A student of Seoul National University who died in a traffic accident while running to publicize Dokdo issues will be given an honorary diploma from the school.

Seoul National University said Monday that it would confer an honorary diploma to the late Kim Do-gun, who died four years ago at the age of 20 as a member of Dokdo Racers.

Dokdo Racers were a club of university students who succeeded Dokdo Riders. The previous group traveled around the world on motorcycles in 2006 to make Dokdo known to the world. Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islets under its effective control, are claimed by Japan under the name Takeshima.

Kim was hit from behind by a truck driven by a drunk driver on the shoulder of a national road in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, in February 2009. He was a sophomore majoring in shipbuilding engineering.

At that time, he was one of seven Dokdo Racers, who took turns each running 6 km from Seoul to Pohang, the port nearest Dokdo. The run was in protest of Japan’s designation of Takeshima Day.

Kim was killed while running as a substitute for a tired member about 30 km from their destination.

In 2010 after his death, the other six Dokdo Racers set out on a 300-day run round the world to further promote Korea’s Dokdo sovereignty. During their 17-country run across Europe, the Americas and Africa, they held seminars on Dokdo, performed traditional Korean percussion concerts and held taekwondo demonstrations. 

Kim’s parents donated 50 million won to each of his alma maters, Seoul National University and Masan Jungang High School, in their son’s honor in 2009.

Kim would have graduated this year if he had continued to attend the school, a Seoul National University official said.

His diploma will be conferred in the graduation ceremony of the university late next month.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)