Sungkonghoe University

Sungkonghoe University is a private university in Seoul, South Korea. It was originally founded in 1914 by the Anglican Communion and became a comprehensive university in 1994. It is one of the most progressive universities in South Korea with an academic mission dedicated to the promotion of human rights, democracy, and peace on the Korean peninsula. It is particularly respected in the research and education of social sciences.
In addition, it is the only university in Korea that has a theological graduate school that trains Anglican priests.

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Vision and Goals

Vision

A University of Human Rights and Peace

Educational Goals

Pursuing education that strengthens the roots
Building social solidarity by “sharing the rain together”
Creating spaces and cultures where values come alive

Desired Qualities of Graduates

Citizens committed to seeking alternatives and advancing solidarity and action based on the values of human rights, peace, ecology, and democracy

History

Origins (1914–1960)

St. Michael's Seminary was founded in 1914 laying the groundwork for what would become, in 1994, Sungkonghoe University. The current rector is the Rev. Kyoung Moon Kim, an Anglican priest and a theologian.

April 1914 - School opens under the name of St. Michael's Theological School in Ganghwa, Incheon.
May 1921 - Moves from Ganghwa to Incheon.
March 1940 - Political oppression results in forced closure of the Shrine by Japanese police.
April 1952 - School moves from Incheon to Cheongju.

Development (1961–1994)

September 1961 - Moves to Hangdong, Guro, Seoul.
March 1982 - reorganizes as Cheonsin Theological seminary.
March 1988 - Department of Social Welfare established.
February 1992 - Permission granted to raise status to Sungkonghoe Theological Seminary.

Expansion (1994–present)

The school has been an active member of CUAC since it joined in 1995. In 1999 it became a member of the Democracy Consortium of Universities with Sang-ji University and Han-shin University in 1999.

September 1994 - Name changed from Sungkonghoe Theological Seminary to Sungkonghoe University.
March 1996 - Department of Journalism and Broadcasting / Graduate School of Theology established
November 1999 - General Graduate School / Graduate School of Education established.
April 2000 - pro-democracy movement Library opened.
April 2003 - school fence removed.
October 2010 - Theological building construction complete.
April 2014 - Centennial ceremony / academic symposium held.
April 2019 - Dormitory ‘The Forest’ opened.
March 2022 - Establishment of new majors of Artificial intelligence and Applied big data
March 2024 - Reorganization of the Undergraduate System. Division of Global Studies established.

campus

Campus

Sungkonghoe University is located in Guro-gu, Seoul, covering approximately 39,000 m². The campus was relocated to its current site in 1956. It contains administrative buildings, lecture halls, libraries, dormitories, and chapels, as well as facilities for student services and research.

Convenience and Auxiliary Facilities

The campus includes a student cafeteria in Saechun-nyeon Hall, a 24-hour convenience store, a post office and stationery shop in Nanum Hall, and various student lounges and club rooms.

Dormitories

The university operates two main dormitories. Michael Dormitory provides communal kitchens and dining spaces, with separate facilities for male and female students. Happy Dormitory includes shared kitchens and dining areas in its basement.

Inclusive Facilities

In March 2022, Sungkonghoe University introduced Korea’s first on-campus gender-neutral restroom, called “Everyone’s Toilet,” designed with accessibility features such as voice assistance, automatic doors, and Braille signage.

External Evaluation

September 2003: The South Korean newspaper, JoongAng Ilbo, selected Sungkonghoe University for the upper ranks in all categories of Sociology in its National University Evaluation.

National Project Activities

February 2004: The Ministry of Information and Communication of South Korea selected Sungkonghoe University as a newly supported institution for its IT Department Curriculum Reorganization Support Project.
March 2005: Sungkonghoe University was selected for the Ministry of Information and Communication's IT Faculty Recruitment Support Project.

Academics

Undergraduate

With a liberal arts college model, students are free to choose their own majors once they enter the undergraduate program.

Division of Humanities

English Studies
Japanese Studies
Chinese Studies
Christian Culture Studies

Division of Business Administration

Business Administration

Division of Social Sciences

Sociology
Political Science and International Relations
Economics
Social Welfare

Division of Media&Contents

Media&Journalism
Digital Contents
Video Contents

Division of Future convergence

Artificial Intelligence
Applied Big Data

Division of Convergent Computer Science

Computer Science

Division of Global Studies

Global Media Art Management
Global Digital Management

Postgraduate

Graduate School of Social Sciences
Graduate School of Theology
Graduate School of Education
Graduate School of Social Welfare
Graduate School of Peace and Civil society
Graduate School of Culture and Communications
Graduate School of Social and Solidarity Economy
Graduate School of MA in Inter-Asia NGO Studies

Research Centers

Institute for East Asian Studies
Democracy and Social Movements Institute
Research Center for Social Enterprise

International Exchange

This university has established exchange agreements with various overseas institutions and operates student exchange as well as joint research programs. The main partner universities include the following.

Rikkyo University, 일본
Pädagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg, 독일
Mondragon University, 스페인
Ocean University of China, 중국
University of Malaya, 말레이시아
Okinawa University, 일본
Toyama University of International Studies, 일본
Shih Hsin University, 대만
LeTourneau University, 미국

In addition, the university operates student exchange and academic cooperation programs with various institutions across Asia, Europe, and the Americas

Student Activity

Students' News

Sungkonghoe University Media center

It is a university press organization that quickly conveys the news occurring in the school and reports the problems in the school in depth from a critical perspective. It is an official press organization in the school that publishes and distributes Sungkonghoe university newspaper.

Students' Clubs

For all students, Clubs are operating autonomously by students. They have many kinds of clubs for them.
Although the recruitment period is different each club. However in general, they recruit members at the beginning of the semester.

꾼
아침햇살
탈
BIS
ELPIS
C.O.L
M.R.C
FC SKHU
SKHUbile
CCC
FLOW
Puzzle
IVF
S.owl
콕
ROOT
어흥
SKHU Turtles
화랑
언어와의 작별

Notable people

Mohiuddin Ahmad, writer and researcher, taught at the university.
Lee Ji-hye, singer, alumna of the Department of Social Welfare
Eom Ji-yun, YouTuber and actress, alumna of the Department of Business Administration and Digital Contents

Notable Events

Implementation of the first "Restroom for All" on a Korean university campus
In 2024, Sungkonghoe University successfully passed all five evaluation domains — institutional mission and management, curriculum and teaching, faculty and staff, student support and facilities, and performance and social accountability — in the Institutional Accreditation conducted by the Korean University Accreditation Institute. The certification was formally conferred on December 19, 2024, and is valid for five years.