By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Hanyang University founder and composer Kim Lyon-joon died Monday. He was 94.
Born in 1914 in North Hamgyeong Province in North Korea, Kim graduated from Yonhee College (now Yonsei University) in 1939 and founded Donga Engineering Institute, the predecessor of Hanyang University.
Kim, known by his penname Paiknam, also set up elementary, middle and high schools associated with Hanyang University. Other schools he founded include Hanyang Women's University, Hanyang University Medical Center, and Hanyang Cyber University.
He retired as Hanyang University's chief director last January due to poor health. Kim was also president of Hanyang University for 15 years from 1959 to 1973, the longest term for such a position in Korea.
Besides his devotion to education, he ran companies including Hanyang Securities, Paiknam Tourism and Hanyang Development.
Kim was also a big figure in the nation's music history. He composed 1,610 songs, and was named honorary chief director for the Music Association of Korea and advisor for the Korean Composers Association.
He held ``Korean Music Nights'' concerts in seven German cities in 1979 and held a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1981.
Kim also founded two newspaper companies and was appointed director of the International Press Institute.
He was honored by the state on three occasions and was given an honorary award by the Italian government for his contribution to education and music.
Kim is survived by his wife and four children. His funeral service will be held on Friday.