SOUTH KOREAN PIONEER GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS’ PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND DEDICATION TO EDUCATION

Abstract

Although not being educators, South Korean pioneer generation entrepreneurs have contributed to philosophies of education that are worth studying. This paper focuses on analyzing three representative cases: Chung Ju Yung, Park Tae Joon and Kim Woo Choong - the honorary chairman / former chairman and founder of Hyundai, POSCO and Daewoo. Some of them have made contributions to Vietnam - RoK relationship. Our research points out that emphasis on education is one of the most important values in the Korean cultural mind, integrated with Korean economic practices in its early stage as the background, from which Korean entrepreneurs summed up significant philosophies of education: “serving the nation through education”, “limited resources, limitless creativity”, “history belongs to those who dare to dream”, “thirst for learning, learning for success”... They have also dedicated to education by establishing renowned universities, launching non-profit organizations to support academic research and nurture talents, providing enormous inspirations to younger generations.