20th Annual General Meeting of the North America SKKU Alumni Association Held in Washington, D.C.

The 20th Annual General Meeting of the North America SKKU Alumni Association was held on Saturday, June 7 (local time) at The Westin Washington Dulles Airport Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by the Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter, under the leadership of Chair Kim In-sook, and organized by the SKKU Global Alumni Association (President Kim Sung-jib) and the North America SKKU Alumni Association (President Choi Bong-hoe).

The gathering was a resounding success, with more than 150 attendees. Over 120 alumni participated from regional chapters across the United States, including Washington, D.C., New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Cleveland, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Additionally, around 30 alumni traveled from Korea to join the event.

▲Group photo of attendees at the 20th Annual General Meeting of the North America SKKU Alumni Association

※ Notable Attendees:

SKKU Global Alumni Association: Kim Sung-jib (President, Business Administration ‘74), Cha Dong-ok (Executive Vice President, English Literature ‘76), Lee Wan-geun (Former President, Education ‘61), Woo Sung-yoon (Chair, International Committee, Chinese Literature ‘75)

North America Alumni Association: Choi Bong-hoe (President, Mechanical Engineering ‘71), Ryu Ik-hee (Chair, Pharmacy ‘55), Yoo Si-wan (Board Chair, Mechanical Engineering ‘69), Kim Dae-young (Preparation Committee Chair, Textile Engineering ‘71), Kim In-sook (Washington D.C. Chapter Chair, Pharmacy ‘78)

Sungkyunkwan University Leadership: Park Jae-wan (Chairman of the Board), Yoo Ji-Beom (President), Joo Young-soo (Executive Director, Sociology ‘85), Choi Jae-boong (Director of Development Cooperation, Mechanical Engineering ‘83), Jeon Jeong-hoon (Dean, College of Information and Communication Engineering), Kim Tae-sung (Dean, College of Engineering), Cho Min-hyo (Dean, Office of International Affairs)

▲ Scene from the 20th Annual General Meeting

This marked the first North America General Meeting in Washington, D.C. since 2017. The event opened with remarks by Board Chair Yoo Si-wan, followed by introductions from Executive Vice President Cha Dong-ok. Recognition plaques were awarded to 16 alumni for their dedication and service to the alumni community.

※Recipients of the Service Awards (16 individuals):

Washington, D.C. Chapter: Ryu Ik-hee, Yoo Si-wan, Kim Dae-young, Kim Young-hee, Lee Ho-sung, Cho Myung-yeon, Choi Sang-kyu, Seo Young-hye, Hong Jae-min, Kim In-sook, Han Yeon-sung, Lee Jung-eun, Jeon Yong-jin, Kim Hyun-goo, Lee Sun-hyuk

New York Chapter: Yeo Chi-goo (Chair, Mechanical Design ‘80)

▲ Group Photo of Distinguished Service Award Recipients at the 20th Annual General Meeting of the North America SKKU Alumni Association

At the same event, alumnus Yoo Seung-ki (Pharmacy ’58) was honored with the Seongkyun Scholar Award. This prestigious award, presented for over two decades at the North America General Meeting, recognizes individuals of Korean heritage who exemplify the values of scholarly integrity and make significant contributions to the alumni community in North America.

Yoo Seung-ki emigrated to the U.S. in 1971 and earned his pharmacist license in 1975. He ran a pharmacy in Manhattan, New York, and has consistently donated to the SKKU College of Pharmacy, the New York/New Jersey Alumni Chapter, and local civic organizations.

President Choi Bong-hoe shared his sentiments:

“It is deeply moving to gather here in Washington, D.C. with so many alumni from around the world. I extend heartfelt thanks to the Washington, D.C. Chapter and the organizing committee for making this successful event possible. Let us continue to support the growth of our North America Alumni Association.”

▲ Remarks by Choi Bong-hoe, President of the North America Alumni Association

Conference Chair Ryu Ik-hee added:

“I’m honored to host this event in Washington, D.C., the heart of global politics and diplomacy. We will continue to work hard so that the Washington, D.C. Chapter plays a vital role in the broader global alumni network.”

▲ Welcome speech by Ryu Ik-hee, Conference Chair

“My deepest gratitude and respect go to the Washington, D.C. Chapter for their months of preparation. I hope the North America Alumni Association will continue to thrive and serve as a leading force in our global alumni community. The Global Alumni Association will provide unwavering support.”

▲Congratulatory remarks by Kim Sung-jib, President of the Global Alumni Association

“Our university’s global success today is thanks to the tireless efforts of our alumni around the world. We will continue to strive toward becoming a global leader in education, and I ask for your continued interest and support.”

▲ Congratulatory remarks by SKKU President Yoo Ji-beom

During the closing ceremony, attendees donned SKKU baseball jerseys to celebrate their shared identity and camaraderie. The event concluded with anticipation for next year’s Asia Regional Alumni Meeting to be held in Hong Kong.

▲ Group Photo of Participants at the Welcome Reception for the 20th Annual General Meeting of the North America SKKU Alumni Association

Prior to the Washington, D.C. meeting, a welcome banquet hosted by the New York Chapter (Chair: Yeo Chi-goo) was held in New Jersey on Thursday, June 5. During this event, Chair Yeo was recognized with a service award, and the Seongkyun Scholar Award plaque was formally presented to Yoo Seung-ki. The New York Chapter also proposed and raised scholarship funds on-site in support of current SKKU students.

▲ New York Chapter Welcome Dinner