Cheon Shin-il, Chairman of Sejung Group, Receives Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Korea University

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Cheon Shin-il, chairman of Sejung Group, received an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Korea University.

On the 1st, Korea University held the ‘Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration Conferment Ceremony for Chairman Cheon Shin-il of Sejung Group’ at the International Remote Conference Room of the Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall.

Korea University awarded the honorary doctorate recognizing Chairman Cheon’s contributions in domesticating the steel chemical factory to drive economic development, his significant contributions to cultural projects and sports promotion, and his service as president of the alumni association from 2007 to 2010, which revitalized the alumni network and contributed to the university’s development.

Chairman Cheon entered Korea University’s Department of Political Science and Diplomacy in 1961 and graduated in 1965. He began his career as executive director at Dongyang Steel Pipe Industry in 1974 and established the country’s first coal chemical company, Jecheol Chemical. He has served as CEO of Taehwa Yuwon, Donghae Industry, and Korea Peroxide Industry. Currently, he continues corporate management as chairman and CEO of several affiliates including Sejung, Sejung Information Technology, Sejung S&C, Sesung Shipping, Sejung Engineering, and Sejung Sharon General Insurance.

In 1978, Chairman Cheon purchased all stone relics that were about to be exported to Japan to prevent their outflow and continued to lead cultural heritage protection efforts, including repatriating 70 stone artifacts from Japan in 2001. For these contributions, he was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, the Peony Medal. In 2015, he established and operates the Uri Yetdol Museum, the world’s first stone relic museum. He served as director of the Korea Wrestling Federation, president of the 25th and 28th Korea Wrestling Federation, auditor of the Korean Olympic Committee, and standing committee member of the University Olympic Committee.

He has also actively donated to educational institutions. In 1985, he donated 63,000 pyeong of land to Pohang University of Science and Technology, and in 2007, he donated stocks worth 11 billion KRW to Korea University, Yonsei University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, and the National Museum of Korea.

Jung Jin-taek, president of Korea University, said, "Chairman Cheon is a self- and publicly recognized pioneering entrepreneur who founded Korea’s first coal chemical industry, Jecheol Chemical, at a young age in his 30s, and has since been involved in founding and managing many companies. With outstanding management skills, he has not only grown his companies but also lived by practicing social contribution as the greatest value in life."

Chairman Cheon said, "I am grateful and thankful for the countless warm encouragements, help, and sacrifices from many people that have allowed me to come this far without losing my dreams and courage," adding, "Success can never be achieved by one’s own strength alone, and the true reward of life is to continuously participate in changing and beautifying the world."

He also said, "Receiving an honorary doctorate 57 years after graduating from my alma mater, I feel I owe my alma mater once again," and added, "I will cherish this glorious moment deeply in my heart, reflect humbly as an entrepreneur, steadily pursue creative business activities, and strive to live a life of sharing and service without losing my original intention."

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