The circumstances at our university over the past three months due to the COVID-19 outbreak are unprecedented. It is a pity that the campus is now blanketed with silence instead of being filled with excitement for the new semester, amid the spring flowers in full bloom.

 To overcome the current crisis, our university is making efforts to protect the health and safety of its members and maintain the education and research that are our mission. Thanks to the active participation of professors who struggling to manage their classes at this difficult time, dedication of staff teachers who work late into the night, and hard work of students who study faithfully, the “Kookmin* Participatory Remote (Online) Lectures” are proceeding smoothly.

 The more the spring flowers overcome the harsh winter, the more flowers become beautiful. Our university has a history of overcoming hardship, considering the crisis and challenges that followed Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Like our ancestors before us, who made 70 years of history by turning crisis into opportunity,we hope to use our proud tradition as a stepping stone to create a better Kookmin University by gathering the power and wisdom of our collective intelligence.

 So far, our Kookmin* family members have worked together to overcome all difficulties, and I believe we will continue to do so as long as we stay together. Therefore, I hope we can use this COVID-19 outbreak as an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of everyday life and move forward to a better future.

 We sincerely hope that all our professors, staffs, and students overcome this crisis while taking good care of their health and respecting and caring for each other, so that our Bukak campus will be back to its vibrant self as soon as possible.