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Dong-jin Kim, Sook-nam Song and WIU President Jack Thomas
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International Student Follows in Father's Footsteps at WIU

October 6, 2011

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MACOMB, IL – When it came time for Dong-jin Kim from South Korea to select a university for his master's degree, Western Illinois University was at the top of the list thanks to the Kim family's history with the Midwestern school.

Kim, who is a first-semester master's degree student in the educational leadership program at Western this fall, actually spent a few of his formative years at WIU while his father, Dr. Hyuk-Jong Kim, who has served as the president of Gwangju University since May 2003, attended graduate school. Hyuk-Jong and his wife Sook-nam Song lived in Macomb from August 1985 until 1987. Though the family returned to Korea briefly for Dong-jin's birth, they returned to Lamoine Village on the Macomb campus, which Dong-jin now calls home once again.

"I heard a lot about Western when I was growing up," Dong-jin said. "My parents had positive experiences here, and I feel fortunate that I had a chance to come here."

Western's relationship with the Kim family continued to flourish following Hyuk-Jong's graduation. He has been instrumental in supporting Gwangju University students who participate in Western's summer program, which allows students to improve their English skills and learn more about America. In addition, Hyuk-Jong hosted 12 Fulbright Group Study Abroad educators, led by WIU faculty Siyoung Park and Patti Jones, at Gwangju in 2005. In Spring 2010, Dr. Kim was named the inaugural recipient of the WIU International Alumni Achievement Award.

On a recent visit to Macomb, Kim's mother recalled how friendly the faculty and staff were to her family, as well as to other Korean students who were studying at WIU.

"Our family became good friends with [the late President Emeritus] Leslie Malpass," Sook-nam said. [The late English Professor Emeritus] Jai-Hyon Lee was like a godfather to many Korean students at Western."

During her time here in the 1980s, Sook-nam took printmaking classes through the art department, and during her most recent visit to Macomb, she donated two of her prints to Western.

Prior to Hyuk Jong Kim's and Sook-nam Song's arrival at Western in 1985, Dr. Kim's father, In-Kon Kim, was honored in 1983 with an honorary doctorate from WIU. Dr. In-Kon Kim, referred to at Gwangju University as Founder Kim, endowed a special scholarship for Korean students at WIU because of his friendship with President Emeritus Malpass.

"It was a pleasure to meet Dong-jin and Sook-nam, and to hear of their family's longstanding connection to Western Illinois University and the important relationship between Western and Gwangju University," said President Jack Thomas. "We are also grateful to Sook-nam for her donation of two beautiful prints to Western's permanent art collection."

Dong-jin has nothing but praise for Western faculty and staff who work with international students.

"Everyone has been very kind to me and to all international students, especially (Professor Emeritus of Geography) Dr. Siyoung Park and Patti Jones (WESL Director Emeritus)," Dong-jin said.

Just like his father, Dong-jin earned his bachelor's degree in education and English literature at Sungkyunkwan University, one of the oldest and most prestigious Confucian institutions in Korea. And now he is proud to continue that same legacy as his father did by pursuing his master's degree at Western Illinois University.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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