“My heart races with excitement just knowing that I can contribute, however small, to the growth and development of our alma mater, which was once filled with the dreams and sweat of our youth.”

Lee Jong-hyuk, who took office as the inaugural Chairman of the Hanyang University International Foundation established this year, stated that he would lead the foundation in a way that instills a sense of pride and excitement whenever the name “Hanyang” is heard.

Chairman Lee, who was the first Korean to obtain a CPA license in Northern California and has worked as a certified public accountant for 42 years, entered Hanyang University in 1958 and graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering. He explained, “Alumni in the Americas must unite to complete the long and bold journey to become the best in the world for Hanyang University, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year,” adding, “The purpose of establishing the International Foundation is to work together to help Hanyang, the university that nurtured us, grow into a world-class institution.”
Chairman Lee Jong-hyuk stated, “My primary goal is to unite the Hanyang family scattered across the United States,” adding, “I will collaborate with the Hanyang University Alumni Association to bond alumni in various cities across the U.S., remind them of their pride and sense of belonging, and work together for the development of the university.” He further said, “Through fundraising, we plan to expand research institutions and facilities on the campuses in Seoul and Ansan, provide scholarships for our students, and support faculty and students coming to the U.S. for exchange programs.”

Chairman Lee, who expressed deep emotion and joy at assuming the position of the inaugural chairman while also feeling a heavy sense of responsibility, noted that Hanyang University, which started with just three or four buildings at the time of his admission, has grown into a leading university in Korea boasting over 70 buildings today. He stated, “Hanyang University, which began as a College of Engineering with the dream of ‘practice-oriented technical education,’ has produced many outstanding talents, particularly in the field of engineering,” adding that it “became a solid cornerstone leading the modernization of Korean education and technology.”

He stated that Hanyang’s founding philosophy of “love and action” has become the standard and motto of his life, noting, “Due to the education received in childhood, alumni in the U.S. have a tremendous love for their school.” He requested the support and encouragement of fellow Koreans for the development of his alma mater and for the education of juniors who will grow into outstanding leaders. He also announced, “The International Foundation will provide full support so that Hanyang University can go beyond being a top-tier domestic university and become the best in the world .”

The Hanyang University International Foundation, headquartered in Oakland, plans to operate with four alumni associations—Northern California, Southern California, Washington D.C., and New York—serving as branches. Chairman Lee added, “We plan to hold an International Foundation conference once a year, rotating among the four cities, to bring together Hanyang alumni from across the U.S.,” and noted, “Residents of the U.S. who donate to Hanyang University through the International Foundation are eligible for tax deductions in accordance with U.S. IRS regulations.”

Chairman Lee Jong-hyuk became the first Korean to obtain a CPA license in Northern California in 1975. Starting in San Francisco in 1977, he moved to San Jose, and established the accounting firm ‘The Lee Accountancy Group, Inc.’ in Oakland in 1981. Since then, Chairman Lee has been active as a competent accountant in the Bay Area mainstream society for 42 years. He has served as an adjunct professor at various universities and an advisor to city and state governments, while also lecturing at numerous forums. Furthermore, he has actively engaged in social contribution and volunteer activities, such as hosting Thanksgiving dinners with the City of Oakland for the past 26 years, providing food to approximately 2,500 people annually. In 2016, he was selected as the Best Accountant in the Bay Area by Oakland Magazine, and last year, he was named the top graduate at Sonoma State University, where he graduated in 1971, delivering the commencement address this past May.

Hanyang University ranked 150th overall in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, placing it within the top 100 in the engineering field at 91st. The university ranked 25th in the same institution’s Asia University Rankings and secured 2nd place in the International Reputation category in the 2019 THE (Times Higher Education) Asia University Rankings. It also received reaccreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB), recognizing its boundless potential as a global university. Within Korea, it ranked 1st overall in the 2019 Korea Economic Daily University Employment and Entrepreneurship Competency Assessment, 2nd overall in the 2019 Environment & Global Research Science and Engineering University Rankings, and was selected as the top university for the Dong-A Ilbo Youth Dream University program for three consecutive years. Hanyang University currently has 33,148 enrolled students, and as of January this year, the number of alumni was recorded at 325,317.