Began as a teachers' college
Gangneung College of Education was set up on 20 July 1946. Gangneung University became a four-year university on 1 March 1991.
Kangwon National University Gangneung Campus
Kangwon Gangneung · Gangneung
GWNU began in 1946 as a teachers' college in Gangneung. In 2026 it became the Gangneung campus of Kangwon National University, and exchange students live on this campus, where the Korean language school is.
- Founded
- 1946 as Gangneung College of Education
- Campus
- Gangneung KTX to Gangneung Station, then a taxi
- Dorm
- About ₩920,000 a semester, meals not included
- Course load
- 6 to 18 credits a semester
김호진2, CC BY 4.0, resizedWhat Kangwon Gangneung is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
Two schools joined
The Wonju campus began in 1967 as a nursing school. Gangneung National University and Wonju National University merged on 1 March 2007, and the new name Gangneung-Wonju National University took effect on 1 March 2009.
A U that opens outward
The logo is a U that opens in every direction and joins into one mark. GWNU says it shows openness to the country and the world.
The dragon
The school animal is the dragon, which stands for strength, wisdom and good fortune. GWNU says it also stands for the joining of its two schools.
A needle fir and a rose
The school tree is the needle fir, an evergreen that grows straight up. The school flower is the rose, which GWNU links to its founding ideals of liberty, truth and creation.
- Words you'll hear
- Gangneung-Wonju 강릉원주대 The school's Korean short name
- Gangneung 강릉 The city where exchange students live
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From GWNU's official English pages (history and symbols), checked on 26 October 2026. The history page still carries the old school name in its header.
People
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at Kangwon Gangneung.
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 Kangwon Gangneung.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
Gangneung-Wonju National University became Kangwon National University's Gangneung campus in 2026. The international office in Gangneung still looks after exchange students, who live on the Gangneung campus, where the Korean language school is.
Address in Korean
강원특별자치도 강릉시 죽헌길 7
7 Jukheon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State 25457
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- From Seoul
- Take the KTX from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni to Gangneung Station, then a taxi for 10 to 15 minutes.
- From the airport
- Airport buses from Incheon and Gimpo go to Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal, about 2.6 km from campus. A taxi from there takes about 9 minutes.
- City buses
- Buses 200, 201, 203, 204 and 205 stop at the campus.
- Airport pickup
- For autumn 2025, GWNU picked up exchange students for free on set dates. Agree the date with the exchange coordinator before you buy your ticket.
- Wonju campus
- Kangwon's Wonju campus is a short KTX ride from Seoul.
Ojukheon, Seongyojang, Wolhwa Street and Gyeongpo within 4 km of campus.
143places to eat near GangneungVegetarian options 49Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
1.4 km from campus
Ojukheon House
The birthplace of Shin Saimdang, open 09:00 to 18:00 all year with last entry at 17:00. On New Year's Day and on the days of Seollal and Chuseok, the grounds open but the indoor exhibition halls close. Admission is half price on the last Wednesday of each month.
2.4 km from campus
Seongyojang House
The old hanok estate of a Joseon-era noble family, with the Hwallaejeong pond. It also runs hanok stays.
2.8 km from campus
Wolhwa Street
A city walking path built on a disused rail line, linking Gangneung Station to Jungang Market. Winter evenings here are very cold.
3.0 km from campus
Gangneung Jungang Market
An indoor arcade market selling dakgangjeong (닭강정) and fish cake croquettes, within walking distance of Gangneung Station.
3.8 km from campus
Gyeongpodae Pavilion
A Joseon-era pavilion looking down over Gyeongpo Lake, one of the Eight Views of Gwandong. The cherry blossom path here is well known in spring.
Before you come
0 / 5The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official Kangwon Gangneung page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on Kangwon Gangneung's official site before you apply or book anything. Kangwon Gangneung exchange students ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
The exchange application goes through your home university, which nominates you first. Your exchange coordinator at home has the current forms and deadlines.
Exchange is open to students from the Gangneung campus's partner universities, for one semester or a year. Check that yours is on the list.
Partner list ↗Exchange students take Gangneung campus courses and Korean language school classes for free, and can join field trips.
The international office's coordinator for incoming exchange students is on +82-33-640-2778 and intl_incoming@gwnu.ac.kr.
The international office points students to student insurance at about ₩70,000 for six months or ₩120,000 a year. You claim hospital and pharmacy costs from the insurer and get most of them back.
After you arrive
Residence card
Register within 90 days of arriving.
The international office posts the documents you need each semester.
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
- 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 Kangwon Gangneung with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
All exchange students live in the campus dorms.
International Exchange Dormitory
About ₩920,000a semester, without holidays or meals
- Rooms
- Rooms for two, in a dorm only for international students.
- Facilities
- A gym and the other dorm facilities.
Before you apply
- Bedding. For autumn 2025 the dorm didn't provide blankets. You could buy your own or ask the office to buy them for you.
The Gangneung international office pages. Fees are approximate. Checked on 21 October 2026.
Other options
- General dorm
- Rooms for two on campus, about ₩1,200,000 a semester with two meals a day or ₩1,300,000 with three.
- Off campus
- Flats near the university cost ₩200,000 to ₩500,000 a month, without food and bills.
- Campus facilities
- The student hall has a cafeteria, post office, bookshop, bakery and café on the first floor, and a gym on the fifth.
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
- What you take
- University courses only, or university courses with Korean classes. Korean classes run in the morning, from 9:10 to 13:00, and then you need at least 6 credits of university courses.
- How much
- 6 to 18 credits a semester, and at least 6. Korean classes count as 12 credits for one semester or 16 for two, so check that your home university accepts them.
- Language
- Most courses are in Korean. Only the English classes run by native-English professors are taught in English. You can pick courses from any department.
- Semesters
- Spring runs from 2 March to mid June, and autumn from 1 September to mid December.
2 more
- Grades
- Out of 4.5. An A+ is 95 to 100, and below 60 is an F.
- Attendance
- Korean universities usually fail you after a set number of absences, whatever your grades. Ask each professor in week one.
Questions exchange students ask
How much is the dorm at Kangwon Gangneung?
International Exchange Dormitory · On campus
About ₩920,000
A semester, without holidays or meals
What about living off campus at Kangwon Gangneung?
Flats near the university cost ₩200,000 to ₩500,000 a month, without food and bills.
How do exchange students meet Kangwon Gangneung students?
International Helpers
Pairs you one to one with a Gangneung campus student, who helps with Korean and settling in.
Buddies meet for at least 5 hours a week, for things like shopping, films and meeting friends.
Is there a group chat for Kangwon Gangneung exchange students?
Yes.
Kangwon Gangneung has a room on A-CHA where exchange students meet, and you can join before you land.
How do I get my residence card at Kangwon Gangneung?
Register within 90 days of arriving.
The international office posts the documents you need each semester.
Do exchange students at Kangwon Gangneung need health insurance?
The international office points students to student insurance at about ₩70,000 for six months or ₩120,000 a year.
You claim hospital and pharmacy costs from the insurer and get most of them back.
How many credits can I take at Kangwon Gangneung?
6 to 18 credits a semester, and at least 6.
Korean classes count as 12 credits for one semester or 16 for two, so check that your home university accepts them.
Who do I contact at Kangwon Gangneung?
Official links and help
International Office+82-33-640-2778
intl_incoming@gwnu.ac.kr