Sookmyung Women's University

Sookmyung Women’s University is Korea’s first national private women’s school. It was founded in 1906 during the latter stages of the Korean empire, one of the most difficult periods in the nation’s history. We have worked tirelessly to meet our motto ‘save our nation through women’s education’ and today, we boast over 100,000 alumni and 13,000 students and have grown to become Korea’s leading women’s university. Throughout its 112 year history, Sookmyung has accumulated invaluable educational experience, research capabilities, and community service experience. We plan to build on this tradition and become a global leader in women’s education. To achieve this mission, we will put forth every ounce of effort into the following.

Sookmyung was the first institution to brighten this country with the light of women's education.This light will now expand to a wider world.Realizing the imperative need for a learning institution for women created by the Korean people themselves, the Royal Family of King Go-Jong of the Joseon Dynasty founded Sookmyung on the vast grounds of Yong-Dong Palace in 1906. The fact that the very first Korean principal was appointed to this innovative institution under Japanese colonization holds important historical meanings in itself. To furnish the necessary fund to establish the school, the Royal Family bestowed Kyung-Sun Palace, and the son of King Go-Jong, Young Chin, granted the harvest coming from 6 districts (including Shin-chun, Eun-Yul, Wan-Do) from 3 Provinces (Hwang-Hae, South Cholla, and Kyunggi), so began the pioneering effort to erect a truly nationalistic learning ground for women without any external help. Sookmyung first opened its doors to five young women between the age of 11 and 26. Thirty-two years later, the nation was about to be embroiled in World War II. The intellectuals of the time who yearned for independence and the sovereignty of the people, recognized the paramount need to endow women with opportunities for learning. This recognition led to a nationwide fund-raising campaign for the foundation of Sookmyung Women's School in 1938. The predecessor of Sookmyung Women's University, Sookmyung Women's School, therefore opened a new chapter in the educational history of the nation, with a rich and unique legacy created by the Korean people and the last Royal Family.

Sookmyung will do its best to elicit passion from our faculty and students and lead them to voluntarily participate in a rapidly changing university environment. True participation comes by encouraging autonomy in Sookmyung’s women. This is an important factor in meeting Sookmyung’s mission of creating and applying intellectual assets.

Sookmyung will endeavor to expand its finances for the continuing development of the University. We will enhance transparency and efficiency of our financial operations and attract women’s education funding from international organizations. Sookmyung established the nation’s first Research Institute for Asian Women and the Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center (APWINC) and is currently receiving attention as a leading women’s education institution. This financial expansion aims to show Sookmyung’s level of class and grace, while helping students to realize their potential.

Sookmyung will continue to set up sisterhood relationships with prestigious universities around the world. We will reinforce cooperation with our sister schools and achieve internal stability and advancement in our international exchange programs. In addition to the students, professors will also take part in multilateral scholarly exchanges that will lead to Sookmyung becoming the ‘Global Best.’

As its name indicates, Sookmyung is a clear and bright university that has endless potential. University will become a place where our faculty and students respect humanity and achieve their dreams. University will grow to become a university where its members are happy. Universitywill become a university that values social justice. Finally,University will become a university that brings the world happiness.