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JNU conferred an honorary degree in Culture and Arts Management on Kang Woo-hyun, CEO of Jeju Tamnara Republic, at Nokdam Hall of the College of Pharmacy on March 27.

Dr. Kang Woo-hyun was born in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province, in 1953 and graduated from Hongik University Graduate School of Industrial Art. Beginning his career as the chairperson of the Korea Publishing Art Association in 1994, Kang has been actively involved in culture, art, and the environment, serving as the president of the Korea Ceramic Foundation, the director of the UNICEF Korea Committee, and a co-sponsor of the Environmental Movement Association.

In 2001, Kang took over as CEO of Namisum Island, which was on the brink of bankruptcy due to the impact of the IMF crisis. He introduced an environmentally friendly, art and culture-based storytelling concept by integrating various narratives on Namisum. This initiative led to the hosting of numerous international cultural events, resulting in a dramatic increase in tourist numbers from 270,000 to 3.3 million annually. Additionally, sales surged from KRW 2 billion to KRW 40 billion, making him the hero of the 'Namisum Success Story.'

Building on the success of Namisum Island, he established an imaginary country called the ‘Tamnara Republic’ in 2007, combining the natural resources and art culture unique to Jeju on a previously neglected site in Hallim-eup, Jeju.

Tamnara Republic opens its property free of charge once a month to Jeju residents in the spirit of Sunulum, a beautiful and cherished custom in Jeju. Furthermore, the ‘Sunulum Festival’ is held periodically to donate and share goods among residents, promoting coexistence in Jeju. This event allows visitors to Jeju to participate, conveying the image of ‘Generous Jeju.’

In October 2023, JNU signed a business agreement with the esteemed Tamnara Republic to develop and operate a joint education program aimed at supporting JNU students' field training, employment, and start-ups, as well as enhancing students' capabilities. Additionally, the two organizations have launched the ‘JNU Imagination Campus,’ which seeks to identify joint projects for the development of local communities. To this end, they are planning upcycling education activities and environmental ecology education.