Korea University prepares for the next 100 years of education
  “I hope the Science & Engineering Library will be reborn as an incubator of science talent.”
KU alumnus Bae Gi-seong donated KRW 200 million to the Science & Engineering Library renovation project.
Korea University held the “Bae Gi-seong Zone” Signboard Hanging Ceremony as a demonstration of appreciation for his donation.

Bae Gi-seong, an alumnus of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry at Korea University who entered the university in 1970 and is now a former president of the Korea University Alumni Association in New Jersey, has donated KRW 200 million. He is the first person who participated in the fundraising campaign for the renovation of the Science & Engineering Library.

Korea University (President Chung Jin Taek) held a donation ceremony at the president’s office in the Main Hall of the University on April 8th at 2:30 p.m. The event was followed by the “Bae Gi-seong Zone” Signboard Hanging Ceremony at the Science & Engineering Library.

When the seven-floor building was first opened, its collection of over 90,000 books, the University’s first-ever central air-conditioning system, seven elevators, and white tile-finished exterior walls drew public attention. Korea University’s Science & Engineering Library, inaugurated almost forty years ago, is the prime architectural symbol of the Science Campus. Korea University is remodeling the library, both internally and externally, to innovate and optimize the space to meet the changing needs of library users.

In honor of Mr. Bae’s donation, Korea University hung a signboard and a banner that read “Bae Gi-seong Zone” in the Alpha Lounge on the first floor of the library. As a courtesy to doners, Korea University engraves the names of the donors on the Donor’s Wall in the library or names a specific place on campus after the donating individuals or organizations.

At the donation ceremony, Mr. Bae said, “I was born in Uijeongbu in the year that the Korean War broke out, as a seventh child of a farmer’s family. As a young child, I grew up helping my parents’ farm. When I was a Korea University student, I had to do a lot of part-time jobs, like private tutoring, to pay tuition fees. I’ve been living my whole life with sincerity, diligence, and conscientiousness. I’ve been making small contributions to Korea University and the community. I’m proud to be the first donor to participate in the fundraising campaign for the renovation of the Science & Engineering Library and give back to my alma mater.” “When I was running a company, I always had a ready-to-go mindset. Korea University is ready to go for the next hundred years. Go KU!,” he added.

Chung Jin Taek, president of Korea University, said, “The aim of renovating the Science & Engineering Library building is not just to improve the old building and replace run-down facilities, but to transform it into a new research and education services platform to meet the needs of the Science Campus community,” and added, “Thank you Mr. Bae for making a great contribution to the renovation project, which will help stimulate Korea University’s research and education in science.”

Korea University recently launched a fundraising campaign for the renovation of the Science & Engineering Library. The campaign is to encourage all KU alumni with fond memories of the Science & Engineering Library to donate a brick for the new library building.

After graduating from Korea University, Bae Gi-seong joined LG General Trading, and worked in Korea and abroad. He received a presidential citation for his outstanding export achievement. He later took over and expanded a New Jersey-based food manufacturing company owned by the LG General Trading. From 2014 to 2019, he served as a management advisor to the in-vitro diagnostics company Access Bio. After retirement, he has been volunteering for the local community.