Dongguk University

Dongguk University
동국대학교 (東國大學校)
Logotype of Dongguk University
Motto	攝心, 信實, 慈愛, 度世
Established	May 8, 1906
Type	Private
President	Kim, Hee-Ok
Undergraduates	17,189 (2009)[1]
Location	Seoul, South Korea
Campus	Urban
Former names	Myungjin School (1906-1940) Hyehwa Professional College (1940-1946) Dongguk College (1946-1953)
Mascot	Elephant, Lotus
Affiliations	Mahayana Buddhism
Website	English website Korean website

Dongguk University
Hangul	동국대학교
Hanja	東國大學校
Revised Romanization	Dongguk Daehakgyo
McCune–Reischauer	Tong'guk Taehakkyo

Dongguk University is a private, coeducational university in South Korea. It operates campuses in Seoul, in Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang province and in Los Angeles, United States. In addition, it operates two affiliated hospitals of Western medicine, and four of Oriental medicine, a generic term which includes Traditional Korean medicine studies.

Location

Dongguk university is located in Jung-gu, Seoul just north of Namsan. The upper buildings of the campus are directly connected into the trails of Namsan park.

As the school is within the center of Seoul, two of the main shopping districts Dongdaemun to the north and Myeongdong to the west are near the university gates. The Seoul campus' main entrance is at Dongguk University Station the intersection of Seoul Subway Line 3 and 4. While Chungmuro Station is near the rear entrance.^[2]

History

Dongguk University provides a world-class education that bridges East and West on many levels.

Founded in 1906 by Korea's ecumenically minded Jogye Order, Dongguk remains one of the few Buddhist affiliated universities in the world. Yet its doors have always been open to students and teachers of all faiths and philosophies. Students and professors from around the globe enhance the quality of education on each of Dongguk's four campuses by bringing together dramatically diverse life experiences and cultures in a common educational mission. Graduate and undergraduate students alike are exposed to the latest theories and practical training in every area of university study.

Dongguk consistently ranks among Korea's top universities.^{[citation needed]} Yet an equally important ingredient in any collegiate experience is development of the self, a maturing process enhanced by exposure to people of diverse backgrounds, opinions and value systems. For thousands of new students each year, Dongguk continues to serve a great first step on a lifelong journey of self-discovery, service to others, and spiritual enlightenment.

The university began as Myeongjin School (명진학교) on May 8, 1906. It was closed by the Japanese Occupation Government from 1922 to 1928, after the Samil Undong uprising, and again in 1944, in relation to the turbulent events surrounding the end of World War II. It was one of the first institutions in the Republic of Korea to gain university status, in the western sense, being designated a university in 1953. The postgraduate school opened simultaneously. During the Korean War, classes were held in Busan, but were moved back to Seoul again in 1953. In 1959, the Dongguk university Broadcasting system was initiated. The College of Education was launched in 1968 with 4 courses, adding Education of Physical Education a year later.^[3] In 1978, the Gyeongju Campus was established.

School Spirit

School Precepts

Seop-sim  : Steady one's clean mind

Sin-sil  : Behave truly and reliably

Ja-ae  : Love people with benevolence

Do-se  : Save mankind from agony

Foundational Spirit

The foundational spirit of Dongguk University is summed up in three educational goals : to build up one's character based on the Buddhist virtues ; to make the nation, mankind, and nature full of wisdom and benevolence ; and to realize the ideal society in which people can trust and respect each other.

Educational Purpose

Following the foundational spirit, the University aims at making the Buddhist spirit and the Korean culture known worldwide, and further at cultivating persons of talent with leadership skills, who will devote themselves to realizing ideals of the nation and mankind by researching and teaching academic theories and their application methods.

Symbol

Elephant

Dongguk's symbol animal is an elephant which is considered a holy animal with wisdom and fortune. It intends to describe modern, progressive and active characteristics, and it also expresses university students of the new generation who are wise, brave, bright and friendly.

Lotus

Dongguk's flower is a lotus blossom which is the emblem of Buddhist truth.

Notable Students

Brian Joo
Lee Sun-Mi
Min Sunye
Seohyun
Gayoon
Lee Seung Gi
Yoona
Han Hyo-joo
Ham Eunjung
Lee Jang Woo
Shin Min Ah
Kim So-yeon
Park Min-Young

Academics

Undergraduate colleges Seoul Campus College of Buddhist Studies College of Liberal Arts College of Science College of Law College of Social Science College of Business College of Life Resources Science College of Engineering College of Education College of Arts College of Film & Media Gyeongju Campus College of Buddhist Culture College of Humanities College of Natural Science College of Law & Political Science College of Commerce & Economics College of Tourism College of Oriental Medicine Los Angeles, USA Campus College of Oriental Medicine Graduate schools Seoul Campus Graduate School Graduate School of Image & Information Technology Graduate School of Buddhist Studies Graduate School of Public Administration Graduate School of Business Administration Graduate School of Education Graduate School of Communication & Information Graduate School of Industrial Technology Graduate School of Culture & Art Graduate School of International Affairs & Information Gyeongju Campus Graduate School of Buddhist Culture and fine art Graduate School of Social Science Los Angeles, USA Campus College of Oriental Medicine

Gyeongju campus of Dongguk University

Campus of Dongguk University in Gyeongju at night.  Main Square in front of the Main Building.  University Medical School.  University Hospital.  One of the auditorium in the University.  Students' square in front of the Humanities building.  University Dormitory.  Natural Sciences Building.  University Symbol statues on Campus.  One of the many students areas.  Dongguk University Library.  Bicycle Parking on campus.

See also

• List of colleges and universities in South Korea
• List of Korea-related topics
• Education in South Korea
• Gyeongju

References

1. ^ http://www.academyinfo.go.kr/schoolAction.do?process=schoolDisclose001&schoolCd=53041000&orgcode=1&sry_yy=2009&selectYear=2009&univ_gubun=U&detail_kind=E
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Intro of Dongguk university/ School history

External links

• Official school website, in Korean and English
• Curriculum in Buddhist studies in English
• "Shingate" scandal- Dongguk sues Yale for $50 mn