"When I think of the people I am grateful for this year, Professor Park Su-mil is the first to come to mind."

One student remembers Professor Park Su-mil, a professor at the East Asian Culture Research Institute, in this way. From their inexperienced freshman days to the wandering period after entering graduate school, the student said he always led with a warm heart.

Specifically, when the student sent a letter reflecting on their actions and offering an apology, Professor Park offered words of empathy and comfort to help the student soothe themselves rather than being stuck in self-reproach. Pointing out that anyone can waver in hardships, he urged the student to let go of their guilt as much as they had reflected and to move forward again. These warm words to a disciple whose heart had grown small with self-blame demonstrate an educator's attitude of trying to understand the student's heart first. Students describe Professor Park as the mentor who best embodies the value of the ‘Love in Deed and Truth.’

From his undergraduate and graduate years at Hanyang to his return as a professor, Professor 퍼스타 토토 has continued his academic journey at Hanyang University for over 30 years.

What does Hanyang University mean to Professor Park? Having never left this place since college, he described Hanyang University as "the foundation of life where my academic identity was formed and where I grew." It is a place where moments of discovering new knowledge through discussions with disciples and juniors, and the process of broadening his perspective through exchanges with senior and junior professors, are all layered together. Professor Park emphasized, "Hanyang University remains an academic community where my past and present meet, and where senior and junior scholars and disciples grow together."

Professor Park said, "A good educator is not just someone who transmits knowledge to students, but someone who conveys humanity and a love for mankind so that they can become better people." He explained this in connection with the attitude of ‘Silhak’(Practical Learning) scholars he has studied. "Silhak scholars constantly agonized over what meaning scholarship had for human life and society," he added, "and today's educators should be the same."

He also emphasized that a good educator is someone who guides students on how to ask questions and how to cultivate various perspectives, rather than a professor who simply ‘injects’ correct answers. Professor Park said, "I think an educator is someone who lights up lamps so that students can find their own path."

Professor Park explained two principles he has repeatedly conveyed to students in his classes. First is to break prejudices and see the world with an open vision. He emphasized, "Truth will be visible only when you look at the world with a new perspective beyond conventional wisdom." Citing the anecdote of Yeonam Park Ji-won, who discovered theories to learn from the Qing Dynasty at a time when it was disregarded as ‘barbarian’ during the Joseon Dynasty, he said, "An open attitude is very important not only in scholarship but also in life." Second is to live with one hand for oneself and the other hand for helping others. He emphasized, "No matter how good the knowledge is, if you use it only for yourself, you are nothing more than a hypocritical intellectual. You must become a person who shares what you have learned with society."

Professor Park advised students to break away from the method of digging only into their majors and to acquire a consilient perspective by studying neighboring fields. He said, "Innovative ideas often come not from one's main field, but from neighboring fields." He explained that rather than approaching literature only as an academic subject, reading and expanding experiences in various fields such as history, philosophy, art, and science is the way to cultivate a true humanistic perspective.

Professor Park said he felt great reward when he received evaluations from students such as, "You gave me words that became a compass for life, not just knowledge." He stated, "There is no greater happiness than the fact that the words I delivered became a meaningful resonance in someone's life." He added that he feels the joy of being an educator when graduated disciples remember him after a long time and visit him to share greetings.

At the center of Professor Park’s research are Silhak scholars such as Park Ji-won, Jeong Yak-yong, Hong Dae-yong, and Lee Deok-mu. He has continued his research by focusing on their thoughts and spirit as the epitome of ‘scholarship connected to reality.’

He cited his exploration of ecological writing in the classics, focusing on the ecological spirit of Yeonam Park Ji-won, as one of his representative research achievements. Furthermore, through books such as First Steps into Jehol Diary, The Beauty of Yeonam’s Prose, and Yeonam, Viewed from the Boundary, he contributed to connecting the spirit of Yeonam’s prose and the value of the Jehol Diary with the public. He said, "I have worked to ensure that the classics are not scholarship trapped in an ivory tower, but living knowledge that breathes with the public."

Currently, Professor Park’s primary research subject is the Jehol Diary. He said, "While existing research focused on ideological and literary characteristics, I am exploring the way humans and space are portrayed and the spirit of writing in the Jehol Diary." He is also researching what meaning Yeonam’s literature and thoughts would have in the present era. He emphasized, "If there is Han Kang in the modern era, there is Yeonam in the classical era; I want to make this argument more persuasive." Recently, he has also been considering ways to make the Jehol Diary more accessible to the public through storytelling.

Professor Park described Yeonam Park Ji-won as "a special writer who is difficult to fully reveal even if you study him for a lifetime." Regarding the charm of Yeonam’s literature, he explained, "Even a single short story contains literature, history, politics, and economics as a whole. The more I research, the more possibilities for new interpretations open up and more questions arise." He expressed his ambition to establish Yeonam not just as a "classic to be researched," but as a global man of letters. Professor Park said, "I want to promote Yeonam as a great East Asian writer standing shoulder to shoulder with Shakespeare, Goethe, and Su Shi."

Professor Park defined literature as "discussions of the human path." He explained, "The subject matter of classical works is the past, but ultimately they aim to talk about humans. Therefore, I try to creatively reinterpret the awareness of problems in the works to fit the modern era." He also said, "To fully understand a human being and a work, one must cross the boundaries of various disciplines," and added, "I aim for an integrated scholarship that connects literature, history, philosophy, and psychology."

Lastly, Professor Park urged Hanyangians to live a life for the common good. He said, "In an era of fierce competition, I hope you discard the idea of only succeeding by yourself and embrace the idea that 'I succeed only when others succeed.'" Professor Park emphasized that he hopes students grow into people who know how to use their learned knowledge and abilities not only for themselves but also for society, and people who know how to care for the weak. He said, "I hope to be remembered not simply as a successful person, but as someone who lived a life beneficial to society."

He concluded by adding, "I sincerely hope that each and every person becomes a protagonist of change who makes this world better."