Kyungnam University’s 80th Anniversary: A Milestone Toward a Sustainable Future

 Founded in 1946, Kyungnam University (KU) celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Over eight decades of change in technology, politics, and culture, the university has met challenges with resilience and wisdom, while achieving significant growth and building a lasting legacy. This year, students, professors, staff, and alumni have come together, united by their pride in KU, to celebrate this milestone alongside the enduring spirit of the Heavenly Horse, the university’s symbolic animal. At the same time, there is an increasing need to reflect on the direction KU should take for the future amid the rapid development of AI and digital technology. Through the university’s many anniversary events and celebrations, what messages and memories has KU shared with its community?

Hanma Daedong Festival Fills the Campus with Energy

 The Hanma Daedong Festival (HDF), also known as Festa, is KU’s annual festival held each May. During Festa week, students, faculty members, and visitors from outside the university gather on campus, filling it with cheerful energy. This year’s HDF, held in celebration of the university’s 80th anniversary, offered a variety of attractions, including activity booths, performances, and food trucks.Although rainy skies and cloudy weather persisted throughout Festa week, the passion and enthusiasm of participants brought warmth and happiness to the campus. A highlight of the celebration was the fireworks display celebrating the university’s 80th anniversary. The activity booths also drew strong interest, reflecting current student tastes and emerging trends. For example, a keyboard clicker-making booth was well-received, allowing visitors to create personalized clickers that matched their own styles and preferences.

Fun Activities with English and AI

 In addition to trend-driven activity booths, a variety of programs showcasing the university’s English and AI initiatives also captured visitors’ attention. First, the Division of Undergraduate English Education held an English Conversation Picnic, an event that attracted many visitors while highlighting the importance of English as an international language. Operated by the university’s native-speaking professors, the English Conversation Picnic featured five stations where students could freely converse in English while participating in games and activities. From OX quizzes to hot potato games that encouraged students to ask and answer questions in English, the picnic created a lively atmosphere where visitors could experience the fun of using English in everyday communication. President Park Jae Kyu also visited the picnic, making the experience even more meaningful for participants. Additionally, booths featuring software, robotics, and AI technologies attracted significant attention throughout the festival. Among them, a booth that used facial recognition technology to create robot-drawn caricatures became especially popular, offering visitors a unique and engaging experience.

Growing Together with Gyeongnam: 80th Anniversary Forum and Special Lecture

 KU participated in the “Gyeongnam National Assembly Forum” held on May 11 at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of both KU and the Gyeongnam Shinmun. During the forum, participants discussed key issues such as industrial transformation through Physical AI, the creation of a sustainable environment for young people in the region, and innovation strategies for local universities. The event also served as an opportunity to reflect on the 80-year history of the Gyeongnam Shinmun, which was founded same year as KU in 1946, while exploring solutions to regional challenges such as population decline and weakening industrial competitiveness.On May 21, KU invited Koo Ja-cheon, Chairman of Sinsung Delta Group, to deliver a special lecture as part of its “Global CEO Lecture Series” at Pyeonghwa Hall in the Changjo Gwan. Under the theme “Strategies for Sustainable Competitive Advantage,” Chairman Koo shared valuable insights and experiences related to corporate management, organizational culture, talent development, and leadership. The lecture provided a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange among the local community, academia, and industry while encouraging discussion on future-oriented agendas.

Showcasing Remarkable Achievements in the Humanities and Arts

 KU has continued to achieve meaningful accomplishments in the humanities and cultural arts, further reinforcing its long-standing academic and artistic traditions. This commitment was reflected in an international literary event held in celebration of the university’s 80th anniversary. Connected to a literary art exhibition that opened on May 18, the event took place on May 20 in the lobby of Hanma Mirae Gwan, welcoming a diverse audience for a memorable cultural experience.
A special exhibition featuring poems from So Long , a poetry collection by Kim Sun Hyang, Chairperson of the University of North Korean Studies (UNKS), drew enthusiastic responses from visitors. The collection received the “2025 Orpheus Text of the Year Award” from the U.S.-based Mundus Artium Press, and five representative poems were presented as illustrated poetry panels, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. The event also featured works by alumni writers from the Young Writers Academy, highlighting KU’s rich literary heritage and enduring creative spirit.

The Beginning of a Sustainable Future for KU

 Celebrating its 80th anniversary, KU shared its vision for the future through a special interview with President Park Jae Kyu conducted by the university’s three media outlets. In the interview, President Park emphasized that KU will pursue sustainable innovation by expanding AI-based practical education, strengthening strategies for recruiting and supporting international students, and advancing lifelong education programs. He also highlighted the continuing importance of human-centered values and humanities education in the rapidly evolving digital era, while stressing that university media should not only embrace social media and digital platforms but also cultivate stronger digital literacy skills.Built upon the legacy of 160,000 alumni, KU now stands at a historic turning point as it moves beyond its 80th anniversary toward the next 100 years. By expanding AI and technology-driven education, strengthening industry-academic cooperation, and fostering globally minded talent, the university aims to build a sustainable and innovative future. At the same time, KU continues to uphold human-centered values and community engagement while pursuing its vision of becoming a globally connected university that leads regional growth and prepares future generations for a rapidly changing world.