Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) received a donation of KRW 100 million from the family of the late lawyer Han Seung‑heon. The donation will be used for scholarships for students of the Law School and for projects honoring his legacy centered on the Han Seung‑heon Library.

The Han Seung‑heon Library was established with materials the late Mr. Han donated to the university that bear witness to his emblematic life. The library encourages students, researchers, and citizens to reflect on the democracy, justice, and human rights he lived for, and on the resilient optimism that helped overcome the harsh currents of history. This donation is expected to offer our society a renewed opportunity for reflection and renewed efforts toward democracy. 

JBNU held a donation ceremony for the development fund on October 29 in the President's Office at University Headquarters. President Yang O‑bong, senior university officials, and the bereaved family attended the event. They presented a plaque of appreciation and discussed plans for the development of the Han Seung‑heon Library.

The Han Seung‑heon Library will open on Tuesday, November 11. The family of the late lawyer Han Seung‑heon the family of the late lawyer Han Seung‑heon said, "We hope the Han Seung‑heon Library will develop into a space that cultivates a just intellect and a warm conscience in future generations."

The late lawyer Han Seung‑heon (1933–2022) left a significant mark on South Korea's legal profession and the development of democracy. Born in Jinan, he graduated from Jeonju High School and JBNU, passed the bar exam, and was appointed as a prosecutor. He later became a lawyer, devoted himself to the democratization movement, and is regarded as a first‑generation human rights lawyer in the country.

He served as Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection, the third chairman of the Community Chest of Korea, and chair of the Judicial Reform Promotion Committee, among other posts, and lived his life as an "advocate for ordinary people and the vulnerable." He was a person who upheld principles without compromise under any circumstance, and he remains a role model for many.

On September 30, to commemorate the third anniversary of the passing of Han Seung‑heon and to honor his life, more than 40 people—including JBNU President Yang O‑bong, Jeonbuk Ilbo Chairman Seo Chang‑hun, and former National Assembly member Jang Young‑dal—launched the "Sanmin Forum" and held a discussion forum titled "Han Seung‑heon in My Heart" as their inaugural event.

President Yang O‑bong said, "The Han Seung‑heon Library is a space that holds values our society must not forget. Through this donation, we will reflect on the spirit left by the late lawyer Han Seung‑heon and establish the library as a space where members of JBNU learn together and put those values into practice."