“I hope you choose Korea University, not Yonsei.”, my father said. “Why?” I asked him. He said, “Korea University is famous for its strong unity whereas Yonsei is known for its individualistic culture. That kind of school ties are quite helpful when you get into the world.”
After I started my freshmen life in Yonsei, I said to my father. “We drink together, chant our slogan called FM together. I think this is the unity of the university that you mentioned.”
On this trip, in the Underwood memorial museum, I felt frustrated that it was 4:40 and the closing time of the museum was 4:30. A student behind me seemed embarrassed like me so I asked her “Are you taking the ‘Understanding Christianity’ of professor Paik?”. She said yes, We asked for help from the manager of the museum together, searched out the way for Kwang-Hye-Won, the next spot together, and took a photo of each other together. She was a Chinese student majoring in sociology and we would not have had any chance to meet each other if we were not taking this class.
From this experience, I felt that walking on the same campus and taking the same class makes people get to know each other and become intimate. When my thought reached that this campus and class about Yonsei spirit are one of Yonsei heritage, I realized that sharing the same heritages makes the true unity of Yonsei. The group identity from our historical and spiritual heritages makes us feel the membership and sense of belonging ‘I’m a Yonsei person.’
The unity that the university should pursue ultimately is not the school tie in a career field or drinking and shouting slogans together although they are also valuable. This Yonsei University is where Underwood who loved Korea more than Korean people built in Christianity spirits, and where Yoon Dong Ju’s love for homeland and Lee Han yeol’s desire for democracy remained. We should pursue unity as the people of Yonsei who shares their heritages and spirits.
Then, is the unity only for Yonsei students, alumni, and faculties? I answered ‘NO’ while appreciating the Memorial Stone of Poet Yoon Dong Joo. Before I became a Yonsei student, I visited this campus three times. Was it because I was eager for this university admission? No. I visited here for Yoon Dong Joo.
He has been no more than one of the most famous Korean poets in textbooks for me. However, on the Yonsei university campus, I could imagine him on the table he used, on the paper he wrote on, and on the trail, he strolled on. I imagined his humane character, a frail young student who feels lost, and afraid for the future, but simultaneously, agonizes and finds the right way to go desperately. At Yonsei University, I could feel the united identity as a Korean, one of the young Korean students who love literature although I was not a Yonsei student.
If so, the ultimate goal that we should pursue as Yonsei members is to leave heritages to Yonsei as Yoon Dong Joo did. To make Yonsei where someone can feel united in the campus, in the spirit, in the heritage of Yonsei university even if he isn’t a Yonsei student or graduate. This is what the heritage of Yonsei requires of us and the very way how we pursue the true unity of Yonsei.
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