It began as a vocational school
The school opened as the Public Jinju Vocational School on 30 April 1910. It became Jinju Public Agricultural School in 1911 and moved to Chilam-dong in 1931.
Gyeongsang National University
GNU · Jinju
GNU traces itself to a vocational school opened in Jinju in 1910. In 2021 it merged with another university and took its current name. Exchange students study and live at Gajwa, the main campus in Jinju.
- Founded
- 1910 as a vocational school in Jinju
- Campus
- Gajwa Jinju, 3 h 30 min from Seoul
- Dorm
- Two to a room on the main campus
- Partners
- About 290 universities in 41 countries
GNU, CC BY-SA 4.0, resizedWhat GNU is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
A junior college of agriculture
Jinju Junior College of Agriculture opened on 20 October 1948. Its first graduation, in 1950, had 38 students from the Department of Agriculture.
The move to Gajwa
The school became a comprehensive university in 1980. In December 1981 the College of Agriculture and the College of Law and Police moved to the Gajwa Campus.
Two mergers
Tongyeong Fisheries College joined in 1995. On 1 March 2021 the university merged with Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology to become Gyeongsang National University.
Campuses in three cities
GNU lists Gajwa as the headquarters campus. The others are Chilam, Naedong and Tongyeong, plus Sacheon and Changwon.
- Words you'll hear
- Gajwa 가좌 The main campus
- Chilam 칠암 The campus with medicine and nursing
- Jinju 진주 The city of the main campus
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From GNU's official English pages (history, About Jinju and the campus list), checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Orientation is on the Friday of the week before the semester starts. GNU emails you the exact time.
GNU Buddy
Each exchange student gets one Korean student who helps with course registration, campus events and daily life.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at GNU.
Netherlands
Germany
France
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Finland
PolandGoing with friends? Make a group in A-CHA for your own crew and send them the invite link.
A-CHA events
All eventsOpen to every international student in Korea, not only at GNU.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
GNU's main campus is Gajwa in Jinju. Every exchange student lives in the dorms there, and the International Office is in building 1.
Address in Korean
경상남도 진주시 진주대로 501
501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do 52828
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- How far
- Jinju is about 3 hours 30 minutes from Seoul and 1 hour 30 minutes from Busan.
- Airport pick-up
- GNU picks up new exchange students for free. The date, time and airport change each semester, and you get a survey by email before you arrive.
Every place to eat near campus.
68places to eat near GajwaVegetarian options 29Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
Before you come
0 / 5For Spring 2027. The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official GNU page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on GNU's official site before you apply or book anything. GNU exchange programmes ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Last spring your home university nominated you by 1 November, and your papers were due by 15 November. Acceptances went out in early December. GNU emails the forms to your exchange coordinator, and your coordinator sends everything back.
All in English: GNU's application form, a passport copy, a certificate of enrolment, your transcript, GNU's medical check-up form, the personal information consent form, a letter of recommendation and a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo. Papers must be issued within the last 3 months.
The application form as a Word file and everything else in one PDF, named HOME UNIVERSITY_EXCHANGE_YOUR NAME in capitals.
You can come on exchange, but GNU registers you as an undergraduate. To take a graduate course you need the lecturer's approval first.
If you're accepted, GNU emails the certificate of admission and letter of acceptance you need for the visa.
After you arrive
Residence card
You need the card to open a phone contract in your own name, open a bank account and sign up for most Korean apps.
Booking the immigration visit. Papers, fee and HiKorea screens step by step. Read the guide
- Health insurance
- Once your card is issued you join National Health Insurance automatically and pay every month. You can't opt out, even with insurance from home.
- Fee
- The government fee for the card is ₩35,000.
- Trips abroad
- Don't travel to other countries until your card is out. A single-entry visa works only once, so leaving early can stop you from coming back on it.
- Changes
- Report a new address within 15 days of moving, at your local community centre or at immigration. Report a new passport to immigration within 15 days as well. Both are free.
- Immigration helpline
- Call 1345 with visa or residence card questions. It answers in English and other languages on weekdays from 9:00 to 22:00. From abroad, dial +82-2-1345.
Going to GNU with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
Gajwa dorms
₩546,250 to 673,900a semester by building, plus a meal plan, autumn 2026 fact sheet
- Rooms
- Every room is for two, with beds, desks, chairs, wardrobes and bookshelves.
- Meal plan
- Required. ₩408,000 for 120 meals up to ₩660,000 for 300 meals, and you can't change it after paying.
- Paying
- Dorm fee and meal plan in cash (won) within a week of moving in.
- In the buildings
- PC rooms, study rooms, a convenience store, a gym, laundry and an ATM.
- Contact
- 055-772-0275
Before you apply
- Penalty points. 5 points at once means you leave the dorm straight away. 5 in a semester and you can't live in the dorms again, 3 and you wait a semester.
GNU's autumn 2026 exchange fact sheet and the dorm page of the International Office. Checked on 21 October 2026.
Room search sites in English
Korean universities point exchange students to these. They're private companies with no tie to any school. Don't send a deposit before you've seen the contract.
Finding a room. Browse rooms near campus in the app. If nothing fits, tell us what you need and we'll ask local agents for you, free.
Courses
- Language
- GNU has no English track. Most courses are in Korean and very few are in English, so plan your study with that in mind.Courses in English ↗
- Registration
- About a month before the semester, first come first served. You can still add courses in the first week. Have second and third choices ready, because seats don't get raised for anyone.
- Other departments
- You can't register for major courses outside your own department.
- Credits
- One credit is one hour of class a week.
- Korean classes
- 8 to 9 weeks of Korean conversation and TOPIK classes during the semester. Free if you come to at least 80% of them.
Questions exchange students ask
How does course registration work at GNU?
About a month before the semester, first come first served.
You can still add courses in the first week.
Have second and third choices ready, because seats don't get raised for anyone.
How much is the dorm at GNU?
Gajwa dorms · On campus
From the last semester₩546,250 to 673,900
A semester by building, plus a meal plan, autumn 2026 fact sheet
What do I need for the visa to study at GNU?
If you're accepted, GNU emails the certificate of admission and letter of acceptance you need for the visa.
How do exchange students meet GNU students?
GNU Buddy
Each exchange student gets one Korean student who helps with course registration, campus events and daily life.
Is there a group chat for GNU exchange students?
Yes.
GNU has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
Do exchange students at GNU need health insurance?
Once your card is issued you join National Health Insurance automatically and pay every month.
You can't opt out, even with insurance from home.
How many credits can I take at GNU?
One credit is one hour of class a week.
How do I apply to GNU as an exchange student?
Last spring your home university nominated you by 1 November, and your papers were due by 15 November.
Acceptances went out in early December.
GNU emails the forms to your exchange coordinator, and your coordinator sends everything back.
Who do I contact at GNU?
Official links and help
Office of International Affairs+82-55-772-0286
mash24@gnu.ac.kr