Kyungnam University Marks 80th Anniversary ... Hosting Commemoration Week Linking Community and World

Commemoration Ceremony, Hanma Daedong Festival, Literary Poetry Exhibition
International Exchange Events to Be Held Over Five Days

Kyungnam University will celebrate its 80th anniversary by hosting the "80th Anniversary Commemoration Week" on its campus from May 18 to May 22.

This commemorative week has been organized to reflect on the university's 80-year history as a cornerstone of local higher education and talent development since its founding in 1946, and to share a vision for the next 100 years with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the local community.

The main events during the week will include the 80th Anniversary Ceremony, the Hanma Daedong Festival, Festa Week, the Kyungnam University Literary Poetry Exhibition and a special lecture by Gjek Marinaj, a special exhibition by the Department of Cultural Heritage Restoration Arts, and international exchange programs, among other diverse activities.

The Kyungnam University 80th Anniversary Ceremony will take place at 3:00 p.m. on May 20 in the Grand Conference Room on the 4th floor of the Main Building. The event will be attended by university members, alumni, community representatives, and distinguished guests from Korea and abroad, who will look back on the university’s 80-year journey and discuss the direction for its next century of development.

The student festival, "80th Anniversary Hanma Daedong Festival," will be held for three days from May 20 to May 22 on the main athletic field’s special stage. On the first day, May 20, there will be performances by central student clubs and congratulatory stages by Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae. On May 21, events organized by the student government and performances by MeloMance and Kim Seungmin will follow. The final day, May 22, will feature the "Kyungdae Song Festival," showcasing the talent and passion of current students, and a special performance by Changmo to conclude the festivities.

Special events highlighting Kyungnam University's tradition in the humanities and its artistic spirit will also be held at Hanma Mirae Hall. From May 18 to May 22, the first-floor lobby will feature a literary poetry exhibition with works by alumni who debuted through the Young Writers Academy, as well as a special exhibition by Sunhyang Kim, Chairwoman of the University of North Korean Studies.

This poetry exhibition, which also commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Young Writers Academy, will display around 30 works including both representative and new pieces by alumni writers. Notably, the exhibition will present Sunhyang Kim’s selected poems in both Korean and English, which were chosen for the 2025 Orpheus Text "Book of the Year" by Mundus Artium Press in the United States.

At 4:00 p.m. on May 20, a special lecture will be delivered by world-renowned writer and Kyungnam University honorary doctorate recipient Professor Gjek Marinaj. On May 21 at 3:00 p.m., a special lecture by Ilgeun Jeong, Director of the Young Writers Academy, will be held in the audiovisual room. In addition, from May 18 to May 22, a special exhibition by the Department of Cultural Heritage Restoration Arts will take place on the 4th floor of Hanma Mirae Hall.

Programs offering major experience opportunities for local youth will also be offered. During the "80th Anniversary Festa Week," from May 18 to May 22, the RISE Project Group, University Job Plus Center, SW-centered University Project Group, Science Gifted Education Center, and Local Education Support Center will host a festival to assist local high school students in career exploration and understanding academic majors. On May 21 at 6:30 p.m., a special lecture by the CEO of a regional global company, as part of the Unification Future Forum, will be held at the Peace Hall in Changjo Hall.

President Jaekyu Park of Kyungnam University stated, "The 80th Anniversary Commemoration Week is a meaningful occasion that both celebrates Kyungnam University’s 80-year history and unites students, alumni, and the local community to prepare for a new century. Through various commemorative events, we will share the significance of Kyungnam University’s growth alongside the region and communicate our vision for becoming a future-oriented university."