Sogang University

Sogang University (SU, Hangul: 서강대학교 Hanja: 西江大學校, literally "West River University") is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. It was established in 1960 by the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus. Sogang is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in South Korea.

Sogang University (SU)
서강대학교
Latin: Universitatis Soganensis
Former name
Sogang College
(1960-1970)
MottoObedire Veritati (Latin)
Motto in English
Obey the Truth
TypePrivate Catholic Research Liberal Arts Coeducational Higher education institution
EstablishedApril 18, 1960
FounderFr. Theodore Geppert, SJ (Society of Jesus)
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
(Society of Jesus)
Academic affiliations
ACUCA AJCU-AP AACSB
ChairmanFr. Park Moon-soo, SJ
PresidentRev. Jong Gou Park, SJ
Academic staff
439 (Full-time)
741 (Part-time)
Administrative staff
183 (Full-time)
80 (Part-time)
Students15,111
Undergraduates11,199
Postgraduates3,912
Location
35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo, Seoul
,
South Korea
CampusUrban (53 acres)
ColorsCardinal   and   Silver
MascotAlbatross
Websitewwwe.sogang.ac.kr
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSeogang Daehakgyo
McCune–ReischauerSŏgang Taehakkyo

History

Beginnings

At the initiative of the Catholic Hierarchy of Korea, Pope Pius XII gave assurance that a Catholic institution of higher learning would be established in Korea. In 1948 he entrusted the task to the Society of Jesus. In October 1954 Jesuit Fr. Theodore Geppert, SJ from Sophia University of Tokyo came to Korea in search of a suitable site to establish a Jesuit college. In February 1955 Jean-Baptiste Janssens, SJ, the twenty-seventh Superior General of the Society of Jesus, assigned the task of establishing the college to the Wisconsin Province of Jesuits. Fr. Leo Burns, SJ, Superior of the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus, came to Korea and, with the Korean Catholic Hierarchy, began negotiations with the Syngman Rhee government for the establishment of a liberal arts college. In January 1957 the Society of Jesus purchased a property of 67,075 pyong (217,323 sq. meters, 53 acres) at Nogosan, Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The site was prepared for construction of an Administration Building, which was completed in November 1959. Sogang College was opened in 1960 and was granted university status in 1970.

Development

The 1979 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mother Teresa visited Sogang in May 1981 and gave addresses in the auditorium and at the basketball court, appealing for all to practice a charity that is universal.

In 1984 the Korean Catholic Church celebrated its bicentennial. For the celebration Pope John Paul II visited Korea on May 5, meeting with priests along with men and women religious in the gymnasium and with Korean intellectuals in the auditorium.

A Sogang University campus building

On April 24, 1985, Sogang's 25th anniversary was commemorated, with Sogang's founder Fr. Geppert, SJ as a special guest.

University Symbol and Slogan

The cardinal red university color symbolizes love, the Holy Spirit, martyrdom, loyalty, and victory. The silver chevron comes from the first letter 'ㅅ' of 서강 (Sogang), representing the intellectual spirit of Sogang and an ivory tower. The "IHS" comes from the first letters of the Greek name Ιησους (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) for Jesus and is also found on the seal of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic religious order that founded the University. The medieval crown stands for the Virgin and Trinity, symbolizing wisdom.[1] Sogang University also has a famous slogan which is: Be as Proud of Sogang as Sogang is Proud of You. (그대 서강의 자랑이듯, 서강 그대의 자랑이어라)

Reputation

Admission to Sogang University is highly selective and competitive in South Korea. Sogang's freshman intake belongs to the top 1% of their high school academic performance in the country, and the university is widely regarded as the top private university and one of the most prestigious elite schools in South Korea. However, the university's ranking lags behind its reputation and evaluation results because it has no medical school and fewer students than some other Korean universities.

Rankings[2]
  • QS World University Ranking 2021: #490
  • QS WUR By Subject Ranking 2021: #201-250
  • QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2021: #301-500
  • QS Asian University Rankings 2021: #78

Sogang Business School

In October 2009 Sogang University received accreditation in business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) .[3]

It is among the top five business schools in Korea. Located near the financial hub in Seoul, it had the highest job-landing ratio for undergraduates among universities in Korea in 2006, 2007 and 2008: the percentages of employment in major companies measured by the Ministry of Education have been 55.1%, 53.3% and 54.9% for these years.

The "Sogang School"

The University has contributed significantly to the rapid economic growth of Korea during the last six decades since 1960. Some faculty members have been deeply involved in the design of Korea's economic development program through top-level cabinet positions in the government. Due to these important engagements, a group of economists affiliated with the University and engaged in policy-making came to be called the "Sogang School." Based on its reputation, the School has consistently attracted young talent of the highest caliber, mostly from the top 1% in the national college entrance exam. Reflecting its excellent research capacity, the Economics Department has been recognized by RePEc as near the top in Korea in international journal publications.

Sogang Korean Language Education Center

Sogang Korean Language Education Center (KLEC) was established in 1990 with the goal to popularize and spread the Korean language and Korean culture throughout the world.

Since its establishment, over 30,000 students from overseas have learned about Korean culture and language by participating in its programs. Currently, an average of 3,500 students register for the Korean Language Education Center every year.[4]

Notable alumni and faculty

Politics
Park Geun-hye, the 18th President of the Republic of Korea

Business

Academia

Literature

Broadcasting and entertainment

Notable faculty

Controversies

In July 2010 four professors in the department of Business Administration were dismissed after exposing the mishandling of grant funds by a fellow professor. The professors appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Neither the professors nor the university were satisfied with the Appeal Commission's ruling, with both sides filing suit.[5]

References
  1. "교표" [University symbol] (in Korean). sogang.ac.kr.
  2. "Sogang University". Top Universities. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  3. MBA Channel: South Korea on the rise
  4. "Sogang University". wwwe.sogang.ac.kr. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  5. "Sogang Univ. in court battle with whistle blowing professors". koreatimes. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
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