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Goodbye KU!
Jan. 2020
Almost two years have passed since I started working at Korea University (KU). Now it is time to say goodbye to KU — a place that has given me many beautiful memories, many moments of pressure, and many interesting experiences. It was not always easy, but it was meaningful to work here with talented, dedicated, and passionate people.
KU, often informally known as one of the SKY universities, has a special atmosphere of its own. The campus is beautiful, with its Gothic-style buildings, stone walls, quiet courtyards, and the iconic clock tower. Everything feels remarkably clean and well cared for, even in the smallest corners of the university.
Looking back, KU was more than just a workplace. It was a chapter of growth, pressure, friendship, and quiet memories that I will carry with me.
KU Emblem
The tiger represents KU's spirit of courage, determination, agility and dignity.
Clock Tower
Among all the places on campus, I will especially remember this quiet spot where I often sat after work, watching the sunset. It was a simple habit, but it gave me many peaceful moments at the end of long days.
A quiet moment in France
Aug. 2019
A quiet moment in France
Aug. 2019
France left me with many impressions: beautiful buildings, elegant architecture, and truly delicious food. I must admit that I have always had a special fondness for French-style buildings. There is something about them that feels classical, refined, and distinctly European. From my brief encounters, the people here also seemed quite friendly and warm.
At the same time, my impression was that France today may no longer be exactly the same as the romantic image I once had in mind. Some streets did not feel particularly clean, and the urban life seemed more mixed, diverse, and perhaps more complicated than I had expected. But maybe that is also part of modern Europe — beautiful and historic, yet constantly changing.
P/S: I was sitting by the river, watching the water flow slowly past the trees and old buildings. It was just a simple moment in a short trip, but somehow it felt interesting and memorable: being still in an unfamiliar place, observing another city’s rhythm, and letting my thoughts drift along with the river.
Switzerland
July. 2019
Around 8 p.m. in a small village in Switzerland. I was sitting there, waiting for the sun to set. It had been a long time since I last had such a quiet moment to let my thoughts wander — especially in a place I had never been before. I have always loved watching the sunset alone, ever since I was a little boy.
Tokyo, Japan
Oct. 2018
When we came to Tokyo, it was the final days of autumn. The air was a little chilly, though Seoul was already much colder at the time. I loved the weather there — gentle, cool, and pleasant. Walking through the small streets of Tokyo with my little family in that softly cold autumn air felt so peaceful and happy.
Time to say goodbye
Feb. 2018
Today is a memorable day in my life — I have completed my PhD at CNU. What made this day even more special was that my wife and son came to Korea to celebrate it with me. That means so much to me. Honestly, I never imagined that I would already be married, with my little family beside me, at the time of my graduation.
I first came to CNU when I was 23. Everything was new and unfamiliar to me. I lived in a dormitory and shared a room with a Chinese art student — something I had never done before. Our daily schedules were very different, and because of that, we had some conflicts. Eventually, he moved out two months after I arrived. On the day he left, we talked a lot and came to understand each other better. Looking back, I wish I had been kinder to him. Later on, whenever we happened to meet on campus, we still exchanged friendly greetings.
In the following years, I shared rooms with many people from different countries, including Korea, Rwanda, China, and Vietnam. They were all nice people, and I am still friends with some of them today.
My postgraduate life was interesting, but it was not easy. I faced many difficulties in doing research, even though my advisor and lab-mates were always kind to me. I still remember my first face-to-face conversation with my advisor. He told me that I could research any topic, as long as I was truly interested in it. In fact, I chose to pursue my PhD at CNU instead of POSTECH because of him. KAIST and POSTECH are widely recognized as two of the best technical universities in Korea, so it was not an easy decision. But looking back, I believe it was the right one.
Despite all the ups and downs, I now realize that my postgraduate life was truly beautiful.
Goodbye, CNU — the place that witnessed my youth, my struggles, my growth, and some of the most beautiful memories of my life. I have to move forward now, but I hope one day I will return.
My little family
UPDATE: We have a little daughter, the newest member of our family.
CNU Clock Tower
Part of CNU campus, seen from my lab room
View of CNU from Uchi-ro, on my last day in Gwangju, Korea
Last winter at CNU
Jan. 2018
Snow is always most beautiful on the first day. Everything turns quietly white. This is my last winter at CNU, and a special one, because I get to share it with my small family. It is not as cold as the winters before.
Real winter has come
Jan. 2016
Around 11 p.m., on the path to my dorm. I cannot remember how many times I have walked along this path. Finally, real winter has come to CNU, later than expected.
Winter always looks a little sad, but I think it is still charming in its own way. When I was a young boy, I loved the colors of summer. Now, I am beginning to love the quiet sadness of winter.
P.S. I don’t know why, but I often take photos without people in them.
Watching a baseball game for the first time
Sept. 2015
Last week, I visited Gwangju-Kia Champions Field to watch a baseball game for the first time. It is a baseball stadium located in Gwangju, Korea, and has been the home of the Kia Tigers, a professional baseball team in the KBO League, since 2014. The KBO League is the most popular professional sports league in Korea.
When I first came to Korea a few years ago, I was surprised to see that many people seemed to prefer baseball to football. Honestly, I am not really interested in baseball, and of course, I do not know the rules very well. I went to the stadium mainly because of my advisor, who is a big Kia Tigers fan.
During the first few minutes of the game, it was hard for me to understand how the Kia Tigers scored points — or “runs,” as they are called in baseball. After a while, I stopped paying close attention to the game itself. Instead, I spent most of the time looking around the stadium and observing the crowd. The fans were incredibly enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was lively and exciting.
Although the Kia Tigers lost, it was still a great experience to go to a baseball game for the first time.
Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, the home of Kia Tigers
Jeju Island
Oct. 2014
I recently had the chance to visit Jeju Island in Korea with my friends. We arrived on a cool autumn day; the weather was a little chilly and windy. Our plane landed at around 4 p.m., and we rented a car to get around, since public transportation on Jeju is not very convenient. It took us about two hours to drive from the airport to our resort. Along the way, I could feel the beauty of the roadside scenery. It was difficult to describe in words. In particular, I think I fell in love with the reeds growing along the sides of the road.
Jeju is a volcanic island, dominated by Hallasan, a volcano that rises 1,950 meters above sea level. Unfortunately, we could not visit Hallasan because it was not part of our itinerary. Instead, we went to a smaller volcanic peak near our resort — Seongsan Ilchulbong, also known as Sunrise Peak — which is surrounded by the sea. Seongsan Ilchulbong is not very large, but it is truly beautiful. I was amazed by how it glistened in the light of the sunrise.
We also visited many other places and tried many kinds of Korean food on Jeju Island. Some of those experiences are so personal and memorable that I would rather keep them to myself. From my point of view, the local people seem to have lived in harmony with nature, creating and preserving Jeju as such a beautiful island. Just let go and feel Jeju Island — a pearl of Korea.
View from our motorboat
View from our resort
Where we held a dinner party. We were drunk and talked so much!
What a beautiful blue sky! I took this picture from our car when preparing to leave for our resort.
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