KUBS 809 Alumni (alumni from KUBS classes 80^th to 89^th) participate to express support for Korea University

The “Korea University Tree Planting Event,” hosted by Korea University Business School, was held at 5 PM Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in the garden in front of the Business School Main Building. The objective of the event was to celebrate National Arbor Day and to plant trees in celebration of 120 years of KU history. About 60 people participated in the event, including KU President Jin Taek Chung, KUBS Dean Johngseok Bae, and KUBS 809 Alumni. 30 members from the KUBS 809 Alumni, who sponsored the event, wore crimson-colored jackets to celebrate the event.

The event began with an opening speech and guest introduction from KUBS Vice Dean Jae Uk Chun, followed by a progress report on tree plantation from Professor Eonsoo Kim, the Chairman of the KUBS Committee of History and Culture. Chairman Kim reported that “KUBS is working on many different projects, such as inviting experts from overseas and bringing innovation to education, to foster historicity and artistry. As a part of this, we began tree plantation starting from June 2021, going through faculty workshops and approval by the advisory committee.”

KUBS has been leading education in business administration since teaching commerce in the Department of Economics in 1905. Today, KUBS aims to cultivate social leaders, who will create new ideas and knowledge with social impact and change the world, through the cultivation of historicity and artistry. KUBS has set “Establishing Historicity” as its core objective, including activities such as tree planting. Through this task, KUBS aims to create quality content and raise dignity by cultivating historical consciousness and inspiring a sense of pride and belonging between members. Accordingly, in June 2021, KUBS Committee of History and Culture began a discussion to create a garden of trees that symbolize Korea University in front of the KUBS Main Building. Finally, through the Landscape Advisory Committee’s deliberation in December 2021, trees that symbolize Korea University (plum, scholar, and pine trees) were planted in March 2022.

In his congratulatory speech, Dean Johngseok Bae said, "KUBS intends to nurture historicity and KU spirit to its internal members and to tell the history of the school to visitors by planting trees. We will develop soft power through the cultivation of historicity and artistry, and contribute to humanity by helping people enjoy a good quality of life together - which is the ultimate goal of business administration.”

Furthermore, Dean Johngseok Bae stated, “The reason why the campus looks especially beautiful today is that the three different trees, which symbolize today’s event, look harmonious. Today’s Tree Planting Event will remind the KU community members of KU’s historicity, which began in the year 1905 as Bosung College.”

President Yong Dong Yeo of KUBS 809 Alumni gave a reply speech, stating, “Members of the 809 Alumni, who dreamed of their future on campus 30 to 40 years ago, started sponsoring with the hope that future students would also continue to pursue the same dream.” He added, “We are happy to support an event that shares the historicity and pride of Korea University and KUBS.”

After the awarding ceremony, the highlight of the event – commemorative planting – was held. Three types of trees were planted in this event, all of which are deeply related to the history of the school. The three trees are the plum tree, which was the emblem of Bosung College; the scholar tree, which was located on the site of Bosung College; and the pine tree, which is the current emblem of Korea University.

The plum tree was donated by Sun Yong Lee (Business Administration 80^th), a member of KUBS 809 Alumni. The scholar tree also had a special story. The tree was grown into a seedling after taking seeds from the scholar tree in front of Daeungjeon (Designated Protected Tree No.78) located in Jogyesa Temple, the former site of Bosung College. Three guests stood in front of each tree and sprinkled wood bark around the tree, in hopes that the tree will grow healthy. They later presented the nameplate and storyboard containing the meaning of the tree. After the ticket was unveiled, all the participants took time to look around the planting water and took a commemorative photo to close the event.