Director Jang Jae-hyun on 'Exhumation', Sungkyunkwan University Commencement Speech... "Happiness is in the Moment"

"Keep Anxiety Close and Treat It Like a Friend"
"Protect Yourself Even Amid Fierce Competition"
"Treasure the Small Moments in Everyday Life"

Film director Jang Jae-hyun attended the '2025 Winter Graduation Ceremony' held on the 25th at the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and delivered a congratulatory speech. Photo by Sungkyunkwan University

Director Jang Jae-hyun of the blockbuster film "Pamy?" visited his alma mater to congratulate the juniors on their graduation, delivering the message that "happiness lies in the moment."

Sungkyunkwan University (President Yoo Ji-beom) held the 2025 winter degree conferral ceremony on the morning of the 25th at the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Jang Jae-hyun, known for directing films such as "The Priests," "Svaha," and "Pamy?," attended the ceremony and gave a congratulatory speech to the graduates. Director Jang, an alumnus of Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Film Studies, is a rare figure in Korea who has pioneered the Eastern occult genre. Notably, "Pamy?" surpassed 11 million viewers, becoming the top-grossing Korean film last year.

He said, "There is no safe zone," emphasizing that "in living through uncertain times, it is important to accept anxiety naturally rather than avoid it." He continued, "Anxiety does not leave easily, so keep it close and treat it like a friend," sharing his experiences with anxiety and stress as a director and how he overcame them.

Director Jang also quoted a line from the film "Million Dollar Baby," stressing "Protect Yourself." He recalled, "During the filming of my debut work 'The Priests,' I experienced severe stress that affected my health," and emphasized the importance of protecting oneself amid fierce competition.

At the '2025 Winter Graduation Ceremony' held on the 25th at the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Jongno-gu, Seoul, graduates are throwing their graduation caps. Photo by Sungkyunkwan University

He added, "People think they will be happy once they achieve something, but in reality, happiness lies in the moment," recalling the happiness he felt after winning an award for a short film during his university days and eating beef with friends. Director Jang said, "That was the happiest time, but I regret not fully enjoying that moment," urging everyone to cherish the small moments in daily life. He concluded his speech by saying, "Have the most fun in the world today. And then go to work tomorrow."

President Yoo Ji-beom said, "Director Jang's speech was a special moment that gave courage and hope to the graduates," and added, "We plan to continue providing opportunities for alumni seniors to share their experiences."

Meanwhile, a total of 4,747 graduates received degrees at the ceremony, including 2,782 bachelor's, 1,612 master's, and 353 doctoral degrees. Prior to the main event, the president and academic officials visited Sungkyunkwan to perform the traditional announcement ceremony (告由禮) to mark the graduation, and a congratulatory video recalling the graduates' university life was also screened.

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