Sahmyook University (President Kim, Il-mok) conferred honorary Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Science degrees to Senior Pastor Kim, Myung-Ho of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Jeong, Yong-Bok, CEO of Zion Metal at the “2022 Spring Year Graduation Ceremony” held at the 70th Anniversary Memorial Hall (Auditorium) on the campus on February 17th.

The Honorary Doctorate is the highest honorary degree awarded by Sahmyook University to those who have made extraordinary contributions to Korea’s academic and cultural development or who have significantly contributed to the university’s development and the improvement of human culture.

Pastor Kim, Myung-ho is a great individual of the Adventist Church who has lived as a pastor and a theologian all his life. After graduating from the Department of Theology at Sahmyook University in 1968, he began his ministry in Andong. He served as a professor of theology at Sahmyook University from 1973, and in 1980, he moved to the United States to pioneer a church at the planted a church at Karlin Church in Texas. Afterward, he continued to pastor in LA and retired in 2014. Even after retirement, he resumes residing in LA and continues his dedicated ministry, such as leading Bible lectures and meetings in Korea and the United States.

Pastor Kim has contributed to the development of theology through his writing activities containing outstanding ideas. He wrote over 50 books, starting with “The Story of Love” in 1974 and “The Gospel I Realized about the Book of Romans” in 2021.

His writings cover various areas such as eschatology, Daniel, Romans, the life of Christ, the Gospels, doctrinal studies, sanctuary, and salvation. Each writing shows the result of the author’s deep theological insight and religious speculation, not the traditional academic learning method. These writings gave Korean and American Adventists a profound realization and insight into Christianity’s truth and expanded their understanding of theology.

Jeong, Yong-bok CEO, is a representative of significant contributions to Sahmyook University. He runs Zion Metal, a business that extracts gold from waste or sludge (residue). Jeong started to donate large amounts of scholarships and development funds while his eldest son attended the university in 2007. Since then, he has steadily donated hundreds of millions of won to the university.

Jeong once said that producing gold closely resembles Sahmyook University’s slogan, Education that changes the people, the University that changes the world. “Waste that seems of little value comes into our factory and goes through a series of refining processes. When heated to 2500℃ in the crucible, it turns into gold,” he said. “I hope that Sahmyook University will also refine the hidden talents well and make them like gold.”

In March 2021, he was appointed public relations ambassador for Sahmyook University and conducted university promotional activities centered on the company’s clients. It is also actively participating in the expansion project of the ‘Sahmyook University Sponsorship House.’ There are also many contributions made to the local community. Based on his theory that “material gains obtained through business management are bestowed by heaven,” he is practicing the spirit of philanthropy by sponsoring many neighbors and citizens.