Degrees Conferred on February 20 at the Grand Hall of Cheonma Arts Center; Doctoral Graduates and Master’s Representative Attend

127 doctoral, 429 master’s, and 3,651 bachelor’s degrees awarded across colleges and graduate schools

[February 20, 2026]

 Yeungnam University (YU, President CHOI Oe-chool) held its 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremony on February 20.

 At the ceremony, held at the Grand Hall of the Cheonma Arts Center, all doctoral graduates of the Graduate School and a representative of the master’s degree recipients were present. President CHOI Oe-chool and SHIN Seung-hoon, Dean of the Graduate School, personally conferred degrees upon the graduates and delivered congratulatory remarks.

 In addition to the main ceremony, each undergraduate college and graduate school—including the Law School and six professional graduate schools (Graduate School of Business Administration; Graduate School of Environment Health; Graduate School of Education; Graduate School of Engineering; Graduate School of Culture, Arts & Design; and the Park Chung-hee School of Policy and Saemaul)—held separate degree conferment ceremonies. 

 At YU, a total of 3,651 bachelor’s, 429 master’s, and 127 doctoral degrees were awarded. Among the graduates were 185 international students (48 bachelor’s, 79 master’s, and 58 doctoral recipients). In addition, 372 undergraduate students completed two or more majors and received multiple degrees. On the same day, YU also conferred an Honorary Doctorate in International Development upon Dessie Dalkie Dukamo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to the Republic of Korea.

<HAN Jae-sook, Chairperson of the Yeungnam School Corporation, delivers congratulatory remarks.>

HAN Jae-sook, Chairperson of the Yeungnam School Corporation, extended her congratulations to the graduates, stating, “I sincerely congratulate all of you proud graduates receiving your honorable degrees today. This achievement is the fruit of your long-standing dedication and passion, made even more meaningful through the unwavering support and love of your families and professors.” She added, “Graduation marks both the conclusion of your academic journey and the beginning of a new chapter. I hope you will create positive change in your respective fields, grounded in intellectual responsibility and a spirit of challenge.” Referring to Ambassador Dukamo, who received the honorary doctorate, she remarked, “His dedicated efforts to promote friendship between Korea and Ethiopia and to strengthen international solidarity symbolically reflect the social responsibility of scholarship and the value of international cooperation that our university upholds.” She added, “I sincerely hope our proud graduates will continue to grow as global leaders, guiding the dreams and future of humanity.”

<President CHOI Oe-chool delivers the commencement address.>

 In his commencement address, President CHOI stated, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all graduates who have earned their degrees through continuous challenge and diligent effort.” He emphasized, “In an era defined by rapid transformation in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, big data, and biotechnology, proactive preparation for change and a spirit of challenge are no longer optional but essential. I encourage you to move forward toward the future without fear, guided by the Cheonma spirit.”He further urged graduates to take responsible roles in addressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty alleviation, and world peace, and to grow into global leaders contributing to the shared prosperity of humanity.

 Congratulating Ambassador Dukamo on receiving the honorary doctorate, President CHOI added, “Ethiopia is a cherished ally that stood in defense of the Republic of Korea’s freedom during the Korean War, and we hold deep gratitude for that noble sacrifice.” He continued, “The Ambassador’s efforts to apply Korea’s Saemaul Development experience and Saemaul Studies to Ethiopia’s national development—thereby improving the quality of life for its people and promoting Korea–Africa friendship—carry profound meaning as an expression of gratitude and reciprocity.”