The university history center, attached to the Chungbuk National University museum, will independently open in December. It will be located in building N19 on the west side of the college of human ecology, the oldest building on the Gaesin campus. The university history center shines a light on the development of the university. There are collections and exhibitions of the process performing the unique functions of university form its inception in 1951 to the present and the data produced as a result. All university-related materials such as university symbols, souvenirs, photos, videos, and costumes are being collected to improve the affectioning feeling of university members and former students. Let’s find out more about the opening of the university history center through an interview with the museum director Kim Young-kwan.

Q1) First, would you introduce the university history center?

  The university history center is a place where you can see the history of our university from the beginning of the university to the present along with real materials. It consists of a university history exhibition room that shows the history, present and future vision of the university, a reading room for university history materials and a book cafe. Until now, there was no place to properly inform people about the history of the university, but now it is possible to properly inform current students and staff, as well as university members, alumni, future freshmen and visitors from outside. Maintaining the appearance of the building in 1956, the first floor houses the university history center, university history library and visitor convenience facilities, while the second floor takes the alumni association office and conference room. The university history center will contribute to local and university history education and research and play a role as a cultural space for university members and local residents.

Q2) What are the purpose and background of the opening of the university history museum?

  The oldest building in our university’s Gaesin campus is N19 building behind the college of humanities and on the west side of the college of human ecology. This structure was built in 1956, and it was intended to be used as the second main building when our university was Cheongju Junior Agriculture College. The first main building next to the second student hall, which was built at the same time, was demolished a few years ago and disappeared. In response, Chungbuk National University President Kim Su-kap, the first president who graduated from our university, and the alumni association expressed an opinion that they should take measures to preserve and utilize university history, regretting the loss of traces of university history. As a result of collecting opinions, we decided to preserve the university’s history and use it as a university history center. In March this year, in recognition of its value as an educational facility symbolizing university education in Chungcheongbuk-do, the process was set into motion to register it as a modern cultural property. In addition, the university began to  repair and reinforcement construction of old and weakened buildings. It will be a place of memories for graduates, a place to communicate with seniors while sharing the same space, and a place to inform future freshmen of Chungbuk National University and experience their dreams of entering Chungbuk National University in advance. The university history center will be a place to publicize and share the history and tradition of our university at home and abroad and to remember the history of university education in Chungcheongbuk-do in the 20th century.

Q3) Please tell us about the expected opening date of Chungbuk National University and the scheduled event.

  We first planned to open on September 27th, on the 70th anniversary of Chungbuk National University. However, the date of the expected opening was delayed because of delays in renovation and construction plans for other projects on campus. At the beginning of December, a history exhibition of Chungbuk National University will be completed and opened. Also, we have prepared an opening ceremony and various events that many students can enjoy when they attend the opening day. A very special university flag, that was lost and recovered will be on display as well as an exhibition of student identification cards used in the past, and finding the faces of seniors who graduated decades ago in various event programs. I want to encourage all students to attend and participate. They won’t be disappointed.

Q4) Lastly, I would appreciate it if you tell students about the opening celebration of the university’s history exhibition.

  Chungbuk National University opened as Cheong-ju Junior Agriculture College with a desire of the residents to establish a university in Chungbuk during the 6.25 War, also known as the Korean War, in 1951, and now we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the university’s opening. Currently, our university is a regional base national university and it has researched and educated academics in various fields. Also, it serves as a cradle for fostering students’ talents that contributes to the region, country, and world. The history exhibition of Chungbuk National Universityis a place that contains many memories that our university has experienced since its opening. As the saying goes, “The past is a mirror that shines on the future,” the history exhibition will be a place to capture the memories of our university and will be compassed for students who prepare the future of our university. We have prepared for all the university members and local residents to visit comfortably so they can see the past and future of our university in the history exhibition. Please show your interest and love in the historial exhibition of Chungbuk National University. Thank you.

  Started as Cheong-ju Junior Agriculture College as the wishes of the local residents for higher education in the Chungbuk region during the 6.25 War, Chungbuk National University has grown into a regional base national university. In December, Chungbuk National University, having done an important role in the history of local university education in the 20th century and in the development of the region, will open its university history center to preserve the university's steps, interactions with the local community, and its own origin culture. Whether looking back the road that we have walked is what look back oneself of the present. Moreover, it is also a process to strengthen the road that we will walk. Therefore, the time that we have passed is a more valuable and precious heritage that shouldn’t be forgotten. History is such thing. If people don’t have any interest or attention in their history, what they have been through, what they did, and all the development and culture they’ve got are no mean. Therefore, for the meaningful history of Chungbuk National University’s, locals’ and students’ attentions are required. The very starting of this attention, why don’t you attention to the opening of the university history center?

By Park Su-min l psm0129@cbnu.ac.kr
By Ahn Min-joo l mj40@cbnu.ac.kr
By Yoo Gyoung-chan l jg010077@cbnu.ac.kr