Yonsei University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yonsei University

연세대학교
Motto	(Latin) "Cognoscetis Veritatem et Veritas Liberabit Vos" (John 8:32) (English) "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32) 진리가 너희를 자유케 하리라. (요한복음 8:32)
Type	Private
Established	1885
Academic affiliation	AALAU, ACUCA, AEARU, APRU
President	Dong-Sup Yoon
Academic staff	1,712 (2022)
Administrative staff	1,166 (2022)
Students	29,832 (2022)
Undergraduates	18,200 (2022)
Postgraduates	11,632 (2022)
Location	Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Sinchon Campus), Songdo, Incheon (International Campus) , South Korea
Campus	Urban
Colours	Royal blue
Sporting affiliations	U-League
Mascot	Eagle
Korean name
Hangul	연세대학교
Hanja	延世大學校
Revised Romanization	Yeonse Daehakgyo
McCune–Reischauer	Yŏnse Taehakkyo

Chejungwon (Gwanghyewon) inside Yonsei University campus, restored to its current form in the 1980s

Yonsei University (Hangul: 연세대학교; Hanja: 延世大學校) is a Christian private university located in Seoul, South Korea. It is known as one of the top universities in the country. Yonsei is part of the "SKY" universities, which are the three most famous and competitive universities in South Korea.

The university was created in January 1957. It was formed by joining two older institutions: Yonhi College and Severance Union Medical College. These two schools had been working together since the 1920s. They were among the first modern schools in Korea. Yonhi College started as Chosun Christian College in March 1915. Severance began as Gwanghyewon (House of Extended Grace), Korea's first modern hospital, in April 1885. The name "Yonsei" comes from the first parts of these two names: "Yon" from Yonhi College and "Sei" from Severance Union Medical College.

Today, Yonsei University has many students, including undergraduate and graduate students. It also has many faculty members and staff. The university has its main campus in Seoul and offers programs in both Korean and English.

Discovering Yonsei University's Past

How It All Began (1885–1916)

The medical part of Yonsei University started on April 10, 1885. This was when Gwanghyewon, Korea's first modern hospital using Western medicine, was opened.

The hospital was founded by Horace Newton Allen, an American Protestant missionary. It was later renamed Chejungwon (House of Universal Helpfulness). In 1893, Oliver R. Avison, a Canadian, took over running Chejungwon. At first, the Korean government helped pay for the hospital. But by 1894, the government could no longer provide money. So, the church took full control.

In 1899, Avison met Louis Severance, a kind businessman from Ohio. Severance was so moved by the medical work in Korea that he paid for new hospital buildings. Because of his help, Chejungwon was renamed Severance Hospital.

Severance Hospital was mainly a hospital, but it also taught medicine. In 1886, it welcomed its first 16 medical students. By 1899, Chejungwon Medical School was recognized as a separate school. In 1913, the medical school was renamed Severance Union Medical College.

The other part of Yonsei University began as Chosun Christian College. It was founded on March 5, 1915, by another American missionary, Horace Grant Underwood. He became the first president. The college started with 60 students and 18 teachers.

Underwood passed away in 1916, and Avison became the new president.

Challenges During Wartime (1910s–1940s)

Statue of Underwood

In 1910, Japan took control of Korea. The Japanese government introduced strict rules for schools. These rules made it hard for private schools like Yonsei's founding colleges to operate. They had to get permission for everything, and classes often had to be in Japanese.

Severance Union College worked hard to follow these rules. It changed its courses and hired more qualified teachers. In 1917, it was recognized as a professional medical school. Later, in 1923, Severance got back its right to give medical licenses to its graduates without a special exam. This showed that Japan recognized the school's quality.

Oh Geung Seon became the first Korean president of Severance in 1934.

Chosun Christian College, which was renamed Yonhi College, also faced challenges. It was only recognized as a "professional school" in 1917, not a full college. The rules also limited what could be taught, like Korean history or the Bible. Despite this, Yonhi continued to teach Korean history and language whenever possible.

Underwood Hall, which houses administrative offices

In the late 1930s, Japan's policies became even stricter. They tried to make Koreans more like Japanese citizens. Schools were forced to teach Japanese history and language even more. Yonhi tried to resist, but eventually had to add Japanese studies to its courses. Financial support from the United States also became difficult to receive.

The Korean War's Impact (1946–1952)

After Korea gained freedom in 1945, Severance was approved as a college. Many medical staff from Severance helped other hospitals in Korea. When the Korean War began in 1950, Severance became a field hospital. The university had to move several times to escape the fighting.

The Severance campus in Seoul was badly damaged during the war. But the hospital and medical college returned to Seoul in 1952.

Yonhi University also reopened in 1946 and was recognized as a university. It helped train teachers, which Korea badly needed. In 1948, talks began about joining Yonhi and Severance.

The Korean War stopped all progress. The university closed, and many students joined the army. The North Korean military used the Yonhi campus as its headquarters, causing severe damage. Yonhi also had to move to Busan during the war. It returned to its campus in Seoul in the fall of 1953.

The Birth of Yonsei University (1957)

Finally, in 1957, Severance Medical College and Hospital and Yonhi University officially joined together. This created the Yonsei University we know today.

What Students Learn at Yonsei

Top Reputation

Yonsei is one of Korea's three "SKY" universities. These are the most respected universities in the country. The other two are Seoul National University and Korea University. Getting into a "SKY" university is very difficult and competitive. Many people believe that getting into one of these universities can greatly impact a person's future career and social standing.

Global Recognition

Yonsei University is highly ranked around the world. In 2025, it was ranked 56th in the QS World University Rankings. It was also ranked 1st among private universities in Asia in 2024. Yonsei is also recognized for its strong programs in subjects like Business, Economics, Social Sciences, and Psychology.

Academic Programs and Colleges

Yonsei University Radio Observatory, part of the Korean VLBI Network

Yonsei University offers a wide range of subjects for students. These are divided into different colleges and schools.

Undergraduate Programs

• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Commerce and Economics
• School of Business
• College of Science
• College of Engineering
• College of Life Science and Biotechnology
• College of Computing
• College of Theology
• College of Social Sciences
• College of Music
• College of Human Ecology
• College of Science in Education
• University College
• Underwood International College
• College of Medicine
• College of Dentistry
• College of Nursing
• College of Pharmacy
• Global Leaders College

Postgraduate Programs

• Graduate School (Sinchon/International Campuses)
• United Graduate School of Theology
• Graduate School of International Studies
• Graduate School of Information
• Graduate School of Communication and Arts
• Graduate School of Social Welfare
• Graduate School of Business Administration
• Graduate School of Education
• Graduate School of Public Administration
• Graduate School of Engineering
• Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication
• Graduate School of Law
• Graduate School of Human Environmental Sciences
• Graduate School of Economics
• Law School
• Graduate School of Health and Environment

Severance Hospital Divisions

• Severance Hospital (Sinchon)
• Gangnam Severance Hospital
• Yongin Severance Hospital
• Songdo Severance Hospital (under construction)

International Study Opportunities

• Yonsei International Summer School (YISS): This program runs from late June to early August. It started in 1985 and now welcomes over 2,000 students from more than 30 countries.
• Winter Abroad at Yonsei (WAY): This is a newer program, started in 2013. It's a 3-week program from late December to early January.
• Study Abroad at Yonsei: This program allows students from other countries to study at Yonsei for a semester or a full year.

University Life and Traditions

Symbols of Yonsei

The university's emblem has special meaning. The "ㅇ" and "ㅅ" shapes come from the Korean name "Yonsei." The circle "ㅇ" stands for a well-rounded person. The "ㅅ" shape shows the goal of achieving excellent knowledge. The emblem also features an open book for truth and a torch for freedom.

The university's mascot is an eagle, and its main color is royal blue.

Christian Values

Yonsei University was founded on Christian beliefs. Its goal is to create Christian leaders who value freedom and truth. The university's motto, "The truth will set you free," comes from the Bible. Yonsei is known as a "mission school" because it was started by Christian missionaries.

Students at Yonsei are required to attend weekly chapel services for four semesters to graduate. However, students do not need to be Christian to be admitted to the university.

Student Activities and Clubs

Yonsei University has over 100 student clubs. Here are a few examples:

• AFKN Listener's Club (ALC): This is a large club where Korean and international students meet. They do activities like acting in dramas together.
• Avenante: This is the university's only mixed choir. It includes students studying music and other subjects. They perform concerts twice a year.
• CogSci:In: This club studies cognitive science, which is about how the mind works.
• The Global Management Track (GMT): This club helps business students develop skills for global careers.
• International Yonsei Community (IYC): Founded in 1995, this club promotes cultural exchange among students from different backgrounds.
• Junior Scholar Club (JSC): This club helps students prepare for academic and research careers.
• The Yonsei Annals: This is the official English newspaper of Yonsei University. It's run by students and publishes a monthly magazine. Many alumni from this club have become journalists or politicians.
• Yonsei Financial Leaders (YFL): This is one of the oldest finance clubs at Yonsei. Many of its alumni now work in finance.

Sports and Rivalries

Yonsei University has strong sports teams, known as the "Eagles." They play in the Korea University Sports Federation (KUSF). Their teams include football (soccer), basketball, baseball, and ice hockey.

The Yonsei-Korea University Rivalry

Yonsei University has a famous sports rivalry with Korea University. Both universities claim to be the best private university in South Korea. Every year, they have special sports matches called KoYon Jeon or YonKo Jeon. The name changes depending on which university is hosting. These matches include soccer, baseball, basketball, rugby, and ice hockey.

Many students from both universities attend these events to cheer for their teams. Even famous alumni, like celebrities and professional athletes, often come to support their old schools. Before the big games, students gather for a joint cheering event to practice their cheers and show school spirit.

Yonsei has a good record in these games. For example, in 2017, Yonsei University won all five games against Korea University.

Exploring the Campuses

Yonsei University has two main campuses: the Sinchon Campus in Seoul and the International Campus in Songdo, Incheon. Since 2011, most new students at Yonsei live in dorms at the International Campus for their first year. They complete special programs there before moving to the Sinchon campus in Seoul for the rest of their studies.

Sinchon Campus

Yonsei's Sinchon Campus is about 250 acres and is located west of central Seoul. This campus is home to most of the university's academic departments. It has a mix of historic and modern buildings.

Yonsei International Campus (Songdo, Incheon)

The Yonsei International Campus is in Songdo, Incheon. It's a key part of the Songdo International Business District. The first phase of construction was finished in 2010, and more expansion began in 2011.

Besides hosting first-year students, the International Campus also offers many academic programs. These include undergraduate and graduate programs in technology, pharmacy, humanities, arts, and engineering.

The dormitories at the International Campus are divided into 12 "houses." Each house is named after an important person or place related to Yonsei's history. For example, Underwood House is named after the university's founder, and Yun Dong-Joo House is named after a famous poet and Yonsei alumnus.

Famous People Who Attended Yonsei

Business Leaders

• Koo Bon-moo: Former Chairman of LG Group
• Kim Woo-jung: Founder and CEO of Daewoo Group
• Baek Jong-won: CEO of The Born Group
• Suh Kyung-bae: Chairman of Taepyeongyang Corporation
• Lee Boo-jin: President of Hotel Shilla (part of Samsung Group)

Writers and Artists

• Yun Dong-ju: Famous Poet and activist for Korean independence
• Gi Hyeong-do: Poet
• Han Kang: Novelist, who won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for The Vegetarian
• Bong Joon-ho: Academy-award-winning director, known for Parasite
• Kim Yoo-jung: Novelist
• Choi In-ho: Writer
• Gong Ji-young: Novelist

Politicians and Public Servants

• Han Seung-soo: Former Prime Minister of South Korea and President of the United Nations General Assembly
• Kang Kyung-wha: Former Foreign Minister of South Korea

Academics and Scholars

• T. K. Seung: Philosopher at the University of Texas at Austin
• Jeong Han Kim: Mathematician, winner of the 1997 Fulkerson Prize
• Sung-Mo Kang: President of KAIST
• Marvin Chun: Dean of Yale College

Sports Stars

• Lee, Sung-gu: "Father of Korean basketball" and Olympian
• Huh Jung-moo: Former soccer player and coach for the Korean National team
• Jiyai Shin: Professional Golfer
• Chun Lee-kyung: Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Short Track Skating
• Choi Dong-won: Famous baseball pitcher
• Ryu So-yeon: Professional golfer, winner of the 2011 U.S. Women's Open
• Son Yeon-jae: First Korean rhythmic gymnast to win gold in the World Cup series
• Choi Min-jeong: South Korean short track speed skater, Olympic gold medalist
• Seo Jang Hoon: Basketball player
• Kim Min-jae: Soccer Defender for Bayern Munich
• Hwang Ui-jo: Footballer for Norwich City

Entertainment Figures

• Ahn Jae-wook: Actor
• Ahn Nae-sang: Actor
• Bae Chang-ho: Director
• Jun Hyun-moo: Popular television host
• Kim Dong-ryool: Singer-songwriter
• Luhan: Actor and singer
• Na Young-seok: Famous TV producer and director
• Park Jin-young: Singer, actor, producer, and founder of JYP Entertainment
• Yoon Jong-shin: Singer-songwriter and host

Images for kids

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  Statue of Underwood

• 

  Underwood Hall, which houses administrative offices

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  Lee Han Yeol Memorial

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  Yonsei University Radio Observatory, part of the Korean VLBI Network

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Yonsei para niños

• List of colleges and universities in South Korea
• Education in South Korea
• Korea University–Yonsei University rivalry