Educator who built Kyung Hee University; pen name Miwon; driving figure behind the UN International Day of Peace
| Life | 1921 ~ 2012 |
| Era | 일제강점기~대한민국 |
| Clan | 배천 조씨 |
Jo Yeong-sik (22 November 1921 - 18 February 2012) was a Korean educator and social campaigner of the Baecheon Jo clan, with the pen name Miwon. Born in Unsan County, North Pyongan Province under Japanese rule, he is recorded as having entered Tokyo College of Physical Education, though graduation is not confirmed. He was drafted as a student soldier into the Japanese army stationed in Pyongyang in 1944 and suffered when a plot to escape was discovered in 1945; after liberation he briefly taught at Kim Il Sung University before moving south in 1946, where he taught physical education at Seoul High School. He transferred to Seoul National University's law college in 1947 and graduated in 1951.
In 1951 he took over Sinheung Junior College and grew it into Kyung Hee University, founding Kyung Hee High School, Middle School, Elementary School and Kindergarten under the Kyung Hee Foundation. He was university president in 1955-61, 1963-80 and 1988-93, and chair of the foundation several times until 2006. He led the "Live Well" movement in the 1950s and the "Neo-Renaissance" movement in the 1990s; at the 4th World Conference of University Presidents in Boston in 1975 he proposed the Boston Declaration and the "Global Cooperation Society" (Good Society) movement, and in 1979 organized the Global Cooperation Society International club.
At the sixth world conference of university presidents in 1981 he proposed a day of peace and, with Costa Rica's cooperation, took the item to the UN; on 30 November that year the 36th UN General Assembly is described as designating the third Tuesday of September as the International Day of Peace (the date was changed to 21 September from 2001). His books include Democracy and Freedom, The Creation of a Cultural World and Oughtopia, and he coined "Oughtopia" for his ideal society. In 1955 he was arrested over The Creation of a Cultural World on suspicion of violating the National Security Act and was cleared with a non-prosecution decision in 1956. Sources give his age at death as anywhere from 90 to 92.
A native of Unsan in North Pyongan, he was drafted as a student soldier in 1944, briefly taught at Kim Il Sung University after liberation and moved south in 1946. He graduated from Seoul National University's law college in 1951.
In 1951 he took over Sinheung Junior College and developed it into Kyung Hee University, founding a high school, middle school, elementary school and kindergarten under the foundation. He was president three times (1955-61, 1963-80, 1988-93).
In 1975 he proposed the Good Society movement along with the Boston Declaration, and in 1981 proposed a day of peace, which the 36th UN General Assembly that year is described as establishing as the International Day of Peace.
He named his ideal society "Oughtopia" and advanced "cultural welfarism". His books include Democracy and Freedom (1948), The Creation of a Cultural World (1951), Man and Creation (1960) and Oughtopia (1979). His 1955 arrest and 1956 non-prosecution are noted controversies in Wikipedia; please check primary sources for judgment.
Information on his grave could not be confirmed; he died at Kyung Hee Medical Center in Seoul.
He had two sons and two daughters.