Korea University (KU, ) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

research university A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are the most important sites at which knowledge production occurs, along with "intergenerational kno ...

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the

SKY universities SKY is an acronym used to refer to the three most prestigious universities in South Korea: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. The term is widely used in South Korea, both in media and by the universities themse ...

, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The student body consists of over 20,000

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-lev ...

students and over 10,000 graduate students. The university has 81 departments in 19 colleges and divisions, as well as 18 graduate schools. It has over 1,500 full-time faculty members with over 95% of them holding Ph.D. or equivalent qualification in their field. The Korea University Alumni Association consists of more than 280,000 university graduates. Korea University is a large

research institution A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often im ...

, notable in South Korean history for being the first educational institution to offer academic programs in Korea in various disciplines, such as

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

economics Economics () is the social science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and intera ...

and

journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...

. It is particularly well known for its

College of Law A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction. Law degrees Argentina In Argentina, ...

. Korea University also has auxiliary educational facilities such as the Institute of Foreign Language Studies, the Institute for Continuing Education, the Institute of International Education and the Center for Teaching and Learning. There are 115 research institutes, including the Battelle@KU Laboratory, the Ilmin International Relations Institute and the Center for Information Security Technologies.

History

Bosung College

Korea University was established on May 5, 1905, as Bosung College by Lee Yong-Ik, Treasurer of the Royal Household. The first College President was Hae-Uoung Shin. As an academic institution of nationalistic origin, it was regarded as a symbol of national pride during the colonial period (1910–1945). Shortly after Bosung College was established, the "Korea–Japan Protocol" was signed, and Lee Yong-Ik went into

exile Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...

to lead the resistance movement against Japan. His exile created financial hardship for the institution. The

financial crisis A financial crisis is any of a broad variety of situations in which some financial assets suddenly lose a large part of their nominal value. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many financial crises were associated with banking panics, and man ...

was overcome when Sohn Byong-Hee, a leader of Chundokyo, a nationalist, religious and

political movement A political movement is a collective attempt by a group of people to change government policy or social values. Political movements are usually in opposition to an element of the status quo, and are often associated with a certain ideology. Some t ...

at the time, took over the management of the institution. By 1929, the institution once again faced a serious financial crisis as a result of the worldwide

recession In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be triggered by various ...

. This was alleviated when

Kim Seong-su Kim Seong-su (김성수, 金性洙; October 11, 1891 – February 18, 1955) was a Korean educator, independence activist, journalist, entrepreneur, politician and calligrapher, and the second vice president of South Korea from 1951–19 ...

became the president of the college in 1932. At that time, Kim was managing Choong-Ang High School and the '' Dong-A Ilbo'', a daily newspaper.

Relocation

In 1934, the main building was completed on a 63,000-pyeong area of land located in

Anam-dong Anam-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Seongbuk-gu in Seoul, South Korea. Notable places * Korea University * Gaeunsa (개운사 開運寺) * Botasa (보타사 普陀寺) See also *Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is ...

. Construction of the library started in 1935 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of Bosung College, and was completed two years later. In July of the following year, a large athletic field, was added to the campus. In April 1944, the

Japanese colonial government The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent forma ...

forced Bosung College to change its name and placed it under the supervision of the Japanese authorities.

Modern era

Following independence in 1945, the status of Bosung College was elevated to that of a university comprising three colleges, Political Science and Law, Economics and Commerce, and Liberal Arts. Hyun Sang-Yun, the first president, initiated an expansion of the campus by purchasing forest and land. In June 1949, Korea University awarded its first bachelor's degrees and in September of the same year, the graduate school was established. Yu Chin-O, the fourth president, continued to expand Korea University with the establishment of the Division of Science within the college of Liberal Arts, as well as a fourth college, the college of Agriculture. In June 1961 the present Liberal Arts building (Seokwan) was completed. Various facilities were also completed such as the museum, the agriculture laboratory, the

greenhouse A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of Transparent ceramics, transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic condit ...

, and other buildings for student services. In the same year, an experimental farm of about 1,680,000 pyeong was added to the facilities. In addition, the Science and Engineering Departments were equipped with laboratories and instruments. In December 1963, the Graduate School of Business Administration, the first of its kind in Korea, was established. In October 1965, Yu Chin-O retired after fifteen years of service as the fourth president of Korea University and was succeeded by Lee Chong-Woo as the fifth president. After 1966, Korea University continued to expand with a gradual increase in the number of departments within the College of Science and Engineering and in the College of Agriculture. The Graduate School of Education was also founded. More facilities, including the new annex buildings, the General Education Building (Kyoyangkwan), and the

Mass Communication Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large segments of the population. It is usually understood for relating to various forms of media, as its technologies are used for the dissemination o ...

Building (Hongbokwan), were added. In October 1970, Kim Sang-Hyup, professor of political science, was appointed as the sixth president, succeeding Lee Chong-Woo who retired in September of that year. In December 1971, a major reorganization of Korea University took place: all Woosuk University colleges, including Medicine, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Law and Economics, Junior College of Allied Health Sciences, as well as Woosuk University Hospital, were completely integrated into Korea University. In June 1972, the Business Administration Building (Kyoyangkwan) was completed to accommodate the College of Commerce and the Graduate School of Business Administration. In December of the same year, the college of Education was established. In April 1975, President Kim Sang-Hyup was succeeded by Cha Rak-Hoon who became the seventh president. In December 1976, the College of Commerce was renamed the College of Business Administration. The Graduate School of Food and Agriculture was established in January of the following year. In December 1977, the College of Science and Engineering were separated into the College of Science and the College of Engineering. In addition, the new Central Library, the largest of its kind in

at that time, was opened in March 1978. In July 1983,

Medical School A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...

and

hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...

were expanded and reorganized into the Korea University

Medical Center Medical center or medical centre may refer to: Medical care * A collection of medical services on the same site, such as the services of a general practitioner, pharmacist, pathology, radiology, dentist etc. * Clinic * Hospital * Academic medic ...

, which then included four new hospitals: Haewha, Guro, Yeoju and Ansan. In September 1983, the Science Library opened as the center for science and technology research and was at that time the largest and most modern building on the campus. In June 2001, Korea University concluded a joint academic program with the University of British Columbia in Canada. The Korea University Lyceum was completed and SK Telecom made a significant contribution in the same month. In July, the Division of International Studies and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication were founded. In October, Korea University obtained ISO9001 authentication in all educational and administrative areas.

100th anniversary

In 2005, Korea University celebrated its Centennial Anniversary of Foundation Day, May 5. In March the College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology and the College of Life and Environmental Sciences were integrated into the College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology. At the same time, the

Junior College A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in su ...

of Health Sciences was abolished and merged into the new highly developed College of Health Sciences. Currently, Korea University is composed of sixteen colleges and divisions, as well as eighteen graduate schools and eleven auxiliary facilities, including libraries, a museum, and a press office for public relations.

Academics

Colleges and schools

Korea University's 59 academic departments and programs are organized into 17 colleges and schools:

Departments and Programs

Interdisciplinary Programs

Admissions selectivity

Admissions decisions are based on the applicants' high school transcripts and scores on the South Korean

College Scholastic Ability Test The College Scholastic Ability Test or CSAT ( ko, , ), also abbreviated Suneung ( ko, , ), is a standardized test which is recognized by South Korean universities. The Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) administers the annual ...

. For the freshman class entering in 2016, the overall admission rate was 5.13%.

Rankings and reputation

In 2021, the university was ranked 69th in the world. In 2016–17, the university was ranked 16th in Asia by QS World University Rankings. Also, in the 2014 QS World University Subject Rankings, the university's politics program, economics program, chemical engineering program and the communications program were all ranked within the top 50 in the world. In 2003, Korea University Law School students accounted for more than 15% of the nearly 900 people who passed the annual Korean bar examination. The business programs at Korea University obtained international certification by acquiring

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...

(AACSB) certifications in both undergraduate and graduate levels and

European Quality Improvement System The EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) is an international school accreditation system. It specializes in higher education institutions of management and business administration, run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD ...

(EQUIS) for the first time in South Korea, qualifying for two highly regarded certifications for business educational assessment. Accordingly, in 2007, the Ministry of Education, after assessing domestic MBA programs, named Korea University as having the MBA program in South Korea. In the 2015 Financial Times' EMBA Rankings, Korea University Business School's Executive MBA (E-MBA) program was ranked 27th in the world. From 2003 to 2006, Euh Yoon-Dae, the current Chairman of President's Council on National Branding, Steering Committee of Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), and the former (15th) President of Korea University, drastically changed the image of Korea University, a change symbolized by the adoption of red wine over the traditional rice wine. He doubled the publication requirements required for faculty promotion and raised the ratio of the classes taught in English to 35% of all courses taught. He also required that core liberal arts classes are taught by full-time faculty and required every student except those in the Colleges of Engineering, Law, and Medicine to do a double major. He also signed academic exchange agreements with 172 universities overseas, and dispatched 60% of administration staff to the world's top 100 universities for training. Korea University also expanded its international-level facilities. It built the Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall, Hwajung Gymnasium, Tiger Plaza, and Hana Square, and also expanded educational and cultural spaces.

International students

The overall number of international students about 4,000.Global KU - Frontier Spirit
. Korea.edu. Retrieved on 2010-10-19. Korea University offers English degree programs in the College of International Studies (CIS) and Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). International students can also apply toward other degree programs through the Office of International Affairs. However, the language of instruction is usually Korean.

Research institutes

* Battelle@KU Laboratory * Center for Information Security Technologies * IBS Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics -

Cho Minhaeng Cho Minhaeng is a South Korean scientist in researching physical chemistry, spectroscopy, and microscopy. He was director of the National Creative Research Initiative Center for Coherent Multidimensional Spectroscopy and is founding director of ...

, Choi Wonshik * Ilmin International Relations Institute * Institute of Biotechnology *

Korean Language and Culture Center Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The ...

Research Institute for Information and Communication Technology Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The ...

* Research Institute of Korean Studies

Campus

Seoul campus is divided into four subdivisions; Science and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Medicine and Life Sciences, and Jeongneung. It is located in the greater Seoul area that boasts a population of over 20 million. Within a five-minute walk from the campus are an array of restaurants, bars, shops, and even a famous Buddhist temple. It takes about 20 minutes from some buildings of main campus to some buildings of science or medical campus on foot. * Library System *

University Museum A university museum is a repository of collections run by a university, typically founded to aid teaching and research within the institution of higher learning. The Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford in England is an early example, o ...

- The first university museum in Korea, the museum contains over 100,000 pieces of data covering history, the study of antiquities, ethnology, and the arts. *

Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall The Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall was completed in commemoration of Korea University's centennial. It houses a digital library and a number of national treasure-level properties of the Korea University Museum. The building was completed on a si ...

- Completed in commemoration of KU's centennial, the building houses both a digital library and a number of national treasure-level cultural properties. *

LG-POSCO Hall Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities. The ...

- A new building for the Business School completed on a site of 14,122 m² with funds of KRW 25 billion donated by companies and schoolfellows. * Lyceum * Central Square * Hana Square *

CJ International House The CJ International House is a C-shaped dormitory for foreign professors and students at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. The building is organized into a residence hall and a conference hall. The Residence hall is equipped with study roo ...

- A dormitory for visiting scholars and foreign professors and exchange students. * Tiger Dome - A multi-purpose sports complex of 18,182 m², the gym was completed in 2006. With three floors above the ground and another three below. * Dongwon Hall * Korean Studies Hall - Established to teach the Korean language and promote Korean culture. * Chungsan-MK Culture Center - 6-story building opened in 2007 to encourage cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan and promote Japanese studies. * Ice Rink - Containing an Olympic-sized skating rink and the finest in facilities, the Ice Rink also functions as a training base for national athletes. * Media Hall - Building for students of the School of Media & Communication. Completed in August 2011 on a site of 11,663 m². Contains various media facilities and studios that enable students to create media outputs. * International Center for Converging Technology - Built in August 2008 with a total floor area of 7,665 m². Scientific technology research activities are supported by various facilities and equipment. * Green tract of land sports field - Established to play soccer or teach physical education.

Student activities

Clubs

* Social Science: Philosophy village, The Wagon Wheel, Saram Saneun Saesang, Study Group of Culture, Working People, KUCC, Economics Institute of Current Events, UNSA (UN Student's Association), Korean Modern History Research Association, Current Affairs & Economy Society, Korean Society Research Association, Korean Spirit Training, B&B * Exhibition and Creative Art: Institute of Arts Criticism, Our Literature Research Institute, KU Literature Association, Institute of Korean Painting Dolbit (KU Movie Critique Club), Geurim Madang (KU Cartoon Club), Keul mal literature Institute (KU poet's society), Hoyounghoi Jinbo Creative Literature Club, Seowha PAPCON * Social Studies: One, Two, Five (a campaign for the disabled), Red Cross Student's Association Rotarect (university federation public service club), Nadal Moeum (an agricultural club) Howoo Hwe (KU public service club), Eunwhawhe (a student association for night studies), Saebyok Kwangjang (a club for preserving the environment), KUSA * Art: Korea University Choir (former KU Glee Club), KU Nongak (Korean instrumental music of peasants), KU Orchestra We love Tal (Korean Traditional Mask), KU Wind Ensemble Noraeol Theater, Korean Classical Music Classic Guitar Club, Crimson, Korea University A cappella Group LoGS, KUDT (Korea University Dance Team), Geurootogi (an Acoustic Guitar Club), TTP, Bulas (Sports Dance), TERRA (hip hop) * Religion: Won-Buddhism Student's Association, Every Nation Mission (ENM), Jeung San Do, Student Christian Association, Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC), Korean Christian Students' Union, Christ's Ambassador Mission (CAM) University Mission, Buddhist Student's Association, Joy Mission, Catholic Student's Association, Student For Christ (SFC), IVF * Language Studies: Nid d'amis (French Club), Dongsuchoi, KU Research Institute on Korean and Japanese Culture, S.I. S TIME, KU China Research Institute, E.C.S (English Conversation Researching Society), LECA (English Conversation Club), A.L.C * Life Culture: Leisure and recreation Research Association, Youth Hostel (Travelling Club), Ho-Jin Hwe (theatre appreciation and critique club), Scout / Ho-Dong Hwe (a club made by Japanese Koreans), Paduk Sarang Meeting (a club for people who play Korean checkers) * Sports: Fencing Club, Amateur Soccer team, Skin Scuba Diving, Korea University Amateur Baseball Club, KU Archery Club, Swimming Tiger's Club, Badminton / Ping-pong Club, Soobakdo * Literary Art: Norae Madang, Talpae Hanaldarae, KU Folk Music Band, Yeol Gu Rim, ICCUS, TERRA, Sun Hyang Jae, Darkroom * Science and Technology: KULS, KUERA, Amateur Astronomer's Club (KUAAA), Amateur Radio Association (HAM), Intelligent Robot Club (KAsimov) * Others: Honong-hoe, The Morning Dew, Breaking The Cell, Buddhist Student Society, Sunlight Village, Youth & Future, Korea University Extreme Sports Club (KESC)

Traditions

* The Granite Tower Festival (Seoktap Daedongje) is an annual week of festivities usually held in May. Many celebrities are invited to perform throughout the week (around four celebrity performers every night) in the Minju-Gwangjang (민주광장) in front of Woodang Hall. The final day of celebration is called ''Ipselenti''. * April 18 Marathon (418 민주대장정) is a marathon honoring the students who were assaulted in the " April 18th Korea University student assault incident." 3,000 Korea University students gathered on April 18, 1960, in a peaceful demonstration against the rigged presidential election of

Syngman Rhee Syngman Rhee (, ; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965) was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Ko ...

on March 15, demanding rightful democracy. The government mobilized organized gangster groups to forcefully shut down this demonstration, injuring and incarcerating many. Korea University students take great pride in being one of the most active participants in Korean modern history, and the April 18 Marathon is one of the ways in which they honor their seniors who strived for a better future. * Ipselenti- Cry of "Ji Ya" (입실렌티- 지.야의 함성) is a cheering festival that is held by the Korea University Cheerleaders on the last and biggest night of Seoktap Daedongje (Granite Tower University Festival). Students gather in the Nokji Field (녹지운동장) and sing Korea University's cheering songs, dance along and enjoy. Some of the country's best-known singers are also invited to perform there; Blackpink, Twice, Psy, Be-Why, AKMU, Red Velvet, 2NE1 being some of them. "Ipselenti" is part of Korea University's slogan that is used since Bosung College, and "Ji" and "Ya" means jiseong and yaseong (wisdom and wildness). * Yonsei-Korea Friendship Games (see Athletics)

Athletics

Korea University is a member of the Korea University Sports Federation (KUSF) and its men's football/soccer, men's basketball, baseball and men's ice hockey teams participate in the KUSF

U-League The U-League, officially KUSF College Sports U-League (Korean: KUSF 대학스포츠 U-리그), is operated by the Korea University Sports Federation (KUSF), the organization which oversees college sports in South Korea. The KUSF U-League operates in ...

. It has a historic athletic rivalry with the nearby Yonsei University which dates back to the Japanese occupation era. Outside KUSF-sanctioned competitions, both institutions also compete in an annual "friendship games" across two days each fall in five team sports – football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey and rugby – a tradition dating back to the 1940s. Korea University's mascot and symbol is the tiger and its student-athletes are informally known as "Tigers".

Presidents

The following is a list of presidents of Korea University.

Medical center

With the opening as Kyoung-sung Women's Medical College in 1938, the university's college of medicine was later renamed and annexed as Seoul Women's Medical College in 1948. Then, in 1967, it was renamed as Woosuk College of Medicine. Finally, the medical school merged with Korea University in 1971, and was officially renamed as Korea University College of Medicine. In 1983, the

Korea University Medical Center The Korea University Medical Center (KUMC) is a collection of several hospitals, as well as the College of Medicine and College of Nursing associated with Korea University in Seoul, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Kore ...

(KUMC) was formed and its first director was inaugurated. Since then, KUMC has been performing the duties as a university hospital, such as education, research, patient care, and voluntary work in world-disaster areas as well as disadvantaged areas in

. Korea University Medical Center is a comprehensive medical institution that includes three hospitals (Anam, Guro, and Ansan), the College of Medicine, three graduate schools, ten laboratories, and several specialized centers. It also has acquired JCI certification, the second medical center in South Korea to do so.

University scholarships

Korea University offers scholarships, fellowships and awards under the auspices of the Korea University Foundation, established in 1905. Close to 245 institutional scholarships, totaling more than 11.5 billion won, are available to Korea University students. Almost 90 percent of the admitted international students are awarded Korea University Scholarships. Scholarships are established as either endowed or restricted, in accordance with the wishes of the donor. Scholarships are awarded to students based on criteria such as matriculation status, school and department affiliation, financial need, academic achievement,

grade point average Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...

and expected

graduation Graduation is the awarding of a diploma to a student by an educational institution. It may also refer to the ceremony that is associated with it. The date of the graduation ceremony is often called graduation day. The graduation ceremony is a ...

date.

Rivalry with Yonsei University

The rivalry between Korea University and Yonsei University, the country's top two private schools, regularly gains national attention. There is an annual fall sports festival between the two universities. Since 1956, the annual Korea–Yonsei University Friendship Games comprises five events every year:

Football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

Rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

, Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey. The history of the Yonsei–Korea rivalry: Yeonhee College, the forerunner of Yonsei University, and Boseong College, the forerunner of Korea University participated in the fifth Jeonbok . It was the confrontation between the soccer team of Boseong professional school and the soccer team of Yeonhee professional school in the semi-finals of the eighth Jeonbuk Soccer Contest held in Kyungsung Stadium in 1927. In 2012, out of the five sports, Korea University won three (baseball, basketball, soccer) and lost two (ice hockey, rugby). In 2014, out of the five sports, Korea University won all of them, the first time ever in history.

Notable people and alumni

In 2009, Korea University claimed approximately 280,000 living alumni. Among the notable alumni of Korea University are prominent lawyers, physicians, engineers, researchers, Olympic athletes, and others who have gained both national and world fame in their respective fields. Korea University has produced many famous politicians, including the tenth

President of the Republic of Korea The president of the Republic of Korea (), also known as the president of South Korea (often abbreviated to POTROK or POSK; ), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Korea. The president leads the State Council, and is ...

Lee Myung Bak Lee Myung-bak (; ; ; born 19 December 1941) is a South Korean businessman and politician who served as the 10th president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013. Before his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and the ma ...

, 20th Speaker of the Assembly ,

Chung Sye-kyun Chung Sye-kyun () is a South Korean politician who has served as Speaker of the National Assembly from 2016 to 2018 and Prime Minister of South Korea from 2020 to 2021. He was previously leader of the main opposition Democratic Party between 2 ...

, and the 34th Mayor of Seoul, Oh Se-hoon. Also, a recent survey of South Korea's Fortune 500 companies revealed that Korea University has produced the greatest number of CEOs of these Fortune 500 companies.

Disputes

On November 14, 2019, during 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, a number of local students at Hanyang University and Korea University were attacked and beaten up by international students from China. Posters prepared by the Korean students were also vandalized. The dispute spread to the internet, with some Korean students demanding the implicated international students to return to China.