Host University for Gwangju, Korea

A cherry blossom tree with students walking in the background on the CNU campus in Gwangju, Korea.

Founded in 1952, Chonnam National University (CNU) is a public university committed to fostering global leaders and professionals. One of Korea’s most innovative universities, CNU’s growing reputation in research, teaching, and impact for local communities includes its comprehensive services to 30,000 students (including 2,000 international students from 70 countries). CNU has AACSB accreditation and is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea. The modern CNU emerged after the Korean War from the consolidation of several colleges and schools with more than 100 years of history. The summer program is organized by the CNU International Summer Session, gathering experienced scholars and faculty from CNU and other prestigious universities from around the world.

Chonnam National University Campuses

Chonnam National University’s main campus is located in Gwangju, but they have a satellite campus located 1.5 hours away by bus in Yeosu. Due to the distance between Gwangju and Yeosu, and the difference in academic areas of study, studying on both campuses is impossible. Students will either study intensive Korean language at the Yeosu campus or attend the regular exchange program at the main campus in Gwangju. However, facilities on both campuses are available to all students if needed.

Gwangju Main Campus

A aerial view of the CNU campus in Gwangju, Korea.

The university plays an important role in Gwangju’s international reputation in support of democracy, human rights, and peace movements as it was at the front gate of the university in May 1980 that peaceful student and citizen pro-democracy demonstrations were violently suppressed by the military dictatorship. Their sacrifice is memorialized in the 518 Memorial Park and Museum.

The campus itself is located on 300 tree-lined acres and is home to 19 colleges, 11 graduate programs, and numerous research/medical institutes and centers. In any given year the student body is made up of about 30,000 Korean students and 2,000 international students. Facilities include libraries, a broadcast center, several residence halls, computing center, and university museum.

Yeosu Satellite Campus

Global Education Center building on the CNU Yeosu campus in Yeosu, Korea. CNU merged with the former Yeosu University in 2006 to further extend it’s network in the South Jeolla Province. The Yeosu campus is set on a hill that overlooks the ocean so it provides a calm, clean place to study a new language. It’s home to three colleges and 3,400 students (about 400 of which are international students).

Facilities include a library, computing center, center for research facilities, residence halls, a broadcast center, Global Education Center, sports park, gymnasium, tennis court, and medical center.

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