"Laying the Foundation for Korea's ICT Education"
Kwangwoon University’s Founding President Cho Mu-sung Receives Special Merit Award from KICS
- A lifetime of battle blooming into a legacy of ICT talent cultivation… Daughter and Chairperson Cho Sun-young accepts the award on his behalf -
- "Professors are not to be pressured, but to be trusted and supported"—The deep resonance of Founding President Cho’s educational philosophy -
Kwangwoon University—which opened its doors in 1934 as the Chosun Wireless Training School, South Korea's very first educational institution specialized in electronic communications—has long formed the backbone of the nation's electronics and information technology industries. As Kwangwoon prepares for a monumental leap toward its upcoming centennial, the fierce life and noble legacy of "the human Cho Mu-sung," who dedicated everything to the advancement of academia and education while battling lifelong illnesses, flows deeply through the university's history.
Dr. Cho Mu-sung, the founding president of Kwangwoon University (President Yoon Do-young), was honored with the "Grand Merit Award (Special Merit Award)" at the Korea Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS) Summer Conference held at the Haevichi Hotel in Jeju on Thursday, June 18. The award recognizes his monumental contributions to the academic advancement and engineering education of South Korea’s information and communications sector.
At the ceremony, Chairperson Cho Sun-young of Kwangwoon Academy—the founding president's eldest daughter who now carries on his legacy as a fellow academic leader—attended to accept the award on his behalf. Founding President Cho had originally booked his flight and was eagerly looking forward to accepting the award in person. However, due to a sudden decline in his health at the end of May that left him bedridden, Chairperson Cho stepped in to receive it.
■ Kwangwoon's 92-Year History: Proving the Philosophy of 'Patience and Support' Through Hardship
Professor Shim Byung-hyo of Seoul National University, who serves as the Vice President of KICS, expressed deep gratitude for Founding President Cho’s dedication. He highlighted how Cho provided unsparing financial and emotional support during the institute's founding in 1974 by Kwangwoon professors, despite the severe and harsh financial constraints of the time.
Starting with a terminal stomach cancer diagnosis in 1986 when he was only in his early 40s, Founding President Cho survived countless brushes with death over the decades—enduring seven heart surgeries, two brain surgeries, and leukemia. Yet, he never let go of his profound love for Kwangwoon University and its faculty.
In her acceptance speech, Chairperson Cho Sun-young shared the lifelong conviction her father held as an educator:
"My father always said, 'Professors are people who study on their own because they love research; you don't need to pester them. Research achievements do not come from pressuring people. You simply need to trust them, wait for them, and quietly provide support.'"
She continued, "This culture of truly valuing teachers and professors—listening to them, trusting them, and waiting rather than distressing them—was the great management conviction and founding spirit that President Cho practiced throughout his life. In the past, senior professors, newly appointed faculty, and staff would often gather in the front yard of my father's house, sharing stories over soju and makgeolli all night long. Within this casual and warm environment, professors could dedicate themselves entirely to research and nurturing talent."
Chairperson Cho Sun-young delivers the acceptance speech on behalf of Founding President Cho Mu-sung.
■ The Magic of Kwangwoon Blooming Toward a Centennial Future
Rooted in this culture of trust in researchers, Kwangwoon University has produced more than 100,000 top-tier professionals in the fields of electronics, radio waves, and information technology over the past 90 years, leading South Korea's ICT miracle.
"To my father, who never lost hope for the university's development despite facing numerous life-threatening crises, today's award will be the greatest comfort for his grueling journey," Chairperson Cho added. "I will surely deliver this proud, magical news to my father on his hospital bed, telling him that 'the scholars of Korea have brought such brilliant flowers into bloom upon the foundation you built.'"
She concluded with a firm pledge: "By fully inheriting Kwangwoon's founding spirit and the human-centered educational philosophy left by Founding President Cho, we will exert even greater efforts to cultivate convergent talents who will lead cutting-edge scientific fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and robotics for the upcoming 100th anniversary. The noble footsteps of Founding President Cho—who trusted people, loved learning, and quietly backed his pupils—have planted a warm seed of education that is now blooming into an even more dazzling flower toward the next century."
About KICS:
Established in 1974, the Korea Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS) is the nation's largest academic organization leading South Korea's ICT sector. It is a massive academic society boasting approximately 30,000 individual members, 60 corporate and research institute members, 8 domestic chapters, and 14 overseas chapters. The institute was originally founded under the leadership of Professor Cho Jung-hyun of Kwangwoon University, who served as its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th president.
