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Korea University

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Korea University (KU) is a prominent private research university located in Seoul, South Korea.

Korea University
Korea University

It holds a significant place in the nation's history as its first modern private university. The institution is named after Goryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom. Today, it is recognized as one of the three most prestigious universities in South Korea. This elite group is commonly referred to as the "SKY" universities. The university serves a large academic community, including over 20,000 undergraduate students and more than 10,000 graduate students.

The university's academic structure is quite vast and complex. It contains 81 different departments organized into 19 colleges and divisions. Students can pursue specialized studies in fields like liberal arts, social sciences, business, economics, and engineering. The institution also operates 22 graduate schools for advanced research. To support this learning, there are 11 auxiliary facilities on campus. These include various libraries, a museum, and a press office for public relations.

Aegineung Park in Science Campus of Korea University - panoramio
Aegineung Park in Science Campus of Korea University - panoramio

The university even maintains a satellite campus located in Sejong City.

The history of the school began on May 5, 1905.

Korea University 0a
Korea University 0a

It was originally established as Bosung College by Lee Yong-Ik, who was a prominent official of the Korean Empire. He founded the college under the banner "Education Saves the Country" using a royal grant from Emperor Gojong. The college first opened with two two-year programs: Law and Plutology. Shin Hae-yeong, a former counselor at the Ministry of Finance, served as the first president. At that time, classes were held in the former buildings of the National Russian Language School in Bak-dong.

As the years passed, the institution underwent several major changes. In 1907, the programs were extended to three years and renamed the Department of Law and the Department of Economy. By 1910, the name changed to Bosung University. During the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945, the school became a symbol of national pride. Financial challenges arose when Lee Yong-Ik went into exile to lead resistance movements. However, leadership from Chondogyo and later President Kim Seong-su helped the school survive.

Koreauniv
Koreauniv

In 1934, a main building was completed on a large 63,000-pyeong area of land in Anam-dong.

Following Korea's independence in 1945, the school reached a new level of status. In 1946, the institution was reorganized and officially renamed Korea University.

Korea University
Korea University

The university grew rapidly under presidents like Hyun Sang-Yun and Yu Chin-O. During the Korean War, classes were temporarily moved to Wondae-dong, Daegu, before returning to Seoul. By the mid-1950s, the student body had grown to over 3,300 people. The university also became a center for research, founding institutes like the Korean Institute for Translating Classics.

Korea University students have played a vital role in the country's political history.

4.19 혁명
4.19 혁명

On April 18, 1960, approximately 3,000 students organized a large-scale protest. They were protesting alleged electoral fraud during the March 1960 presidential election. The students marched to the National Assembly Building in Seoul to demand democratic reform. This event helped spark the April 19 Revolution, which led to the resignation of President Syngman Rhee. To honor this history, the university holds the 4.18 Marathon every year. A permanent monument stands in the university's main square to remember these students.

Beyond academics, the university has a very strong tradition in athletics. The collegiate teams are known as the KU Tigers.

KU Fall
KU Fall

They compete in the U-League, which is the collegiate athletic association of South Korea. The Tigers field teams in many sports, such as basketball, baseball, association football, ice hockey, American football, and rugby. Many of these sports clubs have roots dating back to the early 20th century. The university's athletic programs have won multiple national championships. This success makes the KU Tigers one of the most respected programs in college athletics.

Today, the university is a massive engine for professional success and research. It employs over 1,500 full-time faculty members. More than 95% of these faculty members hold a Ph.D. or an equivalent high-level qualification. The university has produced more than 350,000 graduates over its long history. Furthermore, the Korea University Alumni Association includes more than 280,000 members.

Valdis Dombrovskis & Kim Dong-one, 2023
Valdis Dombrovskis & Kim Dong-one, 2023

This large network of former students connects the university to many different professional fields around the world.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Western pavillion.jpg
Western pavillion.jpg
File:Koreauniv.jpg
Koreauniv.jpg
File:Korea University.jpg
Korea University.jpg
File:4.19 혁명.jpg
4.19 혁명.jpg
File:KU Fall.jpg
KU Fall.jpg
File:Clock tower of Korea University.jpg
Clock tower of Korea University.jpg
File:Valdis Dombrovskis & Kim Dong-one, 2023.jpg
Valdis Dombrovskis & Kim Dong-one, 2023.jpg
File:Korea University 0a.jpg
Korea University 0a.jpg
File:LG-POSCO Hall.jpg
LG-POSCO Hall.jpg
File:Aegineung Park in Science Campus of Korea University - panoramio.jpg
Aegineung Park in Science Campus of Korea...
File:2006고려대학교19.jpg
2006고려대학교19.jpg
File:The Granite Tower.jpg
The Granite Tower.jpg

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