Climbing 100 Famous Mountains Despite Knee Pain... Light Aircraft, Horseback Riding, Yacht "Let's Go, Fly, Ride! Doing University Does It"

Jeon Ho-hwan, President of Dongmyeong University, Explains Why He Dreams of a 'Do-ing University'

Jeon Ho-hwan, president of Dongmyeong University (far right in the back row), climbed the 100th famous mountain in Korea on the 20th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Even avid hiking enthusiasts rarely manage to climb 100 different mountains while maintaining busy professional lives.

Moreover, conquering all of Korea’s 100 famous mountains, known for their challenging or renowned hiking courses, is an intimidating feat.

On the 19th, he climbed Taehwa Mountain in Gangwon Province. The next day, he reached the summit of Palbong Mountain in Hongcheon.

On the 20th, a special thrill was felt from the hiking stick marking the mountain summit. It was the day he stepped onto the peak of the 100th mountain among Korea’s 100 famous mountains.

He began his challenge of the 100 famous mountains seven years ago. After undergoing knee cartilage removal surgery, his legs weakened, and his health and confidence declined as he avoided walking. He wanted to regain them. So he took on the challenge, believing the answer lay within it.

When he entered university in the late 1970s, he took the controls. The fearless freshman challenged himself to become a light aircraft pilot. He also tried hang gliding and paragliding.

Swimming, horseback riding, yachting... his challenges continued. He wanted to hear the answer to his passion through his ability to put it into practice.

His name is Jeon Ho-hwan.

He is the president of Dongmyung University, which recently made headlines by establishing the 3No (No Credits, No Grades, No Teaching) Do-ing University.

President Jeon completed climbing all of Korea’s 100 famous mountains. On the 20th, he concluded his long journey of over seven years. Dongmyung University’s distinguished professor and national singer “Insooni” also joined President Jeon for his 100th summit.

President Jeon Ho-hwan said, “After knee surgery, I felt my knees and back growing stronger through nearby hiking, and as I expanded my hiking range, I eventually completed climbing the 100 famous mountains.”

“Hiking is like a miniature version of our lives, completed step by step,” he said.

“There are uphill climbs and downhill descents, and when you come down, you come empty-handed. I learned a lot from hiking, which improves physical strength and allows for much contemplation.”

He is a lifelong educator. It seems he could not keep what he learned to himself. The passion of an educator was revived.

“Climbing the 100 famous mountains” became a required course at Dongmyung University’s Do-ing University, which he founded.

President Jeon Ho-hwan’s practice (Do-ing) knows no bounds.

On June 6th, he personally piloted a light aircraft and soared into the sky. On the 10th day after his inauguration on May 27th, he flew a “Do-ing” flight from Ham-an to the Dongmyung University campus overhead, where he works.

He applied the light aircraft piloting skills he learned as a university student now as a university president. The flight covered 200 km and lasted 100 minutes, spent “Do-ing” in the sky.

He would not keep this to himself either. He revived it as a “Light Aircraft Operation” course to teach future generations at Do-ing University.

Do-ing University focuses on 3No (No Credits, No Grades, No Teaching) practical education that nurtures students’ individual characteristics and capabilities.

There are required courses such as financial statement preparation, stock investment, reading classical masterpieces, singing foreign songs, and YouTuber training, as well as about 100 elective courses including climbing the 100 famous mountains, yachting, light aircraft piloting, and horseback riding.

Students select and practice 110 credits from these courses over four years and graduate based on “success” or “failure,” presenting a new paradigm in higher education.

President Jeon plans to “Do-ing” a yachting experience this summer.

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