South Korea, often referred to as the Land of the Morning Calm, is an East Asian country with highly modernized cities, mountains, and scenic valleys. Its capital is Seoul, and its official language is Korean. English is also used in some academic, business, and international settings. Religion varies, but a large share of residents identify as nonreligious, and Buddhism and Christianity are among the country’s major religions.
The field of humanities is broad. From art and history to society and philosophy, there is a wide range of learning areas that students in the humanities can explore. Below, we discuss some of the top schools offering humanities programs in South Korea.
Top Schools Offering Humanities Programs in South Korea
1. Seoul National University
Seoul National University (SNU) is a leading Korean institution of higher education. Founded as the country’s premier national university in 1946, SNU has come a long way. At present, the university has four main campuses: Gwanak Campus, Yeongeon Campus, Pyeongchang Campus, and Siheung Campus.
Incoming undergraduates can choose from the university’s 16 colleges, which offer numerous degree programs across several fields. Moreover, the institution has one graduate school with 106 programs across five fields of study. SNU also has several professional graduate schools.
At SNU, the College of Humanities lists 17 departments, including language and literature departments, history-related departments, philosophy, religious studies, aesthetics, archaeology and art history, and Asian languages and civilizations. The college provides students with broad opportunities to study human culture, language, history, and thought.
2. Sungkyunkwan University
A private university with historical roots dating back to the foundation of Sungkyunkwan in 1398, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) is one of South Korea’s long-established higher education institutions. It has two main campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus in Seoul and the Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
With its long history and broad academic offerings, SKKU attracts students across many fields of study. Its programs span undergraduate and graduate levels, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business, and other disciplines.
At SKKU’s Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, several colleges offer students a wide range of programs across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. One example is the College of Liberal Arts, formerly the College of Humanities, which offers study options such as Korean Language and Literature, History, and Philosophy.
3. Pusan National University
Pusan National University (PNU) is a national university based in Busan. It was founded as Pusan National College in 1946 and began with two faculties: the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Fisheries. Today, PNU has campuses in Busan, Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. It comprises 15 colleges, one general graduate school, five professional graduate schools, and nine special graduate schools.
At PNU, the College of Humanities has study programs for students across undergraduate and graduate levels. For instance, graduate-level options include the Department of Archaeology, which operates master’s and doctoral degree programs, and the Department of Language and Information, which focuses on areas such as language studies and computational linguistics.
4. Sogang University
Sogang University is a Jesuit institution in Seoul established by the Society of Jesus. Its College of Humanities covers fields such as language, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and cultural studies. The university’s Graduate School offers master’s and Ph.D. programs, while its Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) offers English-taught graduate programs in International Relations, International Trade, International Finance, and Korea & East Asia Studies.
Moroccan student Souad highlights that she chose Sogang’s International Relations master’s program not only because it matched her career goals, but also because it was “100% taught in English,” allowing her to focus on her studies without language barriers.
Filipino scholar Souljah also praises the program’s academic intensity, rating Sogang GSIS a “9/10 for academic rigor” and attributing this to the “quality of faculty members.” She explains that the school’s “emphasis on academic papers encourages students to research new ideas and perspectives.”
These firsthand insights point to Sogang’s educational strengths: an English-medium GSIS curriculum, close mentorship from faculty members, and a learning environment that prioritizes research and critical thinking. These qualities make Sogang a strong option for humanities and social sciences students seeking an academically rigorous international study experience.
5. Ajou University
Located in Suwon, Ajou University traces its roots to Ajou Engineering Junior College, the forerunner of Ajou University, which was founded in March 1973. It began with four departments and later expanded into a comprehensive university with programs across many fields.
Ajou University’s College of Humanities consists of five departments: the Department of Korean Language and Literature, the Department of English Language and Literature, the Department of French Language and Literature, the Department of History, and the Department of Culture and Contents. At the graduate level, Ajou also lists humanities fields such as Korean Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, French Language and Literature, History, Culture and Contents, and Digital Humanities & Convergence.
We hope this article on the top schools offering humanities programs in South Korea was informative and insightful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students and Study in Korea!
