Soonchunhyang University


Soonchunhyang University is a private university in South Korea, founded in 1978. It is located in the city of Asan, South Chungcheong province, about 52 miles 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.

History and description

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’ 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 for three consecutive years.

Academics

Undergraduate Colleges

The School was established to educate students theoretical and application methods of scientific crime investigation. The graduate program focuses on the application of the physical, bio-medical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects. As of 2014 the Graduate School of Forensic Science established a Master's program in Digital Forensic Science.

Recent Developments

Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Development Center. In June 2009, Soonchunhyang University was awarded a grant of US$25 million over a five-year period by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to establish the SCH Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Development Center. This new center supports several of Soonchunhyang's major areas of study, including:

College of Medical Sciences

Shuttle Bus from Soonchunhyang Campus

Soonchunhyang University offers shuttle bus service for students who choose to commute. Shuttle buses run to and from Seoul and various cities in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.. Shuttle bus service to most points in Gyeonggi Province takes between 1-1.5 hours.

Local Bus Service from Asan City

Bus service from Asan City connects with cities across South Korea, including express service to major cities such as Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan and intercity bus service to smaller cities within South Korea.

Train Service

Korail operates rail service from Onyangoncheon Station and KTX high-speed rail service from CheonanAsan Station.

Subway Service

The Seoul Metro Subway Line 1 expanded in December, 2008 to include Soonchunhyang University and Asan City.

Subway Lending Library

Soonchunhyang maintains a lending library for the local public within Sinchang-Soonchunhyang University Station. Books and periodicals range from academic texts to novels to general interest periodicals. Those riding the Metro are encouraged to borrow reading materials from the library's bookshelves for their journey.

Environmentally friendly Subway Lecture Series

Soonchunhyang undertook an educational initiative for its students commuting to campus by subway in Fall 2010, offering lectures in three university courses by SCH professors. This series enables students to save time and is designed to encourage them to choose public transportation over driving to school. The car of the train where the lectures are held is equipped with four LCD monitors, a beam projector, speakers, and a wireless microphone for the professors.

University Hospitals

Soonchunhyang University owns and operates four teaching hospitals in South Korea. These are general hospitals offering services in several departments such as Pediatric Neurology, Psychology, and Cardiovascular Surgery
Hospital NameDate OpenedNumber of Beds
Soonchunhyang Hospital Seoul1974713
Soonchunhyang Hospital Gumi1979400
Soonchunhyang Hospital Cheonan1982746
Soonchunhyang Hospital Bucheon2001906

Global Network

Soonchunhyang University maintains formal educational partnerships with 88 post-secondary institutions worldwide. These partner institutions are found in the US, China, Finland, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand and several other countries.

Global Village

The Global Village on Soonchunhyang's campus is the place where local Korean and international students come together to live, eat, study, and learn outside of the formal classroom. As a concept, the Global Village is intended to bridge the formal educational and social needs of students participating in the Asian Studies, English Village, Chinese Village, and Japanese Village programs.

Facilities

As a physical space, the Global Village includes air-conditioned dormitory suites, a lounge, a cafeteria, and recreational facilities such as pool room, singing rooms, and a health club. The Global Lounge, located within the Global Village, is a common room equipped with a large-screen TV, sofa, high-speed wireless internet access, desktop PC terminals, and other living room furnishings. This area is designed to encourage students from all global programs to relax and socialize together.
The School for Global Education and Exchange also maintains a separate student lounge where students may keep up on global events through Korean and English cable television, English- and Korean-language print news media, and PC terminals equipped with high-speed internet access. The lounge maintains a printed resources center with information on student exchange programs worldwide. This room is also often used for student language exchange meetings, as well.

Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute at Soonchunhyang University was established on September 28, 2007 in affiliation with the Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China, with a mandate to promote Chinese language education and cultural learning through a variety of programs for both the university and local Asan communities. Programs include Chinese language education classes, Chinese youth camp, and cultural field trips to China. As of June 15, 2010, the Confucius Institute at Soonchunhyang University and the local government of Asan City began collaborating to offer special programs for Asan's youth through the Asan City Youth Education and Culture Center.
In 2008 and 2009, The Confucius Institute at Soonchunhyang University was rated first in Korea and third in the world for overall achievement by Confucius Institute headquarters.

Asian Studies

The Asian Studies Program is a special university program that brings students from several countries to Soonchunhyang for one-three semesters. The program includes approximately 50 courses conducted in English, such as Korean Studies, Asian culture classes, history, politics, economics, and Korean Language. Cultural field trips within South Korea, volunteer education programs, and global leadership programs are also part of this program. Visiting international students live on campus in the dormitories alongside local Korean students.

English, Chinese, and Japanese Village Programs

The English Village, Chinese Village, and Japanese Village programs complement the Asian Studies Program by aiming to focus on the global-oriented educational needs of Soonchunhyang's local Korean students. Students wishing to practice English, Chinese, or Japanese with native speakers live together with international students participating in the Asian Studies program and cooperate in language exchanges, group meetings, field trips, and other various events.

University Clubs

Hansori

Hansori is the band that performs ‘samulnori’, the genre of traditional percussion music in Korea. Playing Korean traditional instruments, you can learn Korean's unique rhythm, melody and the history hidden in the music. About 50 members practice every week for playing regular and temporary performance.

Byuk

Since 1981, the Byuk studies the play like play-acting, lighting, script etc. There are about 90 members in the club now. They have performed 2 regular plays a year, and casual play sometimes. Sometimes senior members provide financial support for undergraduate students.

Korean Traditional Percussion Group

Since 1985, the Korean Traditional Percussion Group has explored Korean musical traditions. Currently, there are 50 members to this club, including 34 undergraduate students. Throughout the school year, members participate in activities such as the orientation show, the welcoming party for new students, the annual summer and winter gatherings, and festival performances, in addition to semi-weekly practices.

Thu. G. (Hip-Hop Music Club)

The Thu.G club meets regularly to practice rapping and beat box skills. The name ‘Thu. G’ is an acronym for ‘The Highest under God’. This club has 127 members, participating in four main performances throughout the school year, including the Welcome Party for New Students, the annual field trip, and alumni events.

Sun C.A (Cheerleading Squad)

The Sun C.A Cheerleading Squad meets weekly to practice dances and movement for cheerleading. With 38 members, this group participates in activities like the freshmen orientation, welcome party for new students, annual summer and winter field trips, alumni events, and performances both on and off campus.

DENIS (Dance Circle)

DENIS practices street dance and always welcomes new members of varying skill, from beginner to advanced. Currently there are 91 members. Throughout the year, DENIS participates in activities such as annual summer and winter field trips, regular practices, alumni activities, and various festival performances.

CHORD

CHORD is one of Soonchunhyang's longest-standing clubs. Established in 1986, this club currently maintains 200 members, who regularly perform at events such as the annual regular and open concerts, mini concerts for new students, SCH Music Festival, and periodic field trips. This club won first place in the KBS TV Academic Music Festival in 1988, and took second place in the same festival in 1991.
In 2006, CHORD won first place in the Korean Amateur Music Festival.

M. Giuliani (Classical Guitar)

M. Giuliani, or Classical Guitar Circle, currently has 99 members, 40 of whom are undergraduate students. This club offers guitar lessons to its members and participates in mini concerts and regular concerts annually. This club was founded in 1990.

Soongumhoi (Geomdo Circle)

Soongumhoi is the campus fencing club, with 150 members. The group meets for weekly practice and accepts members of all skill levels. Annual activities include field trips, summer training, performing demonstrations at the welcoming party for new students, participating in fencing-related exchange programs with other universities, local competitions, and the annual winter trip.

Tae Kwon Do Circle

The Tae Kwon Do club was established in 1992 with 20 members, and has expanded to 60 members. This club meets for regular weekly practice and participates in national club competitions. Annual activities include the orientation performance for freshmen, festival performances, and inter-university practice meetings.

Calligraphy Group

The Calligraphy Group at Soonchunhyang was founded the same year as the university, in 1978. Currently, 38 members maintain membership in this club, participating in activities such as exhibitions, field trips, and regular meetings and practices. During regular meetings, members practice Korean-style calligraphy using special brushes, pens, and traditional papers. The group promotes this practice as a meditative activity.

Notable alumni