The Global Researcher, blossoming from Sogang :

Dr. Li Yang on Re-engineering His Career and Life through Sogang’s Self-Entrepreneurship Spirit

By Sumin Lee (Class of ’14, Mathematics) and Seojeong Han (Class of ’23, Business), Sogang Old House

Sogang’s education has always grown from its “small but strong” DNA, grounded in depth, rigor, and excellence. At its core is the spirit of Self-Entrepreneurship—the will to carve one’s own path and lead one’s own life. In this issue, we feature Li Yang, an alumnus who embodies this spirit with distinction.

In 2023, while completing his doctoral studies in Chemistry, he became the inaugural recipient of the International Student Sogang Alumni Scholarship of Sogang Alumni Foundation, marking a new milestone for Sogang’s global community. He now serves as a Research Assistant Fellow at West Anhui University(皖西学院), advancing his field through both research and teaching.

His journey—from first discovering Sogang through a Korean drama to pursuing ambitious, cross-border research—speaks powerfully to the essence of Sogang’s Self-Entrepreneurship.

Li Yang, a Research Assistant Fellow at West Anhui University. (Photo courtesy of Alumnus Li Yang)

1. Hello, Dr. Li Yang. Thank you for joining us for this Sogang Old House interview. To begin, could you please introduce yourself to the Sogang community?

I am currently a Research Assistant Fellow at West Anhui University in my hometown, where I am dedicated to both scientific research and teaching. When the Sogang Alumni Foundation established the Sogang International Student Scholarship in 2023, I was selected as its inaugural recipient. With the foundation’s generous support, I was able to successfully complete my doctoral program at Sogang.

The Sogang Alumni Foundation launched its International Student Scholarship Program in 2023.

2. Studying abroad — and at Sogang, a university renowned for its academic rigor — must have been both challenging and rewarding. How did your experience at Sogang influence your research motivation or career direction? Please share some unforgettable experiences from your time at Sogang.

   My connection to Sogang University began in middle school, when I first learned of its esteemed reputation through a Korean drama. The university came into sharp focus during my master’s studies as I delved into the influential research of Professor Kang Min Ok, a scholar I greatly respected. My initial impression deepened when he visited my lab to give a lecture.

My decision was further shaped by Dr. Xinglong, a friend from my master’s program who joined Professor Ok’s group as a postdoc. He offered valuable insights into Sogang’s distinctive “small but elite” academic culture and its rigorous research environment. Ultimately, it was Professor Ok’s groundbreaking work on non-centrosymmetric materials that motivated me to apply. I officially began my doctoral studies in his group in March 2021.

Dr. Li Yang presenting at the 131st Korean Chemical Society Conference held in late April 2023. (Photo courtesy of Alumnus Li Yang)

3. The theme of this issue is “Self-Entrepreneurship” in Sogang, a quality often found among Sogang alumni. How do you personally define this concept in the context of your career? Research often involves moments of challenge and uncertainty — when you face such difficulties, how do you stay motivated and maintain your focus?

   In the context of my research career, I view ‘self-entrepreneurship’ as cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset within academia. This means transitioning from being a doctoral student who passively follows a predefined plan to becoming the principal investigator of my own intellectual journey. It requires identifying impactful scientific questions (opportunity recognition), strategically integrating limited resources and interdisciplinary knowledge (resource integration), and persistently exploring uncharted territory (pioneering spirit), often while leading a team.

When confronted with inevitable challenges and uncertainties, I rely on several principles.
First, I maintain an agile mindset. By breaking an ambitious goal into manageable steps, I can focus on solvable sub-problems. Each small victory provides vital momentum and sustains long-term motivation.
Second, I reframe failures as data. The goal is not to avoid failure but to learn efficiently from it. A well-designed experiment that produces a negative result is not a setback; it closes off an unproductive path and guides us more effectively toward the truth.
Finally, I leverage collective intelligence. Openly discussing obstacles with my students and colleagues consistently yields fresh perspectives. As the leader of my research ‘venture,’ fostering an environment where we can candidly examine failures and collaboratively seek solutions is essential to overcoming adversity.

4. How has your academic and research experience at Sogang helped shape your strengths as a Research Assistant Fellow at West Anhui University?

  My experience at Sogang played a decisive role in building my core competencies as an independent researcher. The greatest gift was the culture of intellectual autonomy. My professor never imposed a rigid experimental plan; rather, he encouraged me to pursue my own curiosity and offered crucial guidance only when necessary. This approach preserved my passion for exploration and, more importantly, compelled me to develop the ability to define my own research questions and chart the path to their answers.

This training was deliberately designed to cultivate independence — a foundation that supports my work today at West Anhui University. I am not simply executing projects; I am conceptualizing and leading them, a direct result of the trust and academic freedom I received at Sogang.

Based on the knowledge and values he gained at Sogang, Dr. Li Yang is now actively engaged in research and teaching at Xianhui University. (Photo courtesy of Alumnus Li Yang)

5. Competitiveness on the global stage requires strong personal discipline. What principles of self-management or self-leadership do you consider most important?

   On the global stage, sustained competitiveness depends on mastering both task management and self-leadership. My philosophy rests on three core principles.

First, Deep Work paired with Strategic Rest. I prioritize outcomes rather than mere activity. I protect long, uninterrupted periods for focused research, balanced by intentional rest, which I view as essential for cognitive renewal and creativity.

Second, Seeking Constructive Discomfort. I believe growth lies just beyond one’s comfort zone. I actively seek challenges and critical feedback that test my assumptions — a habit strengthened through interdisciplinary engagement at Sogang. This discomfort serves as a compass pointing toward learning opportunities and preventing intellectual stagnation.

Third, Cultivating Purposeful Networks. I reject the lone-genius myth. I intentionally invest time in collaboration, sharing early-stage work, and mentoring others. This network acts as a force multiplier, sharpening my ideas and amplifying my research impact.

6. It has been about a year since you left Sogang. Looking back, what do you consider the greatest takeaway from your time here? Beyond academic knowledge, how has Sogang’s educational philosophy influenced your daily life, choices, and approach to personal growth?

Dr. Li Yang completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry in February 2025. (Photo courtesy of Alumnus Li Yang)

   My time at Sogang offered immense knowledge, but its greatest legacy is the internal compass it gave me — a mindset shaped by two principles.

First, the courage to embrace the question. Sogang taught me that true progress begins not with answers but with better questions. This allowed me to view uncertainty not as a threat but as a realm of possibility, influencing my decision to pursue ambitious, exploratory research.

Second, a strong sense of intellectual ownership. By charting my own research path, I learned that I am the author of my own career and life. This sense of agency influences how I lead my team — by empowering students — and how I make personal decisions with confidence.

In essence, Sogang did not simply fill my mind; it reshaped the way I operate. It gave me the confidence to navigate complexity, the resilience to withstand setbacks, and the wisdom to build a life that feels authentically my own.

7. Many international students today continue to pursue their dreams in Korea with support from the Sogang Alumni Foundation’s scholarship program. What advice or encouragement would you like to offer these international students and graduate researchers?

   Seeing a new generation of international students pursue their dreams at Sogang truly warms my heart. Having taken a similar journey, I would like to share three pieces of advice I wish I had received.

First, be strategically curious. Beyond your core research, engage actively with the intellectual life around you. Attend seminars outside your field, meet peers from other departments, and explore Korea beyond the campus. These experiences are not distractions; they are assets for innovation and adaptability.

Second, build your support network intentionally. The Sogang community is a tremendous resource. Do not hesitate to seek guidance from professors, collaborate with peers, and connect with senior researchers. The relationships you build now will become a global network that supports you long after graduation.

Finally — and most importantly — embrace your journey. You will encounter moments of frustration. When they come, remember that struggle is not a sign of failure but evidence of growth. Trust the process, and take time occasionally to appreciate the remarkable experience of building your future.
 

You are not just students; you are future global leaders shaped by Sogang.

8. Finally, could you share a few closing thoughts on the theme of this issue — “Sogang’s Self-Entrepreneurship”? Please offer a message of encouragement to Sogang’s international students preparing for their careers, and to the members of the Sogang community who continue to support them.

   My journey at Sogang taught me that ‘self-entrepreneurship’ means becoming the architect of one’s own intellectual and professional life. The university provided the foundation — rigorous training, a culture of inquiry, and empowering trust — while we built the ‘self,’ learning to become resilient pioneers of our own growth.

To Sogang’s international students: carry this spirit with you. Your diverse background, combined with Sogang’s education, makes you creators of unique value, not merely job seekers. View challenges as raw materials from which to construct your own path.

To the Sogang community: your support serves as venture capital for the next generation of innovators. Thank you for sustaining this virtuous cycle of growth.

As one global family, let us continue to champion the courage to build, to lead, and to inspire. Be as proud of Sogang as Sogang is proud of you.

Dr. Li Yang’s reflections distill the essence of Sogang’s Self-Entrepreneurship: the courage to pursue profound questions, the discipline to direct one’s own intellectual course, and the capacity to transform adversity into advancement. His trajectory—rooted in autonomy and rigorous inquiry—demonstrates how self-directed scholarship can serve as a durable compass throughout one’s professional life. 

He has also embodied this philosophy through exemplary action. By recently endowing a scholarship for Sogang’s international students through the Sogang Alumni Foundation, he joined the University’s distinguished circle of alumni donors and reinforced the enduring tradition of “Sogang giving back.”

Ultimately, his story affirms a timeless truth: those who assume stewardship of their own path will not only realize their potential but also broaden the horizon of opportunity for those who follow.