As part of the KUBS 120 MARCH campaign, the ‘3C Trading Zone’ (tentative name) has been established in Hyundai Motor Hall. 

Artist Oum Jeongsoon’s ‘Elephant Without Trunk K’ Installation… Embodying the 3C Educational Philosophy

Korea University Business School has established the ‘3C Trading Zone’ within Hyundai Motor Hall and installed artist Oum Jeongsoon’s work, Elephant Without Trunk K. This installation is part of the ‘KUBS 120 MARCH campaign’ commemorating the university’s 120th anniversary and was made possible through a donation from SJG Holdings. 

The ‘3C Trading Zone’ is a key project that brings to life the 3C strategy (Curiosity, Collaboration, Contribution), an educational vision proposed by Dean Eonsoo Kim. It goes beyond a simple learning space and is designed as an ‘open platform’ where students can ask questions, engage in discussions, and expand their thinking. 

Installed at the center of this space, Elephant Without Trunk K is a sculpture that symbolically embodies the philosophy of the 3C Trading Zone. By removing the elephant’s most defining feature—the trunk—the work conveys a message that encourages viewers to question familiar assumptions and rethink problems from new perspectives. 

In particular, this work is closely connected to the 3C strategy. Its unfamiliar, trunkless form naturally prompts questions and stimulates Curiosity, while diverse interpretations and exchanges of ideas become the starting point for Collaboration. Ultimately, the expansion of such discussions and thinking leads to Contribution by creating new value for society and organizations. In this sense, the sculpture itself functions as a “learning device.” 

In addition, the ‘3C Trading Zone’ is aligned with the Business School’s future strategy, 4Tech (AI, semiconductors, energy, and robotics). In a rapidly changing technological environment, the ability to redefine and reinterpret problems is becoming more important than relying on existing methods or fixed answers. Elephant Without Trunk K serves as an educational device that symbolically represents the shift in thinking and flexibility required in such an environment. 

This installation is also meaningful in that it was made possible through a donation from SJG Holdings. Beyond simply creating a space, it represents a meaningful example of philanthropy intersecting with educational philosophy by creating an environment where students can naturally reflect and ask questions in their daily lives. 

Regarding this work, artist Oum Jeongsoon stated, “It is not common to see artworks like this on a business school campus, but I hope this project sparks new ways of thinking at the intersection of art and business,” adding, “I am also curious to see what questions this piece will raise for Korea University students and how it will influence them.” 

She added, “I hope the work does not remain merely an object to be viewed, but becomes something students can naturally approach, touch, and engage with. Through this process, I hope art can serve as a catalyst for everyday questioning and reflection.” 

It has recently come to light that RM of BTS owns a work from Oum Jeongsoon’s Elephant Without Trunk series, further enhancing the symbolic significance of the piece. According to Maeil Business Newspaper, RM purchased a small ceramic Elephant Without Trunk at Kiaf Seoul last September, and another work from the series has been installed at Hyundai Motor Hall of Korea University Business School. His choice underscores how the philosophical message and formal strength of the work resonate at the intersection of popular culture and contemporary art. The Elephant Without Trunk K installed on the Business School campus also gains added significance within this context, serving as a symbolic presence that connects art and business, as well as inquiry and reflection. 

Through the establishment of the ‘3C Trading Zone’ and the installation of Elephant Without Trunk K, Korea University Business School is shaping a new educational model for the future built upon its 120-year tradition. This space, where art and business intersect, is expected to become a starting point for students’ thinking—one that leads to questioning, collaboration, and the creation of social value.