The Nam Family

Elder Sang-Yong Nam Recognized for His Philanthropy, March - May 2009

The Center for Korean Studies would like to congratulate Elder Sang-Yong Nam on three recent awards given for his outstanding community contributions and his unparalleled work and generosity for CKS. The first award was a "Distinguished Service Award" presented to him by the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor for conveying a true picture of "Service Above Self." The second award was an "Outstanding Alumni Award" from the Seoul National University Alumni Association in the U.S.A. Last March, he also received a "Certificate of Appreciation" at the Korean American Community of Metro Detroit for extraordinary service to the community and for being a founder of the Center for Korean Studies at the University of Michigan.

Elder Sang-Yong Nam, president and CEO of Nam Building Management Co. in Ann Arbor, has made it a lifelong mission to build recognition and respect for the history and culture of his homeland.

Most recently, Elder Sang-Yong Nam and his wife, Moon-Sook, dedicated a $200,000 bequest to build the Korean collections in the Asia Library. Also, last July in 2007, $2.3 million gift from Nam to the Center for Korean Studies, combined with $2 million in previous contributions, provides the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) with the resources to upgrade the Program from the current designation to the Center for Korean Studies.

Sons Andrew (BSME'88, MBA '95) and Anthony (BS '91) share their parents' educational vision. As president of the Korean Student Association, Anthony spearheaded a petition campaign that helped launch U-M's Korean Studies Program in 1995. Several years later, through the support of many people at the University and in the Ann Arbor and metro Detroit communities, the Korean Studies Program was established. Today it produces some of the finest scholarship on Korea in the nation.

"Because of the Nams' tremendous generosity, the CKS is positioned to move to the forefront of its field", said LSA dean Terrence J. McDonald. "Their gifts will enable us to recruit world class scholars, provide unparalleled learning opportunities, and fund innovative research that will contribute significantly to the depth and breadth of new scholarship on Korea. The Nams' gift will create a legacy for decades to come."

The Nams also support dozens of organizations in the United States, China, and Korea including: the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, the Korean-American Society of Greater Ann Arbor, the Korean Church of Ann Arbor, the Korean School of Ann Arbor, as well as the Architectural Institute of Korea, the Seoul National University, the Chung-Ang University, the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, and the Pyong-Yang University of Science and Technology in North Korea.

Nam gifts to U-M total $4.3 million for Korean Studies (August, 2007) by Gail Flynn

Nam's Bequest to Build Library Resources on Korea (April, 2008)

Elder Sang-Yong Nam (MCP CAUP '66) recently dedicated a $200,000 bequest to build the Korean collection in the Asia Library. For years Nam has been an enthusiastic advocate for improving UM resources and opportunities to learn about Korea, and this generous gift will benefit students and researchers for years to come. 

 

The Asia Library is the fourth largest library for East Asian Studies in North America, with nearly 800,000 volumes and about 2,000 serials.  The Korean collection in the Asia Library has grown substantially in recent years, and specializes in Korean unification, immigration, and the Korean auto industry, among many other fields of study.