As a part of Korea Remixed, a campus-wide initiative to have a good time Korean tradition, this spring the IU Archives is recognizing the earliest Korean College Students to develop into Hoosiers! Through a sequence of weblog posts and an upcoming poster within the Wells Library Foyer, you’ll get a peek into the lives of 4 IU alumni from Korea whereas on the Bloomington campus and the methods they excelled afterwards.

Whether or not you’re a fan of Ok-pop, Kimchi, or their intensive skincare routines, there’s a lot to like and recognize about Korean tradition. Respecting your elders and authority, caring deeply for household, and dealing collectively to advance their nation are all core values in Korea. Even as much as current years, it was not unusual that youthful generations needed to depart their household behind in Korea to pursue higher academic alternatives with a purpose to create a greater life for his or her household. Whereas many later return to their homeland, some go on to develop into residents of the US and stay right here for the remainder of their lives. Acknowledging the hardships and perseverance every of the next early IU College students from Korean went by way of within the pursuit of upper schooling brings a brand new perspective on the numerous completely different paths to excellence.

Eung Tyun Cho (Pyeng Yang, Korea) (PhD in Physics, 1928)

Earlier than coming to the US, Eung Tyun Cho, born circa 1897, attended a Korean Presbyterian Mission Faculty adopted by a Presbyterian Boys’ Academy for his secondary schooling. As a younger grownup, he attended Union Christian School the place he acquired his bachelor’s diploma. Upon commencement, Cho returned to Mission Excessive Faculty as a math instructor to show younger college students very similar to his youthful self, ultimately working his approach as much as develop into superintendent of the highschool. Regardless of his accomplishments, Cho felt the necessity to achieve extra schooling to raised serve his residence nation, so he selected to go away his household at his father’s residence in order that he might journey to the US – and Indiana – in 1922. As soon as within the Hoosier state, Cho enrolled in Tri-State School in Angola, the place he earned a BS in civil engineering earlier than persevering with on to Purdue College to earn his MS in physics. (Indianapolis Star, 1928).

Eung Tyun Cho entered Indiana College in 1925 in pursuit of his PhD and some years later was made a member of Sigma Xi, an honorary science group (Indianapolis Star, 1928). To help himself financially throughout his pupil years, he did home tasks, mowed lawns, janitorial work, and different odd jobs he might discover (1930 Census for Bloomington, Indiana). Cho specialised in analysis about radio and TV, finishing his dissertation on the subject “A research of three-electrode vacuum tube oscillator: circumstances for optimum present ”. Along with his technological analysis, he printed works on language studying, one being Spoken English, a handbook for Korean academics of spoken English and for college students who had been studying the English language (Indianapolis Star, 1928).

After finishing his research at IU, Cho wished to return to Korea with a purpose to be a scientific educator to younger college students like himself. On the time Cho was one in all solely 12 males in Korea to have a PhD! Even along with his spectacular credentials, some Korean authorities frowned upon his work, calling it a “waste of time”, which stored him from his dream of educating. His analysis and science experiments lacked funding, so he needed to give them up. He remarked, “I’m a person with out a nation” (The Bedford Sunday Star, 1936).

Taking a break from his academic and scientific pursuits, Cho served three years as chief of police communications through the US Army Authorities interval after Korea was liberated from the Japanese in 1945. He then served eight years within the Korean Military, 4 as chief sign officer. He later was appointed as vice minister of the Korean Ministry of Communications (The Each day File, 1954). Earlier than, throughout, and after his profession, Cho participated in church communities in addition to the YMCA in America and Korea.

And, lastly for a satisfying conclusion. In 1964, Eung Tyun Cho turned the brand new president of Tongkuk Engineering School in Seoul, Korea. After many years of perseverance, he turned an educator, whereas on the similar time reuniting completely along with his spouse and youngsters (The Indianapolis Information, 1964).

**This weblog put up is the primary in a two-part sequence. The following installment will options three extra alumni from Korea. Pongsoon Lee, Chonghan Kim, and Thomas Kunhyuk Kim.