Sungkonghoe University

Sungkonghoe University

성공회대학교
Former names	St. Michael Theological School
Motto	열림, 나눔, 섬김 [1]
Motto in English	Openness, Service, Sharing
Type	Private
Established	1914 - 04 - 30 (Saint Michael's Theological School) 1994 (reorganized as a comprehensive university)
Affiliation	Anglican
President	Kyoung Moon Kim
Administrative staff	287
Undergraduates	3,090
Postgraduates	447
Location	Guro , Seoul , South Korea
Campus	39,431 m2 (424,430 sq ft)
Website	www.skhu.ac.kr
Korean name
Hangul	성공회대학교
Hanja	聖公會大學校
RR	Seonggonghoe daehakgyo
MR	Sŏnggonghoe taehakkyo

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.

Vision and Goals

Vision

A University of Human Rights and Peace

Educational Goals

1. Pursuing education that strengthens the roots
2. Building social solidarity by “sharing the rain together” (standing together through shared hardships)
3. 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 (present location).
• March 1982 - reorganizes as Cheonsin Theological seminary (four-year course of studies).
• 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 (Colleges and Universities of Anglican Communion) 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(100th anniversary) 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

성공회대학교 캠퍼스 이미지

Campus

• Sungkonghoe University is located in Guro-gu, Seoul, covering approximately 39,000 m². The campus was relocated to its current site in 1956. ^[2] It contains administrative buildings, lecture halls, libraries, dormitories, and chapels, as well as facilities for student services and research. ^[3]

Convenience and Auxiliary Facilities

• The campus includes a student cafeteria (Cafeteria ECO) in Saechun-nyeon Hall, a 24-hour convenience store (Emart 24), a post office and stationery shop in Nanum Hall, and various student lounges and club rooms. ^[4]

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. ^[5]

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. ^[6]

External Evaluation

• September 2003: The South Korean newspaper, JoongAng Ilbo (중앙일보), 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 (MIC) 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. ^[7]

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

(Recruits Only International Students)

• 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 (MAINS)

Research Centers

• Institute for East Asian Studies (EAI)
• Democracy and Social Movements Institute (DaSM)
• 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. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

• 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 ^[11]
• 아침햇살 ^[12]
• 탈 ^[13]
• BIS ^[14]
• ELPIS ^[15]
• C.O.L ^[16]
• M.R.C ^[17]
• FC SKHU
• SKHUbile ^[18]
• CCC ^[19]
• FLOW ^[20]
• Puzzle ^[21]
• IVF
• S.owl
• 콕 ^[22]
• ROOT ^[23]
• 어흥 ^[24]
• SKHU Turtles
• 화랑 ^[25]
• 언어와의 작별 ^[26]

Notable people

• Mohiuddin Ahmad, writer and researcher, taught at the university. ^{[27] [28]}
• 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 ^[29]

In 2022, Sungkonghoe University became the first university in Korea to establish an on-campus “Restroom for All” (모두를 위한 화장실). These facilities were designed to be inclusive spaces accessible to transgender and non-binary individuals, people with disabilities, parents with children, elderly users, and others who may require more private or flexible restroom options.

• 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 (a subsidiary of the Korean Council for University Education). The certification was formally conferred on December 19, 2024, and is valid for five years. ^[30]

See also

• Anglican Church of Korea
• List of universities and colleges in South Korea
• Onsu station
• Rikkyo University
• Dormitory ^[31]

References

1. "교육이념" [The ideals of education]. Sungkonghoe University (in Korean). Retrieved March 18, 2014.
2. "Sungkonghoe University". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
3. "Campus Map". Sungkonghoe University.
4. "Convenience Facilities". Sungkonghoe University.
5. "Dormitory". Sungkonghoe University.
6. "Korea's first on-campus unisex toilet installed at Sungkonghoe University". The Korea Times. 2022-03-16.
7. "대학 구성, 2024학년도 입학생부터" [University composition, starting with 2024 students]. Sungkonghoe University (in Korean). Retrieved September 24, 2025.
8. "2026학년도 1학기 일본 파견 교환학생 선발 공고". Sungkonghoe University. 2025-08-27. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
9. "2026학년도 1학기 영어권 파견 교환학생 선발 공고". Sungkonghoe University. 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
10. "2025학년도 2학기 중화권 파견 교환학생 선발 공고". Sungkonghoe University. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
11. "성공회대 극예술연구회 꾼 공식계정" [kkun official account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
12. "성공회대 아침햇살" [SKHU morningsun instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
13. "성공회대학교 민속문화연구회 탈" [Tal instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
14. "성공회대 대중음악 밴드 동아리 BIS" [SKHU BIS instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
15. "성공회대 밴드 ELPIS" [SKHU ELPIS instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
16. "성공회대 락밴드 동아리 C.O.L" [SKHU rock band C.O.L instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
17. "성공회대 힙합 동아리 엠알크루" [SKHU M.R.Crew instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
18. "성공회대학교 스쿠빌레" [SKHU Orchestras SKHUbile instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
19. "성공회대 CCC" [SKHU M.R.Crew instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
20. "성공회대학교 농구동아리 FLOW" [SKHU Basketball club FLOW instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
21. "성공회대학교 문화기획동아리 퍼즐" [SKHU Puzzle instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
22. "성공회대 배드민턴 동아리 콕" [SKHU Badminton club instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
23. "성공회대 클라이밍 동아리 루트" [SKHU Climing club Root instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
24. "평통사 성공회대 모임 어흥" [SKHU uheung instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
25. "성공회대학교 댄스동아리 화랑" [SKHU Dance club Hwarang instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
26. "성공회대학교 영화비평동아리 언어와의 작별" [SKHU cinema_space24 instagram account]. Instagram (in Korean). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
27. 'আমার তথ্যগুলো তাদের বর্তমান নষ্ট করে দিচ্ছে'. BBC News (in Bengali). 30 August 2017.
28. Ahmad, Mohiuddin (14 March 2007). "Why should we pay back odious and illegitimate debts?". CADTM.
29. Jun, Ji-Hye (2021-05-27). "University in Seoul to build gender-neutral restroom". The Daily Chronicle.
30. "2024 Institutional Accreditation Results". Korean University Accreditation Institute. December 13, 2024.
31. "Sungkonghoe University Happy Dormitory".

External Links

• The Official website
• Comprehensive Information System
• Main Library of SKHU