The Beginning of Light Opening a New 120 Years: 2026 Entrance Ceremony Successfully Held
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2026-02-26
The “2026 Entrance Ceremony and Freshman Welcome Event,” held to welcome the incoming Class of ’26 who will become the new light of the university as the university approaches its 120th founding anniversary, was grandly conducted on February 23 at Jangchung Arena.
Starting an hour before the ceremony, the area around Jangchung Arena was lively with greetings from current students welcoming the freshmen. New students entered the venue with excitement after receiving welcome kits containing a half-zip sweatshirt, a university emblem badge, and a snowflake doll keyring. Student Kim Jiyu (Class of ’26, Major in Culture & Tourism) said, “The ceremony hall is bigger and better prepared than I expected, so I’m very excited,” adding, “I’m happy that the snowflake keyring I wanted was included in the welcome kit.”
The ceremony began with a promotional video about the university, followed by a formal entrance procession including the color guard, the president, faculty council members, and other distinguished guests, accompanied by a ceremonial honor guard from the Army and Air Force ROTC units. The freshmen all stood up and captured the entrance ceremony in photos, commemorating the moment they became members of Sookmyung.
Adding significance to the event was the attendance of Prince Lee Jun, the eldest grandson of the Korean Empire’s imperial family and great-grandson of Emperor Gojong and Queen Sunheon, who were the founders of the university. Sookmyung Women’s University is a historic women’s institution established in 1906 by the imperial household of the Korean Empire under the founding philosophy of “saving the nation through women’s education.” Also present were Lee Young-ju, Secretary-General of the Prince Uichin Memorial Foundation and a descendant of Heungseon Daewongun, along with six descendants of scholars who had once received the royal privilege of “saga-dokseo” (royal study leave). They attended wearing the official scholar’s robes of Jiphyeonjeon, adding ceremonial dignity to the event.
In her welcoming address, President Moon Si-yeun said, “You are the protagonists who have entered the university in this historic year marking the 120th anniversary of its founding and who will open the next 120 years. Sookmyung aims to cultivate ‘Outthinkers’ who go beyond existing frameworks, ask new questions, and create their own paths.”
In his congratulatory remarks, Prince Lee Jun said, “Sookmyung’s roots lie in the imperial household, and the future of both the imperial family and Sookmyung can be seen in the eyes of the incoming students. You are the successors of the only imperial institution that directly inherited the freedom and intellectual rights granted to women by the Korean Empire.” His speech was met with great applause.
Kim Kyung-hee, President of the Alumni Association, also congratulated the freshmen, saying, “Within the name Sookmyung, you will form precious connections and grow together. The Alumni Association will always support you as a strong and reliable community.” As the celebratory atmosphere deepened, the freshmen pinned the university emblem onto each other’s clothing and sang the university anthem together, bringing the entrance ceremony to a close. The tension faded from their faces, replaced by even greater excitement.
The second part of the event, the Freshman Welcome Celebration, was hosted by announcer Bae Hye-ji, an alumna of the Dept. of IT Engineering. The program began with congratulatory video messages from distinguished Sookmyung alumni. This was followed by an energetic cheerleading performance by the university’s cheer squad NIVIS and a dynamic performance by the central street dance club MAX, raising the excitement in the arena. The special guest performers were the girl group ‘Hearts2Hearts’, who took the stage to celebrate the occasion. Freshmen responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause, celebrating the beginning of their university life together.
Toward the end of the event, a lucky draw was held, with generous prizes such as laptops, tablet PCs, hair dryers, and coffee machines. Cheers erupted from all over the audience each time a winner’s name was announced, and the lucky students collected their prizes backstage after the ceremony.
After the event concluded, freshmen and their parents took commemorative photos with bright smiles. The mother of Cho Seoyeon, a freshman in the School of Media Studies, said, “The entrance ceremony was very moving, and it truly felt like a heartfelt celebration. Seeing my daughter standing here made me very proud.” Cho Seoyeon shared her thoughts as well, “It feels meaningful to have entered Sookmyung Women’s University as if by fate, and after going through such a passionate entrance ceremony, I’m even more excited about my university life.”