Cha Seung-eon, director of Chaoreum Animal Hospital and an alumnus of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), donated 10 million won to his alma mater as a development fund to enhance the university's competitiveness.

The JBNU Development Foundation held a donation ceremony on March 12 at 2:00 PM in the President's Office, University Headquarters, attended by President Yang O-bong and key university officials, and presented an appreciation plaque.

Director Cha said, "After serving as a naval officer, I transferred into the first year of the veterinary medicine program and, gratefully, received an academic scholarship that waived my tuition," adding, "I felt indebted that the scholarship a transfer student received might otherwise have gone to my younger siblings, but although belated, I want to begin to give back, little by little."

Director Cha collected part of the fees from last year's mass vaccinations for foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease to establish the development fund. The fund will be used to improve the educational environment for junior students in the College of Veterinary Medicine's livestock and large-animal fields.

Director Cha said, "Clinical practice in livestock and large-animal medicine is an important field that supports Korea's livestock industry, but in reality, university education is mostly focused on companion animals. I hope many young and capable juniors will enter this field."

Mr. Cha, the alumnus, added, "Starting with today's first step, I will continue to contribute steadily and tirelessly to the development of my alma mater. I am proud of my alma mater's progress in being finally selected as a Glocal University, and I applaud in advance my alma mater's near future in which it will achieve the goal of reaching the Global TOP 100."