KAIST Receives Generous 20 Billion KRW Donation from Jang Seonghwan and An Haok Couple "Hoping It Will Be Used for Nurturing Scientific Talent"

Chairman Jang Seonghwan (left) and Mrs. An Haok (right) are taking a commemorative photo on the KAIST campus. Provided by KAIST

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] “I hope this will be used to nurture scientific talents who will make our country prosperous.”

On the 13th, Samsung Brush Chairman Jang Seong-hwan (92) and his wife An Ha-ok (90) said this at the KAIST development fund pledge ceremony.

The Jang couple donated real estate worth approximately 20 billion KRW located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul to KAIST on that day. The reason for donating the real estate was to have it used for nurturing scientific and technological talents in Korea.

The Jang couple completed all the ownership transfer procedures for the real estate on the 2nd, and KAIST plans to use it for excellent scientific and technological talent development projects according to the couple’s wishes.

Born in Namchon, Hwanghae Province, Chairman Jang, who experienced difficulties studying as a student refugee after moving south at age 18, explained the reason for his interest in scholarship projects: “After accumulating some wealth, my wife and I naturally agreed to become helping hands for those in need.”

Mrs. An also said, “We are glad and happy to realize our long-held dream,” and added, “If our donation contributes to the development of science and technology and helps national progress, we have no further wishes.”

The decision of the Jang couple was also greatly influenced by the Kim Byung-ho and Kim Sam-yeol couple, former representatives of Seojeon Farm, who were the first to be listed as donors to KAIST.

The Jang couple and the Kim couple are neighbors, and Chairman Jang decided on the final donation destination after observing the Kim couple’s previous donations (totaling 35 billion KRW in 2009 and 2011) and how KAIST utilized the donations.

Chairman Jang said, “After meeting KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung in person, I became convinced that KAIST will grow into a world-class university and play a major role in developing our country,” and added, “I hope this donation will support President Lee’s leadership at KAIST going forward.”

In response, KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said, “I express my respect and gratitude to the Jang couple for generously donating their lifelong savings,” and added, “We will take the donor’s expectations as a driving force for school development and strive to nurture the world’s best talents.”

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