[2025 Commencement] UNIST Confers Degrees to 925 Graduates

The 2025 UNIST Commencement Ceremony took place at the UNIST Gymnasium on Thursday, February 20, uniting families, friends, and representatives of all degree recipients to celebrate this significant milestone.

During the ceremony, President Chong Rae Park conferred 222 honorary doctoral degrees, 289 master’s degrees, and 414 bachelor’s degrees. Since its establishment in 2009, UNIST has successfully produced 10,334 graduates in science and technology, including 1,463 doctoral, 2,408 master’s, and 6,463 bachelor’s degrees.

The event commenced with a vibrant performance by UNISTRA followed by an academic procession, seamlessly transitioning into the conferral of degrees. Ceremony highlights included a report on academic statistics, presentations of academic awards, congratulatory messages from university officials, and remarks from distinguished guests. A special performance by the UNIST Faculty Choir further enhanced the celebratory atmosphere of the day.

At the ceremony, SeongJin Lee from the Department of Electrical Engineering was awarded the UNIST President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements. The Minister of Science and ICT Award was presented to SeungHyun Jeon from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, while the UNIST Chairman of the Board’s Award went to JungBin Lee from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Additionally, the Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor’s Award and the Ulju County Mayor’s Award were presented to Sang Eon Park from the Department of Electrical Engineering and SuYeon Park from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering. The LS Group Award was awarded to Eun Bi Jeong (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering) and InWoo Lee (Department of Chemistry).

UNIST recognizes exceptional scholarly achievements at each commencement ceremony through various awards, including the prestigious Yebong Best Dissertation Award. Established from donations by the first UNIST President, Moo Je Cho, this award is given to the author of the best doctoral dissertation. This year’s recipient is DaHye Baek (Advisor: Professor Jiseok Lee, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering), who has an impressive record of six published SCI-class papers and accolades such as the Samsung Human Tech Paper Award.

The Outstanding Paper Awards were bestowed upon Byeon Eun Lee (Advisor: Professor Jae Ick Kim, Department of Biological Sciences), Yan Gong (Advisor: Professor Rodney S. Ruoff, Department of Chemistry), Won Sik Jang (Advisor: Professor Seungho Cho, Department of Materials Science and Engineering), and Ji Kang-sun (Advisor: Professor Hyong-Ryeol Park, Department of Physics).

Notably, congratulatory speeches delivered by Ji Young Lee, a representative lecturer at Etoos, and Collaborating Professor Sedol Lee captivated the audience. Instructor Lee emphasized the importance of maintaining physical and mental health while nurturing resilience against failure, stating the necessity of cultivating strong economic awareness and interpersonal relationships. “Let us cherish the bonds with our colleagues and strive to grow into Korea’s premier science and technology leaders with humility,” she added.

Ji Young Lee, a representative lecturer at Etoos delivered a congratulatory speech at the 2025 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, held on February 20, 2025.

Professor Sedol Lee expressed his commitment as a new member of the UNIST community, stating his intention to support promising scientists in making impactful contributions to society. He asserted, “UNIST is dedicated to nurturing talent that is both creative and possesses a strong character,” encouraging graduates to remain engaged with the university’s ongoing development.

Collaborating Professor Sedol Lee delivered a congratulatory speech at the 2025 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, held on February 20, 2025.

In his address, President Chong Rae Park extended heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025. He urged graduates to embrace challenges with the spirit of ‘UNIST Pioneers,’ which they have exemplified throughout their studies. “We are committed to empower our graduates to forge new paths through the creative problem-solving skills honed at UNIST,” he stated, encouraging graduates to rise above difficulties and aspire to change the world as representatives of Ulsan.

At the ceremony, President Chong Rae Park awarded 222 honorary Doctoral, 289 Master’s, and 414 Bachelor’s degrees.

Graduate representatives JiWon Ryu (Department of Biological Sciences) and Hong Min Kim (Department of Biomedical Engineering) shared their respective journeys, highlighting their academic experiences and aspirations. JiWon Ryu expressed, “My time at UNIST has nurtured my dream to positively influence people through medical device innovation.” Hong Min Kim echoed similar sentiments, reflecting on his 14-year journey and the transformative changes at UNIST, urging his peers to become pioneers of innovation in society.

To culminate the ceremony, a surprise performance by the UNIST Faculty Choir uplifted the graduates, delivering inspiring renditions of “Song of the Wind” and “To You.”

This year’s ceremony was attended by notable guests, including First Vice Minister Chang Yune Lee of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Chairman Jae Ho Song of the UNIST Board of Directors, Founding President Moo Je Cho, Vice Mayor Hyo Dae An for Economic Affairs at Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulju County Mayor Sun-Gul Lee, and President Byeong Tae Jang of the Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency (UIPA).