JBNU (President Yang Oh-bong) has launched an all-out effort to raise KRW 7.7 billion in development funds as it celebrates its 77th anniversary (Heesu) this year.

On April 5 at 11:00 AM, JBNU held a kickoff ceremony for the KRW 7.7 billion fundraising campaign at the New Silk Road Center Donghaeng Hall. The event was attended by President Yang Oh-bong, university administrative faculty members, Choi Byung-seon, President of the Alumni Association, the Chair of the Employee Council, and other key university constituents.

JBNU is pursuing the KRW 7.7 billion fundraising this year to secure the university's fiscal soundness amid increasing financial challenges, and to practically pursue increases in student scholarships and improvements in educational conditions through the development fund.

To this end, at the ceremony JBNU pledged to unite all members and its 200,000 alumni to shift to an active development fundraising system and to achieve the goal.

As a start, President Yang Oh-bong, representing the university, donated KRW 10 million. Dr. Yoon Shin-geun, director of Dr. Yoon Shin-geun Animal Hospital (Veterinary Medicine, Class of '72), who has consistently donated to the development fund since 2000, donated KRW 40 million on the day, bringing his total donations to date to KRW 1 billion. Dr. Yoon further strengthened the KRW 7.7 billion fundraising declaration by donating an additional KRW 100 million on site that day.

To achieve this year's KRW 7.7 billion fundraising target, JBNU will first reorganize the Division of University Development, the dedicated fundraising unit, to establish a "Fundraising Team" and thereby build a more solid fundraising system than before.

In addition, JBNU will establish the "JBNU Honors Club" to strengthen recognition for existing donors and encourage repeat giving, and will create the "JBNU Donation Platform" to dramatically improve the previously low participation rates among colleges.

Alongside this, JBNU will operate an incentive system based on performance evaluations to actively encourage development fundraising at the college, department, and individual levels.

In particular, JBNU plans to actively support the World Korean Business Leaders Conference, which the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province will host at JBNU this October, and link it to development fundraising.

To this end, JBNU is considering providing medical services such as health checkups, cosmetic dermatology, and dental care in coordination with Jeonbuk National University Hospital. It also plans to actively showcase JBNU's development into a Glocal University to the global business community to reinforce the university's excellent image internationally and link this to expanding the development fund.

President Yang Oh-bong said, "Founded through donations from the Hyanggyo Foundation, the former Joseon royal household, and provincial residents, JBNU requires a strong development fund to make a greater leap forward as a flagship university leading co‑prosperity with the region." He added, "We will make this year, the 77th anniversary of the university, the starting year of JBNU's new leap forward. The KRW 7.7 billion fundraising declaration launched today will be the first step. We ask for your participation."