Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) invited Sung JongSang, Dean of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, to speak at the 662nd Thursday Special Lecture held on the afternoon of Thursday, April 9, in the Academic Conference Hall. On this day, Professor Sung JongSang delivered a lecture titled “[Outside + Everyday Life] Is the Answer – Creating Healthy and Happy Cities with Green Spaces.” Focusing on the relationship between the urban environment and humans, he explained the impact of “outdoor” spaces in everyday life on individual happiness and the formation of social relationships, citing various examples.

Professor Sung emphasized that gardens should be viewed not merely as landscape elements, but as “channels and catalysts” that connect people. Citing the example of how the White House gardens provide children with new experiences and opportunities to form relationships, he explained that space is not an end in itself, but can serve as a medium that facilitates human encounters and growth. He added that it is time to reevaluate the utility of apartment landscaping beyond mere aesthetics, shifting toward enhancing communication among residents and improving their quality of life.

Professor Sung also explained differences in the use of urban spaces by citing international examples, noting that while citizens in Chinese parks freely gather to enjoy dance and music and form relationships, such activities in Korean society tend to be restricted due to regulations and public complaints. In particular, he pointed out that while the internet and cell phones are rapidly eroding face-to-face relationships, our cities are also transforming into “disconnected spaces.” He explained that excessive physical barriers, such as retaining walls and fences, reinforce the disconnection between people and nature, as well as between people themselves, which can ultimately lead to social isolation and reduced happiness. He then mentioned the reality that there is a lack of “outdoor” spaces freely accessible to all generations, including children and adolescents, and that even those spaces are becoming fee-based, emphasizing the need for public spaces that anyone can easily access in their daily lives.

Finally, Professor Sung emphasized that “the most important factor determining happiness is relationships,” stating that creating an environment conducive to forming relationships is a crucial role of the city. He also noted that in an era of information and knowledge overload, we must eliminate the unnecessary and find balance in life through experiences with people, nature, and the “outdoors” in our daily lives. He expressed his hope that Kookmin University would become a space where such changes are contemplated and put into practice.

As the first and longest-running regular lecture series at a Korean university to feature weekly guest speakers, Kookmin University’s Thursday Special Lectures have hosted approximately 670 speakers from various fields—including politics, society, science, and culture—over the past 30 years. Notable figures who have taken the podium include former President Roh Moo-hyun, Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, author Ryu Si-min, film director Park Chan-wook, National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark William Lippert.