89-year-old graduates college with highest honors

Lee Joo-hyung / Courtesy of Tongmyong University

By Lee Hyo-jin

Age is just a number for Lee Joo-hyung, 89, a soon-to-be graduate of Tongmyong University in Busan.

With his cumulative GPA of 4.48 on a 4.5 scale, the Japanese Studies major will graduate with the highest honors.

He is the oldest college graduate in the country this year.

Born in 1934, Lee went to school in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, but his education was cut short abruptly when he joined the military to serve in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Over the following decades, his academic aspirations were still alive. Finally he enrolled in university in 2020, at the age of 86.

"I decided to enter college in my 80s because I wanted to fill the emptiness in my heart after I had to stop learning, as I was born in the midst of the turbulent period in the Japanese colonial era."

Lee also added that he wanted to prevent dementia through lifelong learning.

As lectures were conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced some difficulties using the computer. His 62-year-old daughter helped him a lot, said Lee.

"There is no end to education, and it's never too late to learn," he said, adding that he would like to share his knowledge with others through being a volunteer teacher.

In addition to his academic achievement, Lee also got along with his fellow students in their 20s, despite the big age gap.

"My classmates called me 'grandpa.' It was great to interact with young people which made me feel younger."

"His enthusiasm for learning and his great personality have inspired other students" said Kam Young-hee, a professor who supervised Lee. "I give my respect and congratulations to the student who I will never forget for the rest of my life."

Lee will be honored with a special award presented by the dean on Feb. 14, and will attend the graduation ceremony on Feb. 16.

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