Kookmin University’s (President Jeong Seung Ryul) mascot, “Mr. Doctor,” won the Grand Prize in the “Representative Character in the Industrial Sector” category at the “2026 Korea Character Awards,” held on Tuesday, October 27, at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Press Center.
 
The “Korea Character Awards” is an awards program that selects outstanding characters by evaluating creativity, popularity, industrial potential, and utilization achievements among characters created by local governments, public institutions, and corporations nationwide. Kookmin University has consistently conveyed its educational philosophy and brand values centered on Mr.Doctor and has expanded the character’s scope of application through various content and community engagement programs.
 
Mr.Doctor is a character that embodies the journey of an ordinary person becoming the best in their field through learning and challenge, symbolizing the spirit of Kookmin University students who embrace entrepreneurship and take on the world. The character originated from a approximately 3-meter-tall golden sculpture installed at the main gate of Kookmin University in February 2019, designed by Stefano Giovannoni, a world-renowned industrial designer and Distinguished Professor at Kookmin University.
 
The character’s graduation cap symbolizes the completion of learning and achievement, while its simple, linear form represents an ordinary person—anyone can become Mr.Doctor. The name “Doctor” signifies the highest level of expertise in one’s field, and the golden color represents achievements attained through challenge.
 
Currently, Mr. Doctor serves as a signature landmark at Kookmin University’s main gate and is used as a symbol for major events such as entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and festivals. In particular, it has provided unique visual attractions on campus by showcasing various props and costumes—such as sunglasses, surfboards, and winter attire—tailored to the seasons and events. Through this, it conveys the university’s free-spirited and approachable image not only to students but also to local residents and visitors. In addition, the character has been featured on a variety of merchandise—including graduation dolls in academic robes, keychains, T-shirts, and hats—and is also utilized on the official website, social media, and in online advertisements.
 
The university also runs programs that allow members of the university community to participate directly in the character’s development. In the 2024 student ID design contest, “Mini Mr. Doctor”—selected through a vote by 4,146 current students—was adopted as the new student ID design starting in 2025. In 2026, the university held the “Mr.Doctor Motion Image Contest,” receiving a total of 1,462 entries across four categories: emotional expressions, college life, seasons and holidays, and open themes. Since then, the university has also hosted storytelling and video advertisement contests, expanding the character’s scope of use based on ideas from the university community.
 
In this way, Mr.Doctor has evolved from a sculpture at the main gate into the university’s representative character, symbolizing its educational philosophy, and has established itself as a medium of communication that bridges on- and off-campus promotion with community engagement.
 
Building on this award, Kookmin University plans to continuously expand promotional content and community engagement programs featuring Mr.Doctor. This year, as the university marks its 80th anniversary, it intends to promote the values of challenge and growth while fostering Mr.Doctor as a flagship character that evolves alongside the university community.

△ Photo: Image of Mr. Doctor, the mascot of Kookmin University

△ Photo: Costume image of Mr. Doctor, the Kookmin University mascot

△ Photo: A photo from the 2026 Korea Character Awards ceremony