Graduates who received traditional Korean architecture training at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) established a cooperative called "Hanokyeon" (Representative Kim Dong-in). Hanokyeon donated 10 million won from its accumulated proceeds, asking that the funds be used to support junior students.

JBNU invited Hanokyeon Project Group Cooperative Representative Kim Dong-in and President Lee Jeong-su, among others, to the university at 3:00 p.m. on March 15 and held a development fund donation ceremony to express its gratitude.

Hanokyeon Cooperative is a hanok business company established mainly by graduates of JBNU's hanok training program. It is actively operating projects in Ulsan, Jeonju, Gochang and other areas.

Recently, while preparing to establish a hanok company in the Gochang Industrial Complex adjacent to JBNU's Gochang Campus, it has been seeking close cooperation with JBNU in hanok-related fields.

In particular, following the full-scale export of JBNU-built hanok to Vietnam and other countries last year, and based on these achievements, the Department of Traditional Korean Architecture—the first in the country to train hanok specialists—was established this year at the Gochang Campus. Collaboration with these hanok-related companies is expected to create synergies.

Kim Dong-in, Representative of Hanokyeon Cooperative, said, "At the time the Department of Traditional Korean Architecture at the Gochang Campus is officially launching this year, we wanted to offer whatever support we could to the students who will receive hanok training at JBNU. Having acquired the country's top hanok techniques at JBNU and been able to start a business, we hope that our juniors will also grow into the nation's top master carpenters."

President Kim Dong-won responded, "I sincerely thank those who received hanok training at the Gochang Campus—even though they are not regular graduates—for coming together with such a generous spirit. As JBNU establishes itself as the center of hanok education in Korea and a forward base for hanok exports, the university will spare no institutional support for these efforts."

Meanwhile, JBNU is training approximately 300 hanok professionals annually, centered at the Gochang Campus. In particular, it has produced the largest number of certified skilled craftsmen nationwide, including cultural heritage restoration technicians. Recently, it has exported hanok to Vietnam, Algeria, the United States, Canada, Indonesia and other countries.

Recently, following the existing graduate-level program in Hanok Studies, JBNU established an undergraduate Department of Traditional Korean Architecture. It successfully recruited its first freshman class this year and has now officially launched.