Jongpil Won still wears Spartan green nearly every single day 30 years after leaving East Lansing. While his affinity for Michigan State is strong, green also happens to be the official color of Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea, where Won became the university’s 22nd president last fall.

Born and raised in Seoul, Won also is an alumnus of Konkuk, having earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering. He then went on to earn a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia. It was there that he discovered MSU.

“I asked my professors and the Ph.D. students in my area, and they recommended MSU. They referred me to a well-known faculty member there, so I contacted him,” said Won.

“I was particularly impressed by his work, and that played a crucial role in my decision.”

Like many graduate students, Won recalls much of his time was devoted to studying, describing his years living in Spartan Village as “the most academically challenging, yet rewarding time of [his] life.”

Often, the days felt long, blending together—day-in and day-out between his family’s apartment to the Engineering Building to the Main Library and then back to the apartment to be greeted by his wife, toddler and newborn who was born at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital. However, there were moments of reprieve when he’d take breaks to play in the snow —build snowmen and have snowball fights with friends and family—visit Frankenmuth, explore the Upper Peninsula or even enjoy a quiet afternoon along the Red Cedar.

When Won and his family returned to Korea after his graduation, he worked for Samsung for two years until he was appointed as a professor at Konkuk University in 1997.

“My ultimate goal had always been to become a professor. After gaining valuable industry experience, I transitioned back to academia to pursue my passion for teaching and research,” he said.

Returning to his alma mater gave Won a unique perspective.

“Being an alumnus of the university gives me a deeper connection with the students. I understand their concerns and aspirations on a personal level, which allows me to engage with them more meaningfully,” said Won.

“The biggest challenge is the sense of responsibility that comes with the role—I feel an even greater obligation to ensure that the students receive the best possible education and opportunities. Their expectations are high, and I strive to meet them.”

When Won was named president of the Korean Spartans Alumni Association earlier this year, he knew bringing the two universities together was a logical next step.

“Both institutions emphasize international exchange programs, research opportunities and creating an enriching environment. I want to establish student and faculty exchanges between MSU and Konkuk, especially in veterinary medicine, biological sciences and engineering, as well as research partnerships in other areas of study,” Won said.

Won invited Spartans from across the globe to Konkuk’s campus for an extraordinary international reunion, which was held May 16-18. The Global Spartan Reunion weekend in Seoul brought generations of Spartans together for the first international reunion in more than seven years.

The visit preceding the weekend’s festivities also marked the birth of important academic partnerships and student exchange through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony by President Won and President Kevin Guskiewicz, Michigan State’s 22nd president.

“May the connections made during this reunion become seeds for more meaningful exchanges and collaboration, growing into even greater stories in the years to come,” said Won.”

“Apart from my role as an alumni representative, I take great pride—as president of Konkuk University—in the fact that our university has begun a new chapter with Michigan State. This occasion allowed us to showcase the excellence of Konkuk University and its potential to expand its reach globally.”