In the remote mountain village of Muju County in North Jeolla Province, there was a boy so poor that, as a child, his greatest wish was simply to fill his empty stomach. Education was a luxury for him. After teaching himself through middle school and choosing to go to Seoul, he resolved to succeed and to help those who thirst for learning.

The boy grew up to build the education company MiraeN Group (formerly Daehan Textbook) into one of the country’s leading firms. He later served five terms in the National Assembly. Holding the belief that “corporate profits must be returned to society,” he has become a figure of respect by launching various scholarship programs based on his conviction that regional development depends on nurturing talent. He is Mokjeong (牧汀) Kim Gwang-su (87), Honorary Chairman of MiraeN Group.

Last year he donated KRW 1 billion in scholarships to Jeonbuk National University (JBNU). The gift was intended to urge the region’s leading university to take an active role in cultivating outstanding local talent. And just one year later, on October 26, Chairman Kim again donated KRW 1 billion, generously expressing his devotion to JBNU.

The donation ceremony was attended by President Seo Geoseok and senior university officials, former Presidents Kim Su-gon and Jang Myeong-su, Im Byeong-chan, President of the Homeland Movement Headquarters (President, Jeonbuk Domin Ilbo), Kim Nam-gon, President of Jeonbuk Ilbo, Ahn Hong-yeop, CEO of PhilAd, Lee Young-seok, Secretary-General of the Mokjeong Cultural Foundation, Kim Hong-sik, President of Jeonbuk City Gas, and Kim Chang-sik, President of Seohae City Gas, among others, who paid tribute to Chairman Kim’s noble spirit of scholarship.

“Although our region’s economic base is relatively weak, JBNU has become a source of regional pride, ranking sixth among domestic comprehensive universities in global university evaluations. I provided the scholarship in the hope that more outstanding local talent would emerge, and as a benefactor I have been deeply moved and grateful by JBNU’s recent remarkable success,” he said.

This is why he made another KRW 1 billion donation to JBNU just one year later. Chairman Kim said he felt great pride and fulfillment that the university he supports has recently achieved notable results, including ranking fifth domestically on the Leiden Ranking (which gauges the quality of scientific and technical publications), rising in the JoongAng Ilbo rankings for five consecutive years, and placing first among national universities in student service satisfaction.

He commented, “Seeing JBNU’s recent progress fills me with pride and satisfaction that our region has such a university. As JBNU represents our region, I hope it will rise to become a world-class university and produce many outstanding local talents.”

President Seo Geoseok said, “Thanks to the great interest and love shown by Chairman Kim Gwang-su, our university has been building the foundation of a leading national university across various evaluation indicators. We will deeply embrace Chairman Kim’s commitment to regional development and talent cultivation, and the university will do its utmost to nurture outstanding talent to lead the region.”

Chairman Kim Gwang-su is currently retired from active politics and business and serves as Honorary Chairman of MiraeN Group Co., Ltd.

His interest and passion for scholarship programs have been realized through the Mokjeong Scholarship Foundation, which he established more than forty years ago under his pen name. To date, it has awarded scholarships to some 3,000 students in teachers’ colleges and education programs, and established the Mokjeong Cultural Award to provide KRW 10 million in creative grants to each of three cultural artists who have contributed to regional cultural development.

Meanwhile, last year JBNU named the advanced lecture hall of the Law School “Kim Gwang-su Hall” in honor of Chairman Kim’s noble intentions.