▲Source of the photo of student writer Lee Dong-hoon departing for the national land expedition:

Photo by Dong-hoon Lee

▲Source of the photo of student writer Lee Dong-hoon

completing the Seoul International Marathon with the Ulsan University flag

Photo by Dong-hoon Lee

    We always live our lives with challenges. Challenges often come with fear, but there are remarkable individuals who overcome these fears, confront failures, and try till the end.

    Today, I'd like to introduce one such remarkable person, a Ulsan University student who officially published a book in February 2024, both in the book cafe and via online. His name is Dong-hoon Lee.

▲Source of the photo interviewing student writer Lee Dong-hoon

photo by Jong-seok Noh

Q. Could you please introduce yourself first?

A. Hello, I'm Dong-hoon Lee, majoring in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, class of '18.

Q. You're actively involved as a lecturer and student author at Ulsan University. Could you give us an overview?

A. I've given lectures twice to Ulsan University students, once in the second semester of 2022 and once in the first semester of 2023. Currently, I'm the author of "Not Giving Up on My Life," a book written over 257 days.

▲Source of the photo of student writer Lee Dong-hoon promoting his own book

photo by Dong-hoon Lee

Q. Could you share the background and overview of your decision to write a book as a Ulsan University student?

A. Nowadays, the threshold for book publishing has lowered. Seizing this opportunity, I decided to challenge myself. The motivation behind writing the book stemmed from my experiences during my youth, which I wanted to share with teenagers, my juniors at Ulsan University, and myself in the past.

The book narrates my journey from the age of 20 to 23, tiding the fear of challenges and the insights earn through subsequent endeavors.

Q. Could you elaborate on your decision to become a lecturer for college students?

A. Due to my various activities in school, students requested lectures to motivate them. Hence, I began giving lectures to inspire students based on my experiences.

Q. What external activities have you primarily engaged in?

A. From the ages of 20 to 23, I primarily focused on academic studies and certifications as a means to secure employment. However, my perspective shifted afterward, leading me to participate in bodybuilding competitions, full-course marathons, a 15-day, 16-night national expedition from Seoul to Haenam, campus tours promoting Ulsan University nationwide, coaching courses by Dale Carnegie, and most recently, printing the book "Not Giving Up on My Life" as a Ulsan University student.

Q. Did you fund your nationwide campus tour yourself, or were you allocated funds by the state or university?

A. My monthly allowance was 400,000 won, of which I saved and allocated approximately 160,000 won for each campus tour as gifts and transportation expenses to promote Ulsan University at five representative schools.

Q. Have you engaged in promotional activities exclusive to university ambassadors, or have you explored other avenues? Would you be willing to collaborate with university ambassadors if given the opportunity?

A. I'm not affiliated with any student groups. I chose to challenge myself independently, fearing that involvement with groups might dilute my intentions. If the opportunity arises, I'd first consider understanding the perspectives of university ambassadors and aligning my intentions accordingly.

Q. Why do you want to promote Ulsan University globally?

A. Everyone has poor dreams, and mine is to showcase Ulsan University, a source of pride, to all nations.

Q. What motivated you to choose such challenging endeavors?

A. Although life is short, the desire to pursue what I want while young is precious. The notion of "let's try it without fear" has been my greatest driving force.

Q. What's the most memorable episode for you?

A. The expedition from Ulsan University, wearing a university banner on my backpack, stands out. Walking an average of 33 kilometers per day was physically demanding. What's more memorable are the acts of kindness from people along the way, such as the restaurant owner who refused payment for my meal, the grandfather who offered me porridge when I was hungry and in pain, and the grandmother who support me with food and shelter when I had nowhere to rest.

Q. What's the driving force behind your endeavors?

A. Although life is short at 26, I believe having something I want to do is invaluable. The thought of "let's try it out!" has been my greatest motivation.

Q. What's your vision for the future?

A. My vision comprises three aspects: first, reaching Everest mountain Base Camp to the Ulsan University banner; second, getting my book displayed in book cafes; third, if given the chance, meeting the university president to share my university experiences.

Q. Lastly, any message for Ulsan University students?

A. The future isn't type by what we've done in the past but by our current thoughts and aspirations. With time ahead, I hope we can focus on the present and pave our paths.  Ulsan University, go fighting!