SNU College of Human Ecology consists of the Division of Consumer and Child Studies (Department of Consumer Science and Child Development & Family Studies), the Department of Food & Nutrition, and Department of Fashion and Textiles. Centered around Building 222, the college members meticulously research various aspects of human life, including the necessities of life such as food, clothing, and housing. This year was the second year of the ‘College of Human Ecology Academic Festival’ which has been held to promote scholarly exchange among the four departments and enhance the sense of unity within the College. This fall, the event successfully took place with the interest and participation of many people, featuring ▲ Departmental symposiums and fashion shows ▲ College of Human Ecology alumni CEO leadership lectures ▲ Graduate student poster exhibitions, and more.
Academics and Life, Stories of Meaningful Challenges
For this Academic Festival, the Department of Consumer Science, Child Development & Family Studies, and Food & Nutrition each prepared symposiums. The event featured presentations of research conducted through the collaboration of more than 10 undergraduate students, showcasing their proactive exploration of interesting topics and united efforts. The first symposium, held by the Department of Consumer Science, was held on October 12th (Thursday), under the theme of ‘Young Adults Living God-like, Buying God-like,’ in which they analytically examined the motives and context of the younger generation’s pursuit of ‘God-likeness (God-saeng).’ The second symposium on November 2nd (Thursday) was held by students from the Department of Food & Nutrition, in which they highlighted issues such as how people who follow special diets are ‘minorities’ and the rights to choose one’s diet through their presentation titled ‘Ensuring Everyone’s Right to Choose Their Diet, the First Step for an Inclusive Campus.’ Jeong-ah Kim, the team leader (Department of Food & Nutrition, '21), expressed, “listening to the voices of vegans and Muslims and sharing thoughts with them has been a significant learning experience,” and she pledged, “I will continue to study and strive harder to achieve diversity, equality, and inclusivity in campus meals.”
From the left: Department of Consumer Sciences Symposium Poster, Food & Nutrition Symposium Poster, On the spot photo of Consumer Science Symposium
The symposium for the Department of Child Development & Family Studies took place on November 1st (Wednesday) under the theme of ‘Repaying Kangaroos?: Perceptions and Willingness to Repay of Unmarried Adults Living with Parents.’ Students went beyond the traditional concept of ‘filial duty’ to redefine the ‘willingness to repay’ of adult children. Through both quantitative and qualitative research, the students examined various variables. The survey revealed statistically significant findings in terms of children's perception of benefits, parent-child relationship satisfaction, and emotional support from mothers. In-depth interviews further confirmed the complex interaction of additional factors in parent-children relationships. During the Q&A session, memories and lessons learned from the interview process were actively shared, and there was a discussion on the need for a deeper exploration of the meaning of the so-called ‘Kangaroo Tribe.’ Professor Kyung-min Kim, who led this symposium (Department of Child Development & Family Studies), praised the students for their excellent presentations, further advising, “I hope you can evenly convey what you have learned and felt throughout the research experience.” Hye-jun Park, the Department head of Child Development & Family Studies, expressed expectations for future symposiums, saying, “although it has now reached its 27th year, the event is becoming richer and I look forward to what the symposium will bring in the future.”
Left: Department of Child Development and Family Studies symposium poster,
Right: Professor Kyung-min Kim sharing encouraging words to students who just finished their presentation.
Meanwhile, two alumni leadership lectures emphasizing the intersection of academic theory and practical application were also organized. The first lecture, held on October 24th (Tuesday), featured Su-kyung Park, CEO of Duo Information Co., Ltd. (Department of Home Management, '84). After graduating from the undergraduate program, she pursued master’s and doctoral degrees in Consumer Science before entering the corporate sector. Under the theme of ‘Leadership that Grows Together through Communication, Collaboration, and Empathy,’ she shared her wisdom gathered from her experiences and urged students to become those who can give more than they receive. In the second lecture held on October 31st (Tuesday), Eun-jeong Lee, CEO of Line Plus Department of Fashion and Textiles, '90), visited her alma mater. Sharing insights on the ‘Attitude of Growth,’ she emphasized humble curiosity as a crucial foundation. She also noted, “it’s okay not to have grand dreams; believe that each moment contributes to the shaping of your life and do your best every day.” In response to a student’s question after the lecture, “Can anyone become a leader?” she offered words of encouragement, saying, “Organizational leaders definitely need innate energy, however I believe we can all be leaders of each our own lives.”
On the Spot Photos of the Lectures, Left: Alumni Su-kyung Park, Right: Alumni Eun-jeong Lee
Stepping forward with shining intellect and artistry
The heartfelt event of the College of Human Ecology members continued to flourish beyond the lecture hall. On the evening of October 11th (Wednesday), the 42nd department of Fashion and Textiles’ Fashion Show took place, filling the space in front of the main gate of Seoul National University with excited spectators. The theme of this year’s fashion show was ‘SEOUL,’ featuring nine stages exploring the countless experiences in various time and space dimensions of Seoul. Each stage depicted the individuality of young people, the vibrancy and challenges of the city, and the Korean beauty and passion. Some works attempted a profound reflection on social issues, portraying the haphazard development of Seoul or proposing sustainable materials. The audience marveled and cheered for the students’ outstanding artistic expressions.
Models on the runway at the Fashion Show of the Department of Fashion and Textiles
The event that adorned the grand finale of this year’s Academic Festival was the presentation of graduate student posters. Planned to share the diverse research activities of graduate students, the event aimed to help undergraduate students in making career choices as the next generation in academia. For the duration of 5 days, starting from October 30th (Monday), a total of 42 teams exhibited their latest research outcomes in the lobby of the College of Human Ecology building. An event of voting for the best poster was also conducted. The top poster was selected as ‘Priorities of the Development of Voice Recognition AI Services Reflecting Consumer Needs,’ presented by student Eun-sun Cho (Consumer Science, completed Ph.D. program) and 8 others. Two teams (Hyun-kyung Lee, Cha-hong Jung) received the Excellence Award, and three teams (Joo-hyun Gil, Hye-yong Shin, Young-ho Shim) received the Participation Award. Serving as a platform for in-depth exchange across various academic disciplines within the College of Human Ecology, the event provided a valuable learning opportunity for all participants and visitors.
Audience at the Fashion Show / the lobby of College of Human Ecology building where the poster exhibition was held
The ‘2023 College of Human Ecology Academic Festival,’ provided the opportunity to witness the excellent academic attitudes and achievements of the college members, as well as see their harmonious collaboration. Professor Yu-ri Lee, the dean of the College of Human Ecology (Department of Fashion and Textiles), explained, ‘recognizing the need for various face-to-face events after the pandemic, we organized this event to elevate the professionalism and pride of the members of the College of Human Ecology.’ She expressed sincere gratitude to the students, professors, and staff who participated with one heart and promised, ‘we will actively incorporate feedback and ensure that next year's event will be even richer.’
We hope that the journeys of those who deeply explore ways of a better life for humanity will continue to be filled with warm stories of growth.
Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=144622
Translated by
Jieun Oh (Department of English Language and Literature)