Over 200 Guests Gather at YU’s Cheonma Honors Park for the 77th Founding Anniversary Statue Unveiling on the 23rd

Active USA Chairman LEE Don Donates Full Costs for Statue Honoring YU Founder Park Chung Hee

President CHOI Oe-chool: “Honoring the Founder’s Vision, We Will Nurture Talent to Contribute to Global Prosperity”

[October 23, 2024]

 To mark its 77th founding anniversary, Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool) held a statue unveiling ceremony for its founder, Park Chung Hee, on the 23rd at Cheonma Honors Park.

 The ceremony was organized to honor the founding spirit, educational philosophy, and achievements of Park Chung Hee while commemorating YU’s 77th anniversary to pass down his legacy to future generations. The event was attended by a distinguished gathering of over 200 guests, including YU President CHOI Oe-chool and faculty; Chairperson HAN Jae-sook of the Yeungnam School Corporation; Chairman of YU's North American Alumni Association LEE Don, who donated all expenses for the statue, along with his spouse, YOO Bok-kyung; former Presidential Secretary for Legal Affairs and first Chair of the Park Chung Hee Memorial Foundation, KIM Ki-choon; Chairman of the Saemaul Foundation, LEE Seung-jong; former YU Presidents LEE Sang-chun and SUR Gil-soo; Kumo National Institute of Technology President KWAK Ho-sang; Yeungnam College of Science and Technology President LEE Jae-yong; former Alumni Association President JEONG Tae-il; Seoul Alumni Association President PARK Jeong-kwan; Honorary Professors’ Association President LEE Gwang-sik; Professor Association Chair JEONG Jae-hak; staff union representatives; student representatives; and retired faculty representatives. The unveiling ceremony proceeded with an opening declaration, an introduction of the founder, a report on the statue’s development, congratulatory addresses, presentation of an appreciation plaque, and the statue unveiling.

<YU President CHOI Oe-chool delivering a commemorative speech at the statue unveiling ceremony for Founder Park Chung Hee.>

 Park Chung Hee, YU founder, was born in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in 1917. After serving as a teacher at Mungyeong Public School, he graduated in 1946 from the Chosun Military Academy, the precursor to the current Korea Military Academy. Serving as Korea’s 5th to 9th president from 1963 to 1979, he presented Koreans with a grand vision for national modernization and progress, channeling the collective strength and unity of the people to help South Korea emerge as an economic powerhouse. In 1967, with a commitment to fostering talents essential for national prosperity and progress, he founded Yeungnam University, establishing its educational mission rooted in patriotism and a philosophy of public service. 

 The statue of Park Chung Hee stands on a granite base measuring 2 meters by 2 meters and 0.3 meters high, with the statue itself crafted in bronze, measuring 2.5 meters tall and 0.8 meters wide. Created by artist KIM Young-won, renowned for works such as the King Sejong statue at Gwanghwamun Square and “Osu” housed at Hoam Art Museum, he is a master of Korean figurative sculpture. KIM also produced statues of President Park at his birthplace in Gumi and at Cheongnamdae. 

 In October 2023, during the 9th Annual General Meeting of YU’s North American Alumni Association in Los Angeles, a consensus was reached to create a statue of the founder. In December of the same year, LEE Don, Chairman of the North American Alumni Association, met with YU President CHOI Oe-chool to discuss details, leading to the statue's formal development. In April of this year, Chairman LEE generously donated the entire cost needed for creating and installing the statue to YU, aiming to commemorate the founder’s noble vision and elevate his alma mater’s prestige on its 77th anniversary in 2024.

 LEE Don (Architecture, Class of '73), who funded the statue entirely, immigrated to the U.S. in 1986 and founded Active U.S.A. Inc. the following year, achieving remarkable success. Despite losing his entire fortune in the 1992 L.A. Riots, he rebounded, thanks to his reputation and leadership as a businessman. He currently serves as a director of Pacific Bank, a prominent Korean-American bank, as well as a leading CEO in the World Korean Business Convention, director of the Memorial Foundation for Scholar LEE Eon-jeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Overseas Advisory Committee member, and chairman of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Alumni Association in North America. Even while residing overseas, LEE has made ongoing charitable contributions, becoming the third overseas member of the Honor Society by the Community Chest of Korea for “Fruit of Love.” As an advisor to Gyeongsangbuk-do, he has also extended invitations to more than 100 university students from YU and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region to join Active U.S.A. as interns, actively supporting young talent in building global competencies.

Chairman LEE has been supporting students with foundation of Wolsan Scholarship Society after donating scholarship funds to YU, his alma mater, in 2012 in order to repay the kindness of his father who passed in July 2011, and his mother. Since then, his scholarship donations to YU have amounted to $4 million, making it the largest individual scholarship fund managed by the university. The students of Wolsan Scholarship Society are active in all walks of life, including lawyers, prosecutors, certified public accountants, architects, and teachers. Chairman LEE has been continuously making donations for Wolsan Scholarship Society, university development fund, and Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and has been making large contributions in the university and the alumni association.

 Chairman LEE also led the founding of the North American Alumni Association for YU, the first of its kind among universities south of the Hangang River. In his role as the head of the preparatory committee, he visited major cities across the United States, encouraging alumni participation and support. Following his tenure as president of the YU LA Alumni Association, he served as the first president of the North American Alumni Association and currently holds the position as its 9th president. YU has recognized his achievements with the “Proud YU Alumnus Award” in 2006 and an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration in 2014. In 2023, he was further honored with the National Order of Civil Merit (Dongbeak Medal) from the South Korean government for his contributions to the field of education.

 In her congratulatory speech, HAN Jae-sook, Chairperson of Yeungnam School Corporation, stated, “Following the educational ideals of our founder, President Park Chung Hee, YU has produced countless talents who have contributed to national development. I sincerely hope today’s unveiling will inspire us to continue working together to advance YU’s mission and growth.”

KIM Ki-chun, former Chief Presidential Secretary to President PARK Geun-hye, shared his reflections: “On the 77th anniversary of YU’s founding, it is profoundly meaningful to hold the statue unveiling ceremony for President Park Chung Hee. I vividly remember his tireless efforts, driven by a singular determination to uplift the nation, which he exemplified as a public servant in the Blue House. Today, we honor his work in laying the foundation of freedom and prosperity that we enjoy.”

 Next, honorary professor LEE Kwang-sik expressed his gratitude in his address: “I extend my thanks to all those who contributed to the statue of President Park Chung Hee. YU, founded under the exceptional leadership of President Park to lead Korea’s development, has grown alongside the nation. I hope this statue will inspire future generations to honor the founder’s vision and contribute to the country’s progress.”

<Chairman LEE Don delivering a congratulatory address at the unveiling ceremony for Founder Park Chung Hee's statue.>

 Lastly, LEE Don, who played a pivotal role in the creation of the founder’s statue, shared in his address, “It brings me great joy and honor to contribute to erecting the statue of President Park Chung Hee, founder of our alma mater and architect of the ‘Miracle on the Hangang River,’ here on our campus.” He continued, “Establishing a statue of our esteemed founder, President Park, on the YU campus—where the indomitable spirit of Cheonma stands tall—has long been a shared aspiration of YU alumni across North America.” Today, Korea’s standing in the world is unparalleled, a testament to President Park’s patriotic spirit, New Village Movement, and visionary leadership. The North American Alumni Association will forever remember the legacy of President Park, who was instrumental in Korea’s rise as an economic powerhouse.”

YU President CHOI Oe-chool said, “It is a moving experience to unveil the statue of President Park Chung Hee, who established YU to nurture the country’s future leaders at a time marked by poverty and uncertainty, in this significant year marking YU's 77th anniversary. Recently, a Nobel Laureate in Economics praised the ‘Park Chung Hee Development Model’ for inspiring economic growth policies globally—a source of pride for us all. Commemorating the founder’s philosophy and vision, while striving to uphold his spirit, is central to YU’s identity.” He continued, “As expressed in our university anthem—‘To dispel darkness and falsehood, teaching brightness and truth’—YU is committed to fulfilling its mission as an institution dedicated to truth and justice. We will stand firm against any forces that challenge our founding principles and identity, upholding the light of true knowledge. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Chairman LEE Don and his family, our North American alumni, and everyone here today. YU will continue to cultivate talents who contribute not only to national prosperity but to the shared welfare of humanity.”