer corps was inaugurated in 2007, Dankook University has been actively carrying out volunteer work at home and abroad. Over 2,500 students and faculty members have provided services in different countries, including Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Laos to practice the university’s educational direction of truth and service.

Professor In Ho Kim of the School of Life Resources was invited to the Haiyou Talent Festival in Jinan, China on June 12 to be honored as an academician, the highest title given to scholars in China, and was registered on the talent list of Jinan. Professor Kim is currently conducting research with Shandong Jinzhuji Pharmaceuticals on pet feed and snacks and active probiotics for pigs. He also submitted new projects for the Chinese government with the company. “It is a great pleasure to be partnering in China on deep-dive studies and I hope to contribute to the promotion of further exchanges between our two countries in science and technology to create innovative research accomplishments,” said Professor Kim. Professor In Ho Kim graduated from Dankook University’s Department of Animal Resources Science and obtained his Ph.D. from Kansas State University before being appointed to Dankook University in 2000. He is a member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and currently heads the Smart Animal Bio Research Institute, one of the core research institutes of DKU, carrying out education and research on low-carbon, environment-friendly swine systems, animal feed, and animal nutrition.

Sponsored with KRW 8.6 billion over 3 years to nurture community innovators tackling social conflict Selected for the most innovation and convergent talent cultivation programs (cutting-edge industries, humanities and social sciences) along with Seoul National University Dankook University was chosen as a participating university in the social structure division of the Humanities Utmost Sharing System (HUSS) program hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Dankook is taking the lead in convergence education in the humanities, being selected for the second time for HUSS after being named a lead university for the HUSS program in globalization and culture last year. This year, DKU stepped up its efforts to foster future industries and convergent talent after also being chosen as a lead university in the next-generation display division of the Convergence and Open Sharing System (COSS) program after participating in the National Center of Excellence in Software program. In fact, DKU was selected for five government programs related to talent cultivation. Three were in biomedicals, next-generation displays, and semiconductor components as part of the COSS program and two were in globalization & culture and social structures as part of the HUSS program. This is the most among Korean universities, tied with Seoul National University. DKU also ranked first, along with Kookmin University, as a lead university on the most projects, leading in biomedicals, next-generation displays, and globalization & culture. Dankook is participating in the ‘HUSS Consortium for Building a Community for Mutual Growth’ together with Sogang University (lead university), Sangmyung University, Daejeon University, and Wonkwang University. Grants worth KRW 8.6 billion over the course of three years will be provided to DKU to focus on the key initiative of ‘change in social structures as a response to building a healthy community ecosystem’ and to develop a convergence curriculum focused on the humanities and social sciences, to improve educational foundations, and to renew relevant academic systems. One hundred and seventeen faculty members representing thirty-two departments from the five universities will work together to nurture 5,000 ‘community innovators’ armed with humanities insight, social analytics, cultural content production capabilities, and technological knowhow in using artificial intelligence and big data. The consortium is broken down into ‘family and education,’ ‘urban and rural regions,’ ‘organizations and industries,’ and ‘culture and generations’ majors and will develop over 60 professional courses. Each major consists of four career tracks – Creator, Strategist, Practitioner, and Analyst – to cultivate AI convergent talent that can contribute to social integration and building communities for mutual growth. Moreover, innovative education models, including modular curricula, short-form & microlearning, telepresence lectures, living labs, and cohort learning, will be adopted and shared across universities in the consortium through the Echo Integrated Platform. Seven departments from Dankook, namely political science and international relations, counseling, public administration, urban and regional planning, history, philosophy, and statistics and data science, are participating in HUSS. Experts in these areas will be involved in developing and delivering courses and a specialized curriculum for those majoring in urban and rural regions and family and education. Through the living lab, we will carry out project-based learning programs to address local issues where Dankook is located, such as in the Seoul metropolitan area and Choongcheong provinces, partnering with local communities to seek solutions for real-world challenges they face. Furthermore, the university will strengthen areas of the liberal arts needed in modern society, such as everyday philosophy content based on our research capabilities in contemporary studies of the humanities, while strengthening AI and software education by offering software and introductory AI courses as part of the core curriculum for students studying the humanities or social sciences.

An open library and café covering over 540 square meters To serve as a natural wellness spot and community hub Dankook University has opened Beartopia on the Jukjeon campus, an open library with nature as its backdrop. The new nature-friendly library is located at the campus’ waterfall park which has become a popular community destination for those seeking some rest and tranquility. The library, which covers over 540㎡, gets its name from ‘Bear,’ which is Dankook’s mascot, and the Greek term ‘topia,’ which refers to land, field, and location. Its goal is become a venue for visitors to rest or study as well as to foster creative ideas in preparation for the future. Beartopia consists of an open library, university merchandise display, coffee shop, and outdoor rest area. Equipped with more than 2,000 books, it functions as an open library where students and citizens alike can come and go freely with a good book. The outdoor area has been sculpted into an enchanting venue that showcases an artificial waterfall and allows visitors to pause and recover from their busy lives. “Dankook University is taking the lead in providing venues for healthy lifestyles and quality education to members of the university and local community to achieve our sustainable development goals (SDGs),” explained DKU President Soon-Cheol An, who added that “[we] will offer programs to encourage people to read and experience the joy of reading while embracing nature, and also strive to promote various creative arts events.”

Dankook University has been named as one of the new testing locations for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). The TOPIK will be offered at DKU six times per year over the course of two years (total of 12 times), starting from July of this year until June 2026. The test will be available to approximately 500 candidates for each sitting. TOPIK is an exam taken by foreigners or ethnic Koreans, whose native language is not Korean, to measure their Korean language proficiency. The scores are widely used by candidates to study at or graduate from Korean universities and graduate schools, qualify for scholarships, and apply for job opportunities. Dankook was selected as a testing location based on excellence in 11 categories, including ease of access, top-notch facilities, stable testing performance, and capacity of test supervisors. “Despite growing demand for TOPIK, the lack of testing locations in the area have made it inconvenient for the many foreign students and office workers living in Yongin City,” explained Professor HanSeung Cho who is the Associate Vice President for International Affairs at DKU. He went on to add that he “[expects] Dankook to contribute to improving access for candidates with DKU named as a new TOPIK testing location.” Dankook has also established the PRIMUS International College to strengthen our competitiveness in providing international education. For students taking Korean-track programs, a School of Global Core Education has been set up to open in the 2025 Spring Semester, which will deliver an intensive Korean language curriculum during students’ first year to strengthen their learning abilities. With the increased convenience of the new TOPIK testing location on campus, we look forward to more foreign students taking the TOPIK exam and making improvements in their academic achievements.

Leveraging SDGs keywords to boost promotion of research findings A new website showcases Dankook University’s efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On April 8, the Dankook SDGs Committee (chaired by Jaeil Kim, DKU Executive Vice President for External Affairs) launched the website to raise awareness of building a sustainable society and to promote and monitor the university’s SDGs activities. Users can navigate through the website menu, which consists of the Dankook SDGs Action Declaration, information on what the SDGs are, activities at DKU, and notices. It introduces the 17 SDGs that humanity should aim to achieve and to practice the concept of sustainable development. It also shows DKU’s achievements made since 2020 in relation to each of the 17 goals. In addition, Dankookites can download a list of keywords for each of the 17 SDGs. DKU has a subscription to SciVal, a research performance assessment solution offered by global academic publishing company Elsevier. If a researcher’s paper includes an SDGs keyword in its title, abstract, or keywords, it is categorized as an SDG-related study and becomes available to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), a higher education analysis and services provider, or THE (Times Higher Education). “We look forward to the website serving as a window to highlight various SDGs activities, broaden our horizons, and boost participation of Dankookites in this area,” said chairman Kim who went on to add his hopes for the website are “to lay the foundation for the SDG-related research of Dankook professors to be shared broadly by taking advantage of these keywords.” The website can be reached by clicking the ‘Dankook SDGs banner’ at the bottom of the Dankook University website (or at https://cms.dankook.ac.kr/web/sdgs). If you would like to share activities related to the SDGs, you can download, fill out, and submit an Action Form, found under the Notice menu. The Dankook SDGs Committee was set up last December to drive university efforts to achieve the SDGs. A declaration ceremony was held in February to strengthen our commitment and determination to practice values critical for the next generation through environmental conservation and social responsibility, both on and off campus.

On March 8, a student delegation from Penn State University in the U.S. visited Dankook’s Jukjeon campus to explore the DKU start-up program. Twelve undergraduate students, including Charlotte Patterson from Penn State University’s College of Engineering, kicked off their stay by observing professor Hyojung Koo’s (Department of International Business Administration) ‘IT and Business Administration’ class in the morning. Following that, students attended a special lecture presented by Sangho Lee who founded Mand.ro, a prosthetic solutions company, with assistance from DKU’s Startup Support Foundation. After listening to Lee’s story behind establishing the company and learning about its product development process, students tested Mand.ro’s robotic finger prosthesis which recently won the Best Innovation Award at CES 2024. The delegation also stopped by the Seok Juseon Memorial Museum to enjoy the extraordinary aspects of Korean culture through folk costumes and artifacts. They were greeted by five student ambassadors who volunteered as ‘buddies’ to introduce the visiting students to Korean campus life, not to mention the tasty Korean-style braised chicken called jjimdak. “It was a memorable time, talking with fellow students who share similar interests in studies, hobbies, and college life while also learning about each other’s cultures,” said Daekeon Yoo (Senior, School of Communications), President of DKU’s Global Ambassadors. Meanwhile, DKU President SoonCheol An met with professors Ted Graef and Brad Groznik of Penn State’s College of Engineering to discuss how students from Penn State can participate in Dankook’s International Summer School program while also exploring an agreement between the two universities for international exchanges. The discussions were also joined by Assistant Vice President Jisuk Chang of DKU’s Office of International Affairs and professors David Kelleher and Hyojung Koo.

Taking advantage of the winter break, the volunteer corps from Dankook University’s two campuses traveled overseas to volunteer in Cambodia and Vietnam. On January 6th, thirty-one members of the Jukjeon campus Overseas Volunteer Corps, led by Professor Sung-soon Park, departed for a 12-day trip to visit and volunteer at the Tatok School in Siem Reap, Cambodia. After serving meals through Dail Community’s Babfor Services, volunteers taught students math, science, Korean culture, and art, and painted a mural at the school. They also made a donation to fund a parking area where students could store their bicycles, which will create a better learning environment. On the same day, thirty members from the Cheonan campus Overseas Volunteer Corps, led by Professor Byeong-gu Song, also embarked on a ten-day journey to volunteer at the Trương Văn Hai Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Volunteers taught children Korean language, science, art, and physical education, helped paint school facilities in addition to a mural. It was even more meaningful with students majoring in Korean language and culture at nearby Van Lang University joining the group to extend a helping hand as interpreters. After volunteering at the primary school, the DKU delegation visited Van Lang University where they had the opportunity to engage in further cultural exchanges. “I went [on this trip] to give, but I received so much love in return from the children there,” said Heeju Yun, a senior majoring in communications who was in charge of the art class in Cambodia. She added that “[I] would like to continue taking part in sharing with others through volunteering and making donations, even after graduating.” Hyowon Kim, a senior majoring in English who volunteered in Vietnam commented, “we stayed up all night getting the programming ready, but it was worthwhile seeing how the children enjoyed what we had prepared,” and went on to say, “volunteering in Vietnam was a priceless experience that made me realize the power of education and the importance of communication between different cultures.” The Dankook University volunteer corps were founded in 2007 and have been actively conducting volunteer work both at home and abroad ever since. Over the years, more than 2,500 students and faculty members have traveled overseas to practice Dankook’s guiding principles of ‘truth and service’ in other countries, including Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Laos.

On January 8, the Korean Trombone Symposium 2024 ended after a six-day journey at DKU’s School of Music where people from different cultures, who speak different languages, were brought together through the language of music. Dankook University’s professor Gunyong Lee (School of Music, Instrumental Music Major) planned the symposium and invited world-famous trombonists to create a venue for young performers to learn and interact with fellow artists. With the age and nationalities of participating students varying widely, more than 100 students, including 20 from Columbus State University in the U.S., and universities in Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, and China, took part in the event. Globally distinguished trombonists also joined from around the world, including Colin Williams, Bradley Palmer, Jose Milton Vieira, Brian Hecht, Zachary Bond, Jongse Park, and Gunyong Lee. “Practicing hard together for six days, I became close with my Korean friends. It has been musically inspiring for all of us,” said Christopher Bassett, a bass trombonist from Columbus State University who took part in the symposium. Meanwhile, Minchang Cheong from Dankook’s School of Music commented that “it was an honor to meet world-famous trombonists that I had only seen on YouTube. The symposium definitely helped me grow by performing and playing with others.” Based on the new friendships formed, the symposium provided a stage for students to then perform together in the 2024 Trombone Contest, the Columbus State University Concert, Concerto Night from the Korean Trombone Choir, a musical ensemble, and a New Year’s concert.