Hannam University, Memorial Event for Founding President 'Indon'

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Hannam University announced on the 13th that it held a memorial event to mark the 60th anniversary of the passing of Dr. William Linton (Korean name Indon, photo), the university's founding chairman and first president.

The event gathered university faculty and staff for a memorial service, followed by a visit to Indon House within the Hannam University Missionary Village (a cultural asset designated by Daejeon City), where Dr. Indon once lived, to reflect on the founding philosophy.

Hannam University President Lee Kwang-seop said in his memorial address, “The dreams and vision of the first president Indon, engraved throughout the campus, will bear greater fruit through future generations,” and urged, “Let us remember the founding spirit, love the students, and dedicate ourselves to education.”

Dr. William Linton (Korean name Indon, photo). Provided by Hannam University

According to the university, Dr. Indon graduated at the top of his class from the Electrical Engineering Department at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States and was scheduled to join GE (General Electric). However, Dr. Indon gave up the GE position and came to Korea in 1921 as a missionary. At that time, he was 21 years old, making him the youngest missionary.

He later worked as a teacher at Yeongmyeong School in Gunsan, and during this period, he participated in the independence movement (March 1st Movement) by printing the Declaration of Independence and the Taegeukgi flag. It is also reported that he attended a laymen’s conference held in Atlanta, USA, where he gave lectures exposing the legitimacy of the March 1st Movement and the atrocities of Japanese colonial rule.

In 1937, while serving as principal of Sinheung School in Jeonju, the school was closed down after he refused to comply with the Japanese colonial government's forced shrine worship. Dr. Indon was deported to the United States in 1940.

Dr. Indon returned to Korea in 1946, after liberation. At that time, he rebuilt Sinheung School and famously replaced the Japanese shrine with a public restroom.

He is also recorded to have established Daejeon Christian Academy, the predecessor of the current Hannam University, in 1956. Dr. Indon devoted himself to laying the foundation of the university as its first president.

Dr. Indon passed away on August 13, 1960, at the age of 70 after battling cancer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.