Yonsei University celebrates campus facelift
Yonsei University President Jeong Kap-young, center, cuts the ribbon to reopen Baekyangro, the main road on the school’s campus in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Yonsei University
By Chung Hyun-chae
Yonsei University celebrated the reopening of its 550-meter-long main road Baekyangro passing through the heart of its campus in Seoul, Wednesday.
“Given that Baekyangro represents the history and tradition of our school, I am happy to announce the reopening of the road, marking the 130th anniversary of the school’s founding,” President Jeong Kap-young said during the celebration. “I hope the new Baekyangro will raise pride in Yonsei University.”
The school completed the campus facelift project, which started in August 2013, to make a better use of the ground space and create underground facilities.
As a result, the portion of green space on the campus has been increased from 5 percent to 32 percent, while that of the tarmac road decreased from 56 percent to 9 percent.
“We believe the project has dramatically changed the campus,” a school official said. “The biggest change is that no cars run within campus so that we can guarantee the safety of pedestrians.”
Various cultural and academic venues were also created in the 58,753-square-meter underground space called The Commons.
They host the Kumho Art Hall, which was built through donations from Kumho-Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, who is also president of Yonsei University’s alumni association.
There is also a 400-seat main hall, exhibition halls, rest areas and meeting rooms.
About 3,000 professors, students and alumni attended the celebratory events that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a parade, tree planting, a Korean essay contest for foreigners and a concert.
“The highlight of the events was the parade in which professors, students and alumni took part,” the official said.
After starting from the main gate, they marched along the newly-opened Baekyangro.