KAIST

“We hope KAIST will succeed my late husband’s will.”

A 47-year-old widow donated two billion won’s worth of stock to KAIST in respect to her late husband’s will for the scientific development and training of scientifically talented people of Korea.

On the 27 of September, KAIST announced that the late CEO of Seoul Alloy Metal’s widow, Yoon-Gyeong Shim, donated her and her children’s inheritance of two billion won’s worth of stocks to KAIST through an agent.

While wondering how to spend their inherited two billion won, the family found certificates and contracts of donation in the late CEO Geyong-Dae Kim’s possession. The late lamented Mr. Kim had been donating a certain amount of money monthly for those in need, including undernourished children.

Shim decided to donate to Korea’s IT-leading KAIST to succeed her late husband’s will, the husband who lived a life of sharing and dedicated his whole life in the IT department. Shim’s two children, Hyunjae (19 years old) and Youngjae (17 years old) happily participated in this decision.

The company represented by Kim, Seoul Alloy Metals, is a national company that produces basic conjugates used in electric and electronic machinery, with founding technology in the environmental-friendly smokeless lead-free solder division.

“I believe my late husband, who passed away before his time, would be glad with our family’s decision,” said Shim. “We may be living in a faraway country called New Zealand but my children and I are proud Koreans and we are very glad to give a small hand to Korea’s proud KAIST. We hope KAIST can succeed my late husband’s passion and will for the development of scientific technology. We wish it can be used not only for the development of KAIST, but for the development of Korea.”

“KAIST is grateful of Shim’s decision to donate to KAIST,” said President Suh. “To follow the lofty will of the decedent, KAIST will try our best to train the best scientifically talented people and become the best university in the world.”

Since appointment of President Suh at KAIST, KAIST has put an effort to spread a donating culture. As a result, KAIST donators have expanded omnidirectionally, including professors, staff, students, alumni, parents of students, and the general public.

The number of donations was 1,004 in 2006, 2,139 in 2007, 3,066 in 2008, and 3,304 in 2009.