Dongguk University () is a private university in Jung District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the few Buddhist-affiliated universities in the world, and is a member of the International Association of Buddhist Universities.

Dongguk University is best known for its Department of Film and Imaging Arts. It is home to the Chungmuro Visual Arts Research Center, the most advanced facility of its kind in South Korea and a historical birthplace of Korean cinema. The university also regularly hosts national film festivals, much like Hollywood in the United States.

Established in 1906 as Myeongjin School () by Buddhist pioneers of the Association of Buddhism Research (), the university gained full university status with its current name in 1953. The university's symbol animal is an elephant, which stemmed from Queen Māyā of Sakya's precognitive dream of a white elephant about the birth of the Buddha, and the symbol flower is a lotus blossom which reflects the Buddhist truth.

Dongguk University Seoul campus is organised into 127 undergraduate and graduate schools, which enrolled 13,701 undergraduate students and 1,801 graduate students and granted 3,140 bachelor's, 470 master's and 172 doctorate degrees in 2017.

The university also operates campuses in Goyang, Gyeongju, and Los Angeles, United States. The university operates two affiliated hospitals and four Traditional Korean medicine hospitals.

History

Origins of Dongguk University

thumb|left|200px|Myeongjin Hall, the oldest building in Dongguk University

The university began as Myeongjin School on May 8, 1906. It was established by the Association of Buddhism Research to provide Buddhist education.

In 1910, Myeongjin School was renamed Buddhist Normal School (), and later renamed Buddhist Higher Education Institution () in 1914. It became the Central Education Institution () in 1915, After the World War II the school was reopened on October 27, 1945, and was expanded into Dongguk College () on September 20, 1946. On March 5, 2009, Royal University of America was merged into Dongguk University, finally becoming Dongguk University Los Angeles.

thumb|Grand View of Dongguk University

In September 2025, Dongguk University announced that it has been selected for the 2026 Campus Town Project promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Through this selection, Dongguk University plans to discover and foster youth start-up companies for four years from 2026 and promote a start-up support system centered on start-ups in school.

Modern era

thumb|200px|Jeonggakwon, Korean Buddhist temple in Dongguk University

In 2010, the university sought to take over Kyonggi University for the amount of around 150 billion won but provisional board of directors of Kyonggi University rejected the Dongguk University's bid. In 2012, Dongguk Business School was accredited by the AACSB. In 2014, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited the university during the state visit to South Korea and attended a seminar held by Jeonggakwon, Korean Buddhist temple in the university.

Dongguk University celebrated the 111st anniversary of the foundation in 2017, and announced new motto of 지혜, 자비, 정진 (智慧, 慈悲, 精進; Wisdom, Compassion, Endeavor) which replaced the previous motto, 섭심, 신실, 자애, 도세 (攝心, 信實, 慈愛, 度世; Steady one's clean mind, Behave truly and reliably, Love people with benevolence, Save mankind from agony).

Campuses

Seoul campus

Dongguk University's main campus is located in Jung District, Seoul, just north of Namsan. The upper buildings of the campus are directly connected into the trails of Namsan park.

The campus' main entrance is at Dongguk University Station the intersection of Seoul Subway Line 3 and 4. Chungmuro Station is near the rear entrance.

  • Dongguk University Station
  • Chungmuro Station

The university is also served by the following Seoul metropolitan buses:

  • 144, 301, 420, 407, 7212

The Seoul campus is known for prominent programs linked to the Chungmuro Research Center in national defense, AI and semiconductors, as well as noteworthy programs in the performing arts, social sciences, education, and international exchange. The Seoul campus is located just beneath Namsan Tower, in the centre of Seoul.

Ilsan, Goyang campus

Located near the Dongguk University Ilsan hospital, Dongguk's Ilsan campus focuses on advancing knowledge in medical technology, medicine and traditional Korean medicine.

Gyeongju campus

Opened in 1979, the campus is located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

This campus focuses on Industrial Design and Public Police Administration, and has restructured its colleges to promote interdisciplinary integration, aiming to provide a more diversified education.

Los Angeles campus

Established in 1906, after the amalgamation of the university and Royal University of America, the campus concentrates in the traditional Korean medicine.

Rankings and reputation

Since becoming Dongguk University in 1946, the institution has produced many influential graduates across Korean society. Notably, its Police Administration department, established in 1962 originally as the Police College, has supplied numerous officers to key regional police roles, including police chiefs. In 1994, Dongguk pioneered North Korean Studies in Korea to foster inter-Korean dialogue and cultivate experts on inter-Korean relations. In 2012, the College of Business Administration earned its tenth international accreditation from the International Business College Development Council, a rare achievement in Korea at the time.

Dongguk University was ranked 8th in JoongAng Ilbo's Korean university rankings in 2026. Dongguk University was ranked 77th among Asian universities in 2015 QS World University Rankings, and 82nd in 2018. Dongguk University was also ranked 656th among the world and 211th among Asian universities in CWTS Leiden Ranking in 2017.

Dongguk Business School has obtained international recognition by acquiring Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) certification, and the business school offers a dual degree MBA program with University of Texas at Dallas.

The university has international MOUs with nearly 160 universities of 40 nations, including Duke University, UCLA, University of Manchester, University of Oslo and Victoria University of Wellington, and attracts nearly 1,800 international students every year for exchange or full-time study. The university offers hybrid programs with Swinburne University of Technology, University of Manitoba, University of Santo Tomas, Hindustan University and East China Normal University that combine language education and area studies. Dongguk University offers a dual degree program with Stony Brook University.

Notable alumni

<gallery>

File:1937 한용운.jpg|Han Yong-un, Korean Buddhist reformer

File:Cho Congnae.jpg|Jo Jeong-rae, Manhae Prize-winning novelist

File:홍영표 의원.jpg|Hong Young-pyo, Floor Leader of Democratic Party

File:Choi Min-sik.jpg|Choi Min-sik, Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Actor winner

File:Cho Yeo-jung in Dec 2019 (Revised).png|Cho Yeo-jeong, Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress winner

File:Suh Hoon in 2020.jpg|Suh Hoon, Director of the National Intelligence Service

File:180312 지금 만나러 갑니다 VIP 시사회 윤아 직찍 (1).jpg|Im Yoon-ah, Girls' Generation member

File:Lee Seung-gi at 32nd Golden Disc Awards, 10 January 2018.jpg|Lee Seung-gi, singer and multi-entertainer

File:20211127 Han Hyo-joo 한효주 BH Entertainment (6).jpg|Han Hyo-joo, Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress winner

File:2022 Kim Han-min 김한민 (1).jpg|Kim Han-min, film director of The Admiral: Roaring Currents, the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea

</gallery>

The police administration major in Dongguk University was founded in 1962, and alumni of Police administration major are spread out across South Korean police organisations, intelligence institutes, and judicial organisations including Korean National Police Agency. Also to prepare for the Korean reunification and to research North Korea–South Korea relations, in 1994 the university installed the North Korean studies major for the first time in Korea. In 2017, a North Korean studies alumnus Suh Hoon was appointed as the 22nd director of National Intelligence Service of South Korea.

The Division of Theatre & Film and Media was established for the first time in South Korea in 1960, One of the top and the best film school in Korea, and had many alumni in the field of South Korean film and K-pop industry. Alumni of the Division of Theatre & Film and Media include Sunmi, Lee Deok-hwa, Choi Min-sik, Cho Yeo-jeong, Lee Kyu-hyung, Han Suk-kyu, Kim Hye-soo, Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Seung-gi, Han Hyo-joo, Park Min-young, Lee Jae-yoon, Hahm Eun-jung, Im Yoon-ah, Son Na-eun, Seohyun, Choi Woo-sung, and Kim Ji-won. In particular, Lee Seung-gi and Han Hyo-joo are close friends from the same cohort who co-starred in the hugely successful hit drama series Brilliant Legacy. Young K from the JYP Entertainment rock band Day6 is also an alumnus but graduated with a bachelor's in Business Administration.

Dongguk University alumni also have found success in professional sports and arts. Alumni in professional sport include baseball player Kim Seong-han, Han Dae-hwa, Song Jin-woo, Park Han-yi, footballer Ahn Hyo-yeon and mountaineer Park Young-seok, and alumni in arts include novelist Hwang Sok-yong, Jo Jung-rae, poet Shin Kyeong-nim, Moon Chung-hee, singer-songwriter Young K and painter Seok Cheoljoo.

Dispute with Yale University

In 2008, the university sued Yale University for 50 million dollars for a national scandal involved with then-assistant professor Shin Jeong-ah, which was called "Shingate". In July 2007, when Dongguk university sent a registered letter to Yale in order to check whether her doctorate degree is fake, Yale sent a reply that her degree is a forgery and she was never enrolled in the university. Dongguk University asserted that when the university was hiring Shin Jeong-ah as an assistant professor of Graduate School of Culture & Arts in September 2005, the university had received an answer from Yale that her doctorate degree is authentic. On December 27, Dongguk University held a press conference and announced that Yale had admitted that the university confirmed the authenticity of her degree and expressed regret about the case. On February 1, 2008, Yale forwarded an official letter of apology to Dongguk University under the name of Rick Levin, then-president of Yale. Dongguk University claimed that actions of Yale had damaged the university's reputation and sued Yale for 50 million dollars. Dongguk University said that it lost millions in contributions and the opportunity to build a new law school, but the lawsuit was finally concluded with Yale's innocence over the scandal. After the lawsuit, Yale sued Dongguk University for the cost of litigation, and on December 2, 2014, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Dongguk University to pay 297,000 dollars.

Media

A student-run daily newspaper, Dongdae Shinmun () was founded on April 15, 1950, and continued to circulate during the Korean War, April Revolution and June Democratic Uprising. Also, a student-run English newspaper, The Dongguk Post was founded in 1965. Both newspapers are overseen by a board of directors of the university and run by a student chief editor.

University broadcasting station, Dongguk University Broadcasting System (DUBS) is founded on September 1, 1959, and focuses on broadcasting educational programmes.

<gallery caption="Seoul campus of Dongguk University" mode="packed" style="font-size:92%; line-height:130%">

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 팔정도.jpg|The university

File:Dongguk University.jpg|Winter

File:Spring in dongguk.jpeg|Spring

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY.jpg|Meongjin-hall

File:Spring in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY.jpg|Spring

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY at night.jpg|Night

File:Winter in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY.jpg|Winter 1

File:Winter in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 동국의종.jpg|Winter 2

File:Winter in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 명진관.jpg|Winter 3

File:Winter in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 정보문화관.jpg|Winter 4

File:Winter in DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 만해광장.jpg|Winter 5

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 학생들 토론모습.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 팔정도 불상.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 동국관.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 학생.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 팔정도 풍경.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY Library.jpg|Library

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY Jeonggakwon(korean buddhist).jpg|Jeonggakwon (Korean Buddhist)

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY college of law.jpg|College of Law

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY College of art.jpg|College of Art

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 신공학관.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 중앙도서의 야경.jpg|Library

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY Jeonggakwon(korean buddhist) 정각원의 야경.jpg|Jeonggakwon (Korean Buddhist)

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 동국대 야경을 찍는 학생.jpg|

File:DONGGUK UNIVERSITY 정각원.jpg|Jeonggakwon (Korean Buddhist)

</gallery>

<gallery caption="Gyeongju campus of Dongguk University" mode="packed" style="font-size:92%; line-height:130%">

File:Main square of Dongguk University.JPG|alt=Main Square in front of the Main Building|Main Square

File:Medical school Dongguk University.JPG|alt=University Medical School|Medical School

File:Dongguk University Hospital.JPG|alt=University Hospital|University Hospital

File:Dongguk University Auditorium.JPG|alt=One of the auditoriums in the university|Auditorium

File:Dongguk University Gyeongju.JPG|alt=Students' square in front of the Humanities building|Students' square in front of the Humanities building

File:Dormitory Dongguk University Gyeongju.JPG|alt=University Dormitory|Dormitory

File:Natural Sciences Building Dongguk University.JPG|alt=Natural Sciences Building|Natural Sciences Building

File:University Symbols.JPG|alt=University Symbol statues on Campus|University Symbol statues on campus

File:Students resting area dongguk university.JPG|alt=One of the many students areas|Student area

File:Dongguk University Library.JPG|alt=Dongguk University Library|Library

File:Dongguk University at Night.jpg|alt=Dongguk Gyeongju campus at night|Campus at night

</gallery>

See also

  • List of colleges and universities in South Korea
  • Education in South Korea

References

  • Official school website, in Korean and English
  • Curriculum in Buddhist studies in English