Soonchunhyang University

Soonchunhyang University (SCH) is a private university in South Korea, founded in 1978. It is located in the city of Asan, South Chungcheong province, about 52 miles (88 km) southwest of Seoul. It was founded by Dr. Succ-Jo Suh in 1978 as a medical college with 80 students, but expanded to become a comprehensive university in 1980, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. In 2009, the university was ranked 31st among all South Korean universities in a comprehensive evaluation by the JoongAng Ilbo. It was also ranked 151st among Asia-Pacific universities by Chosun-QS Asia in 2010.

Officially founded as a medical college in 1978, Soonchunhyang University is now recognized as an excellent educational renovation institution of higher education. Undergraduate programs are offered through five colleges: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Graduate programs are offered through our three graduate schools: The Graduate School, The Graduate School of Education and The Graduate School of Industrial Information.

Located in a rural town on the central west coast of South Korea, Soonchunhyang University is surrounded by quaint mountains and is near historical cultural attractions. It also offers many study abroad programs as they are the only university in South Korea to hold a Global Village. This village allows native Korean students to live on campus with foreigners to help improve their cultural understanding of the West.

Soonchunhyang offers undergraduate programs through six colleges: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medical Science and Medicine. Graduate programs are offered through six graduate schools: the Graduate School, Graduate School of Industrial Information, Graduate School of Education, Graduate of Health Science, Graduate School of Public Administration, and Graduate School of Global Management.

The name ‘Soonchunhyang’ (순천향) means ‘the peaceful hometown complying with the will of heaven’. The university's founder, Dr. Succ-Jo Suh named the school to reflect his philosophy in medical practices that "heaven will cure diseases; doctors only help the curing process." The philosophy is also reflected in the school’s motto, "truth, service, performance." Modestly complying with truth of heaven, living together with neighbors and practicing service, as well as unwavering school spirit are core virtues the Soonchunhyang University community is expected to possess.

SCH has a reputation for particularly strong medicine and medical sciences departments, along with four teaching hospitals known for their advanced technological capacity in the bio-tech industry. The university strives to excel in both education and research, as evidenced by its receipt of the 'National Award for Educational Reform Excellence' granted by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (link to reference) for three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010).