The year 2018 is very meaningful for Chung-Ang University. This is because it is the university's 100th anniversary. It is very unusual that institutions have existed for a century and this is the evidence that the group has been thriving. Chung-Ang University seems to have achieved the symbolic duration of 100 years thanks to the efforts of students and faculty. So, was it only Chung-Ang University that had achieved this milestone so far? Not really. Organizations and the students had also made progress by overcoming hardships. Chung-Ang University has also gone through this process to become what it is now.
The Beginning of Chung-Ang University
The Opening of Chung-Ang Kindergarten
           Chung-Ang Kindergarten, the predecessor of the current Chung-Ang University, was established in 1916. However, it was founded in 1918 as a true nursery because it did not have independent operations or organizations before that. At that time, enthusiasm for education was low because there was no concept of nursery education. However, even under Japanese colonial rule, Chung-Ang Kindergarten was able to develop its own education. They educated students in the Korean language without discrimination in status. So, it has had a lot of social and cultural influences.
Accreditation to Chung-Ang Nursery School
           The people who worked hard for education and promoting were admitted in 1928 as they established Chung-Ang Nursery School. The founders made the school innovative and rapidly progressed to realize their ideals. Lim Young-shin later took over Chung-Ang Nursery School and worked hard to improve the school. Dr. Lim Yeong-shin started practicing school education based on righteousness and patience. Although she was relatively weak in her time, she developed Chung-Ang Nursery School into Chung-Ang Women's School, Chung-Ang Women's University, and at last, Chung-Ang University, a coeducational university. Indeed, she made a great contribution to the history of the development of Chung-Ang University. She was quoted as saying in her first inaugural address. "Although I am a woman, I die for 'Justice' and live in 'Truth.' I decided to educate my children for the rest of my country and go to America to learn many things and make money."
The Leap of Chung-Ang University
4.19 Revolution and Chung-Ang University
           As Chung-Ang University's motto 'Live in truth. Live for justice', students resisted injustice and revolted against dictatorship. On April 19 1960, students of Chung-Ang University gathered in the playground to read the declaration and leave school. They reached the city hall through Seoul Station despite two divisions of police and a fire truck's water cannons on the bridge between Heukseok-dong and Han River. As police made the area in front of the presidential office impassable, the students diverted to the National Assembly building and started a sit-in in front of the Ministry Of The Interior. In these circumstances, police started firing and killed six students. Afterwards, a joint memorial ceremony was held to honor them and the Tower of Justice and Blood was unveiled. Afterwards, students protested against the 1965 Korea-Japan treaty and tried to democratize the Republic of Korea by staging various student movements.
The Hardship and Maturity of Chung-Ang University
           Chung-Ang University faced a new phase in August 1987 when the case of 'Daeju Sangho Credit Guarantee' was reported. It has been revealed that Lim Cheol-sun, then president of the Chung-Ang Cultural Institute, created a large slush fund worth 3.6 billion won. The incident also angered the students of Chung-Ang University because they could not even improve the educational environment. Eventually, the school's branch of the Chung-Ang Culture Institute went bankrupt in late August, leading to a huge crisis. However, the case came to an end when Kim Hi-su took over the Chung-Ang Culture Institute in September. Since then, it has made many advances, including building new buildings and improving the treatment of school’s staff.
The Development of Chung-Ang University
           The Korean War seemed to be a big ordeal for Chung-Ang University, which had just begun. However, Chung-Ang University opened temporarily in Busan during the war, and they were able to continue their careers as they returned to Seoul after the war ended. Moreover in 1956, Pfeiffer Hall was built. The name "Pfeiffer Hall" came from Annie Merner Pfeiffer, who donated a lot of money to improve the university. Ms. Pfeiffer made it possible for other wealthy people in the U.S. to raise money for Dr. Lim's plan, as well as for her. Later, the foundation developed the facilities of Chung-Ang University by building central libraries. Then Building 102 and Building 310 were built under a plan to reconstruct the campus which was called the Campus Master Plan.
           So far, we have learned how Chung-Ang University started. Chung-Ang University can be felt to be just one of many universities in South Korea. However, there were many difficulties until the present which Chung-Ang University and many people tried to overcome. Chung-Ang University has tried many times to not only be an educational institution but to teach students the spirit of the nation and show them new ways. That seems to have allowed Chung-Ang University to produce many talents. The 100th anniversary of Chung-Ang University, which faces a new future, is an inevitable result of efforts, not merely accidents or the flow of time. Let's see how Chung-Ang University will advance at the starting point of the 100th Anniversary!
저작권자 © 중앙헤럴드 무단전재 및 재배포 금지