Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) kicked off 2013 with a New Year’s ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on January 2, 2013, in Jinsudang Gain Hall. About 500 people attended, including President Seo Geoseok, senior administrative faculty, college deans, and staff.

The ceremony included presentation of awards to outstanding employees, President Seo Geoseok’s New Year address, and a New Year greeting session in which all members joined hands to exchange good wishes for the year ahead.

At the government commendation ceremony, Chief Administrator Choi Jeong-hee of the Division of Facilities Management (Technical Secretary) was selected as an Outstanding Public Servant, and Team Leader Han In-hyeon of the Division of Facilities Management and Teacher Song Jae-ho of Sadang High School were each named Model Public Servants and received the Prime Minister’s Commendation.

In addition, Bang Min-wook of the Division of Finance and Kang Hye-suk of the Academic Affairs Office were recognized as exemplary contributors in financial accounting and academic administration, respectively, and received commendations from the Minister of Education, Science and Technology.

The ceremony also presented the KEN Awards, given to staff who demonstrated the friendliest and most creative service during the second half of 2012.

The highest honor, the KEN Award, was presented to Team Leader Kim Yong-dae for organizing events to communicate with students and actively carrying out the “Love for JBNU” campaign, and to Song Yang-hee, Team Leader of the Public Relations Department, for producing high-quality promotional materials and vigorous media outreach.

Departmental awards went to the Landscaping Team of the Division of General Affairs for leading tree damage recovery after Typhoon Bolaven and creating a clean campus, and to the Career Support Headquarters for playing a major role in achieving second place among national universities in the region for employment rate.

The Blue Ocean Award was presented to Kim Yong-woo (Information Computing Center), Lee Sun-hee (Division of Academic Affairs), and Jeong Mi-jin (Division of General Affairs).

The Creativity Award went to Jeong Woo-sang (Graduate School of Medical Service), Team Leader An Kyung-man (Central Library), An Seong-deok (Division of Finance), Yoo Jae-in (Division of Facilities Management), and Kim Yeon-ah (Division of Research Support). The Challenge Award was given to Lee Kyung-hwan (Evaluation Support Office), Kim Ok-ran (Academic Affairs Office), Ryu Yeon-sun (Campus Development Headquarters), Kim Yoon-soon (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), Lee Seong-mi (Semiconductor Physical Properties Research Center), and In Geon-ho (Residence Hall).

In his New Year’s address, President Seo Geoseok said, “Last year JBNU rose to become one of Korea’s leading universities, ranking sixth among comprehensive universities in national university evaluations, third nationwide in the Leiden Ranking for the qualitative level of research papers, and first among universities nationwide in customer satisfaction. We were able to elevate the university’s status thanks to the dedicated efforts of our members and the strong support of the local community.”

He added, “As King Jeongjo said, ‘When the harvest is abundant, people grow lazier the following year.’ We must not grow complacent or lax because of our accumulated achievements. Change for the sake of university development must continue. Let us once again gather our wisdom and resolve to make the Year of the Snake an opportunity for a new leap forward and move toward becoming a leading university representing Korea.”