BRILLIANT
YONSEIANS

Yonseians Shining Brightly
on the Global Stage

The legacy of our founders who practiced the values of sharing and devotion in this much-beleaguered nation 139 years ago continues
to this day through the Yonsei spirit of truth and freedom. Yonsei University has stood firm as the steward of economic development and democratization of Korea.
Underlying the historical success is the creative insight of Yonseians, together with their unflagging dedication to community and society.
Even now, as a new period in our globally-shared civilization begins, Yonseians shine brightly in their unique ways, as they faithfully follow their calling.
Here is a short list of Yonseians, whom we celebrate for the year 2024.

  • Lee Ju-yeol Governor, The Bank of Korea Business 70

    Lee JuyeolFormer Governor of
    Bank of Korea /
    Business ’70

    Lee Juyeol, who served as as the Governor of the Bank of Korea since 2014, is well-versed in macroeconomic and financial markets and is the very person who makes decisions on Korea’s currency and credit policies. He has also served as a board member of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in recognition of his knowledge and competence in the international financial sector.

  • Bong Joon-Ho Film Director Sociology 88

    Bong Joon HoFilm Director /
    Sociology ’88

    Bong Joon Ho is recognized as a master of a new film genre that is artistic, entertaining and socially aware, all at the same time. With his movie Parasite, Bong swept up awards at nearly every major international film festival between 2019 and 2020 ― a monumental achievement in the 100-year history of Korean film. Awards include the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Best Foreign Language Motion Picture award at the Golden Globes, and Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film awards at the Academy Awards.

  • Suh Kyung-Bae Chairman & CEO, AmorePacific Group Business 81

    Suh Kyung-baeChairman and CEO, /
    Amorepacific group /
    Business ’81

    Suh Kyung-bae is one of the most respected business icons in Korea. He is widely known as the studying CEO who applies ideas gained from his lifelong readings and on-site working experience to business management. His single-minded dedication to R&D in traditional medicine and western cosmetics is the secret in making Amorepacific a global name in the beauty and health industry.

  • Han Kang Writer / Korean Language and Literature 89

    Han KangWriter /
    Korean Language and
    Literature ’89

    Han Kang, who has persistently delved into and raised questions about human violence, has written works about the dark side of life and human deprivation since her debut in 1994. These works include The Black Deer, A Love of Yeosu, The Vegetarian, Human Acts, and The White Book. In 2016, she won the UK Man Booker International Prize for The Vegetarian and was the first person from Asia to win the award.

  • Cheon Jinwoo Professor & Director of the Center for Nanomedicine, IBS / Chemistry 81

    Cheon JinwooDirector of IBS Center
    for Nanomedicine /
    Chemistry ’81

    Cheon Jinwoo has made remarkable achievements in connecting nanoscience to medicine and has pioneered nanomedicine research in Korea. As the Director of the Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), he is opening new horizons in the global development of nanomedicine.

  • John A. Linton Director of the Severance Hospital International Health Care Center / Medicine 79

    John A. LintonDirector of Severance Hospital
    International Health Care Center /
    Medicine ’80

    As a descendant of the William Linton family John Linton has engaged in lifelong medical and educational missionary work in Korea. He is taking the lead in helping the underprivileged and is reaching out to help tuberculosis patients in North Korea, who have no access to professional medical care.

  • Kwon Sun-joo Former Chairman & CEO, The Industrial Bank of Korea / English Language and Literature 74

    Kwon Sun-jooFormer Chairman & CEO of
    Industrial Bank of Korea /
    English Language and Literature ’74

    Kwon Sun-joo is the first woman to have assumed the title of CEO of a Korean bank. A financial expert who joined the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) in 1978, she devoted herself to her servicing industries small and large, and her dedication has helped boost the Korean economy to what it is today. Kwon served as the 24th Chairman and CEO of IBK from 2013 to 2016, and is currently a non-executive director of KB Financial Group.

  • John Delury Professor of Graduate School of International Studies

    John DeluryProfessor of Graduate School
    of International Studies

    John Delury is one of the top American East Asia scholars and taught at Peking University, Brown University, and Columbia University. He is currently teaching East Asian Studies at Underwood International College and the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. John specializes in U.S.-China relations, politics, and history of the Korean Peninsula and East Asia. Delury is a senior fellow of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at Asia Society and a member of the 21st Century Leaders Council of the [U.S.] National Committee on American Foreign Policy.