Ji-young Gong, author of the best-selling novel The Crucible, gave a lecture at KAIST’s Information and Electronics Building on March 7. During the lecture, which was titled “Etiquette Towards Humanity,” she spoke about the essence of human nature and the social responsibility of KAIST students. The lecture was the fifth of the 2012 Spring Semester Key Seminar series held by the Department of Electrical Engineering. 

In her lecture, which attracted about 350 students ranging from freshmen to graduate students who filled the whole venue, Mrs. Gong mainly explained why we should have sympathy for mankind. She said that the ability to sympathize has been critical to the survival of humanity and that we empathize more with those we have social connections to. She also criticized Korea’s education system for widening the gap between social classes.

Mrs. Gong also emphasized the importance of KAIST students’ participation in political activities. She insisted that only on the foundation of good politics is it possible for individuals living in our country to follow their own dreams.

Mrs. Gong is one of the nation’s most popular female writers, having had a great influence on Korean literature since the 1980’s. Her writings focus on issues surrounding social minorities such as the poor, the disabled, women and laborers. Her novel The Crucible, which is based on a true story, is about the serial raping of students by the teachers at a school for the hearing-impaired. When the movie came out, it triggered huge controversy and brought about the legislation of laws for the rights of the handicapped.

The 2012 Spring Semester Key Seminars is a series of lectures organized by the Department of Electrical Engineering. It is a one-credit seminar course open to undergraduate and graduate students of the department, but all KAIST students can attend the lectures if they wish to. With the exception of examination and student festival weeks, a total of 12 lectures will take place every Wednesday at 4:00 P.M. at the Information and Electronics Building. Lecturers will be of various professions, such as writers, mountaineers, professors, CEOs and research institute directors.