Seoul National University's Gwanak 50th: A Global Hub Transformation

A Half-Century of Transformation

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Seoul National University’s (SNU) relocation to Gwanak, a move that aimed to solidify its identity as a comprehensive university. The 1975 migration to the foothills of Gwanak Mountain was not merely a physical shift to a new, expansive campus but a historic turning point toward becoming a bona fide comprehensive university.

Origins and Evolution

SNU was established in 1946 as a national university, launched through the union of 10 constituent colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, and College of Medicine. This was a constructive response to the task of rebuilding the nation and laying the foundations of an independent state. The 1975 relocation to the Gwanak Campus, under the banner of comprehensive integration, sought to advance beyond the “1946 system” by strengthening the foundations of a middle-power nation and driving national development to lay the groundwork for entering the ranks of advanced countries. As a result, SNU grew remarkably in both quantity and quality.

Persistent Challenges

However, it has not completely escaped the legacies and shortcomings of its 1946 founding. Despite pursuing comprehensive integration, issues such as the fragmentation of majors and departments, barriers between disciplines, and college-level parochialism—hallmarks of the “1946 system”—persist. Consequently, even in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital civilization, the university clings to a structure from a previous civilizational stage. It is difficult to regard this as a model suited to the great transition of the 21st century.

The Path Forward

As SNU marks the 50th anniversary of its comprehensive integration, it must overcome these structural problems and transform into an innovative university system aligned with the new civilizational era. Above all, it should design an educational framework that responds to the trend of science and technology leading society. The teaching-centered educational paradigm is shifting toward a learning-centered approach, driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI). The acceleration of digital civilization is rapidly propelling the era of lifelong learning, and universities are being called upon to transform into educational institutions not only for students fresh out of high school but also for adult learners.

Expanding Horizons

There is also a demand for SNU to pursue mutual growth through role-sharing with regional universities. It must also achieve growth as a global hub university. SNU’s development should stimulate the advancement of other universities, creating a healthy higher education ecosystem, which in turn becomes a driving force for SNU’s own progress—a virtuous cycle.

Additionally, SNU must take a leading role in establishing the “territory of roles” for universities suited to the new civilizational structure. Rather than remaining complacent with its status as Korea’s representative university, it should advance as a global hub university contributing to solving climate change, polarization, peace-building, and the coexistence of humanoids and humans in global society.

Setting New Standards

To realize these goals, SNU must newly establish and practice world-class standards and objectives in all areas, including education, research, and social contribution. It should not merely imitate leading foreign universities but develop an original model tailored to Korea’s unique characteristics and SNU’s circumstances. Only then will the university’s value be enhanced.

A New Beginning

Therefore, the 50th anniversary of SNU’s comprehensive integration should not be a mere commemoration but a new beginning. It must boldly break away from the “1946 system,” which has persisted since the university’s founding, and build a new higher education paradigm by connecting with regional universities and global institutions. It should respect human values, propose a human-centered direction for technological advancement, and become a network that connects people to people. The time has come to persuade and internalize within both the university community and the public the challenging proposition that the nation’s development depends on SNU’s success. If the relocation to Gwanak half a century ago was an attempt at the physical integration of colleges and professional graduate schools, the 50th anniversary of comprehensive integration should mark the birth year of a global hub university—a world-class center for education, research, and social contribution for the nation and humanity.