Huh Jin-kyu, Iljin Group President, donated 900 million won to SNU, the 'chase one to hit home run' fund


▲ SNU College of Engineering 'chase one to hit home run' fund agreement ceremony

 
SNU College of Engineering (Dean Lee Kunwoo) stated that Huh Jin-kyu, the president of Iljin Group, donated 9 billion KRW to SNU as the 'chase one to hit home run' fund.
The agreement ceremony for the fund was attended by key figures including Iljin Group President Huh Jin-kyu, SNU Dean Sung Nak-in, SNU College of Engineering Dean Lee Kunwoo, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Hwang SukYeon who is a project applicant target, Professor Park Jung Won, Department of Materials Science and Engineering Professor Jang Ho Won and etc. It was held at the Gwanak campus of Seoul National University on 6^th 4pm.
SNU College of Engineering 'chase one to hit home run' fund is a project that selects 3 professors each year and supports 300 million KRW (30 million KRW per year) of research expenses per person over 10 years. This is to develop new engineering technology by creating a research environment that can conduct qualitative research beyond quantitative performance-based research. In 2016, when the project started, Dongbu Cultural Foundation donated 900 million KRW. This year, which the second time, there have been fervent interests as 31 professors applied.
President Huh said, "I hope this fund is well-used by researchers who challenges themselves for the works must be done yet nobody tries. I wish young researchers, who are the targets of the fund, re-challenge even if they fail and eventually become ‘home-run kings’.”
Dean Lee said, "This fund is as meaningful as it is given by President Huh Jin-kyu, who has fostered Iljin Group as the driving force of Korea's industrial development. We will cherish the fund and support creative SNU professors who challenge for the innovative researches.”
Meanwhile, he graduated from SNU Department of Metallurgical Engineering in 1963 and started his business. In 1976, he developed the copper-clad wire (copper-coated steel wire) for the first time in Korea and expanded its business scope. Now, he is famous for building his own fortune from nothing and becoming CEO of Iljin Group with annual revenue of 1 trillion KRW. Currently, he is the president of Iljin Group, the chairman of Duk-Myung Academic Promotion Foundation, and the director of Educational Research Foundation of SNU.
He has regularly donated to his alma mater, Seoul National University. In 1990, he donated a total of 5 billion KRW, including 2.3 billion KRW for the establishment of Research Institute of Advanced Materials and 1.9 billion KRW for SNU Academic fund and scholarships.
In addition, President Huh has been cultivating talents of science and engineering departments as a member of SNU College of Engineering alumni and a member of SNU Development Committee. In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded Grand Prize of AMP alumni association CEO course in 2003, was selected as one of 60 engineers who advanced Korea in 2006, was awarded of SNU Achievement Award in 2010, and was selected as one of SNU Admired Engineers.