It was the biggest 2016 alumni gathering outside the United States.

Last October, more than 250 BU alums and friends from 15 countries gathered in Seoul, South Korea, to renew friendships and connections and reaffirm their mutual interest in the University. Thanks to the planning of the BU Alumni Association of Korea (BUAAK), led by Young-Chun Cho (Questrom’80,’86), the event celebrated 10 years of active collaboration among alumni in the region. The festival is held every other year, alternating with the Asian Business Forum.

Guests included President Robert A. Brown and members of BU’s International Advisory Board and of the International Questrom Dean’s Advisory Board. They joined alumni and friends at a gala dinner for 150 at Top Cloud restaurant, which overlooks Seoul from a height of 32 stories.

Paul Oen (Questrom’97) (from left), Lisa Lim (Questrom’11), Tatiana Lim (Questrom’15), and Brian Chuang (Questrom’04) at the Asian Alumni Festival.

The centerpiece of the event was the daylong festival, held on Gavit Island in the Han River. A series of presentations and cultural and social activities focused on BU’s strong presence in Asia, highlighting the many accomplishments and growing influence of alumni throughout the continent.

Those attending also celebrated the news that 64 BUAAK members have joined to make a gift to support the transformation of the BU Castle into the Dahod Family Alumni Center; the restored gallery of the center will be named in the group’s honor.

BU extended special thanks to Cho and to members of his festival planning team: Jed Barron (Questrom’96), Sang Gi Byeon (CAS’01), Jisung Chun (Questrom’06), Jung Woo Park (SHA’15), and Sungho Yoo (Questrom’99).