A school from 1899
Keimyung's history page says it was founded in 1899 by Rev. Edward Adams with Revs. Choi Jaehwa and Kang Ingu. It became a university in 1978 and merged with Dongsan Presbyterian Hospital in October 1980.
Keimyung University
KMU · Daegu
Keimyung University traces its start to 1899 and became a university in 1978. Exchange students study and live at the Seongseo campus in Dalseo-gu, Daegu.
- Founded
- 1899 started by Rev. Edward Adams and two Korean pastors
- Campus
- Seongseo Line 2, Keimyung Univ. Station
- Dorm
- From ₩624,000 to ₩2,030,000 a semester in autumn 2026, by hall and meal plan
- Residence card
- Within 90 days of arriving in Korea
이강철, CC BY-SA 3.0What KMU is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
A winged lion and three flames
The emblem is a winged lion called Bisa. The badge is a shield with a torch of three flames, for Truth, Justice and Love.
A Korean village on campus
Hanhakchon is a traditional Korean village in the middle of the Seongseo campus, with the Keimyung Seodang.
Adams Chapel on the hill
Adams Chapel stands high on Kungsan Hill. It has three towers for truth, justice and love, over 160 stained-glass windows and a Schuke pipe organ.
The Hengso Museum
The museum first opened in May 1978. Its new building opened on 20 May 2004 and is named after the pen name of President Synn Ilhi. It holds about 20,000 artefacts.
- Words you'll hear
- Gyemyeong-dae 계명대 Short for Keimyung University
- Seongseo 성서 The area where the campus is
- Hanhakchon 한학촌 The traditional village on campus
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From Keimyung's official English pages (history, symbols, Hengso Museum, Adams Chapel, Hanhakchon and Art Center), checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Help for exchange students at Keimyung.
KMU Buddy Program
The international office matches new international students with Keimyung students for friendship and help settling into Daegu. There's a welcome and a farewell party at the International Lounge every semester.
KMU International Lounge
The International Lounge's own account, with news about its events and programmes.
@kmuloungeInstagram accounts checked on 21 October 2026.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at KMU.
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 KMU.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
Exchange students study at the Seongseo Campus, Keimyung's main campus in Dalseo-gu, Daegu. The International Affairs Team is in room 104 of Dongyeong Hall.
Address in Korean
대구광역시 달서구 달구벌대로 1095
1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- Subway
- Keimyung Univ. Station on Daegu Line 2. From Dongdaegu or Daegu Station, take Line 1 to Banwoldang and change to Line 2.
- By bus
- From around Dongdaegu Station, buses 425, Express 1 and 524 go to the main gate.
- International Office
- The International Affairs Team answers exchange students at intl@kmu.ac.kr or +82-53-580-6027, weekdays 8:30 to 17:30.
- International Lounge
- Room 3115 on the first floor of New Bauer Hall, open weekdays 8:30 to 17:30. There's a café corner, a kitchen and a PC zone.
Every place to eat near campus.
112places to eat near Seongseo CampusVegetarian options 38Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
Before you come
0 / 6For 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 KMU page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on KMU's official site before you apply or book anything. Keimyung exchange student notices ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university nominates you, then Keimyung emails you a link to the online application, where you also choose your dorm. For spring 2027, nominations close on 23 October and applications on 20 November.
A 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo, a colour copy of your passport, your transcript and a recommendation letter in English, a health self-check form and the privacy agreement. If you're from a non-OECD country, also post an apostilled enrolment certificate and a bank certificate showing at least ₩4,600,000.
You don't need TOEFL or IELTS. Courses in English need intermediate to advanced English, and courses in Korean need the same level of Korean.
Keimyung sends you a certificate of admission. Take it to the Korean embassy in your country for a D-2 student visa and ask them which papers they want.
National Health Insurance is compulsory, about US$72 a month. You're enrolled automatically when you apply for your residence card, and the bill comes to your address. Travel insurance is optional.
Register your courses and pay the dorm fee before you arrive. Orientation is in late February.
Other dates
- 2 FebruaryCourse registration
- Last spring: 3 MarchSemester starts
- 16 JuneFinal exams
After you arrive
Residence card
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Everyone staying more than 90 days has to. Keimyung books a group visit to the Daegu Immigration Office, in late March or April for spring. Don't go or hand in papers on your own.
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
- Documents
- The application form, a colour copy of your passport, proof of where you live, your enrolment certificate, the fee in cash and a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo with no extra margin. The International Affairs Team provides some of these papers.
- Proof of address
- In the dorm, the office prepares it for you. Off campus, bring your lease. If the lease isn't in your name, add the holder's ID and residence certificate. For an Airbnb, bring the booking, the confirmation and the host's ID.
- Bank account
- In autumn 2026, Hana Bank opened accounts on campus for a week early in the semester. Bring your passport, the form and the residence and enrolment certificates from the office.
- Fee
- The government fee for the card is ₩35,000.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 KMU with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
Every exchange student who applies for the dorm in the online application gets a room in the Myungkyo dorm on campus.
Myungkyo Dormitory
₩624,000 to ₩2,030,000a semester in autumn 2026, two to a room, depending on the hall and meal plan
- General Hall
- ₩624,000 without meals, ₩1,078,000 with one meal a day, ₩1,439,000 with two.
- Sarang Hall
- ₩731,000 without meals, ₩1,185,000 with one meal, ₩1,546,000 with two.
- Bongsa and Hyupruk
- Bongsa Hall for men and Hyupruk Hall for women: ₩1,215,000 without meals, ₩1,669,000 with one meal, ₩2,030,000 with two.
- Meals
- Mostly Korean food. You can't eat in the dorm cafeteria without a meal plan.
- Paying
- Send the money from a bank at home or with WISE. Credit cards aren't accepted.
Before you apply
- TB test before you come. Everyone in the dorm needs a tuberculosis test from the six months before arrival, with the result in English or Korean.
- Curfew and nights out. The doors close at 00:30. If you'll stay out overnight, ask your floor or building assistant in advance.
- Penalty points. Go over the penalty point limit and you have to leave the dorm. You can't switch to another hall once you've moved in.
Keimyung's 2026/2027 exchange fact sheet and autumn 2026 orientation slides. 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
- Registration
- You register before you arrive. Keimyung's calendar puts spring registration on 2 to 5 February, and add and drop is in the first week of classes on the EDWARD portal.
- Taught in English
- Most exchange students take courses in English. Keimyung posts the list for each semester.Courses in English ↗
- Courses in Korean
- You add them yourself on EDWARD during add and drop. The professor can still cancel your place if the course isn't a good fit for international students.
- Full courses
- Keep checking for a free seat, or get the professor's written OK and take it to the International Affairs Team before add and drop ends.
2 more
- Exams
- A semester is 15 weeks. Spring 2027 finals are on 16 to 21 June.
- Attendance
- Attendance is taken in the Keimyung electronic attendance app, so install it in the first week.
Questions exchange students ask
How does course registration work at KMU?
You register before you arrive.
Keimyung's calendar puts spring registration on 2 to 5 February, and add and drop is in the first week of classes on the EDWARD portal.
Are there courses taught in English at KMU?
Most exchange students take courses in English.
Keimyung posts the list for each semester.
How much is the dorm at KMU?
Myungkyo Dormitory · On campus
From the last semester₩624,000 to ₩2,030,000
A semester in autumn 2026, two to a room, depending on the hall and meal plan
What do I need for the visa to study at KMU?
Keimyung sends you a certificate of admission.
Take it to the Korean embassy in your country for a D-2 student visa and ask them which papers they want.
How do exchange students meet KMU students?
KMU Buddy Program
The international office matches new international students with Keimyung students for friendship and help settling into Daegu.
There's a welcome and a farewell party at the International Lounge every semester.
Is there a group chat for KMU exchange students?
Yes.
KMU 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 KMU?
Register within 90 days of arriving.
Everyone staying more than 90 days has to.
Keimyung books a group visit to the Daegu Immigration Office, in late March or April for spring.
Don't go or hand in papers on your own.
Do exchange students at KMU need health insurance?
National Health Insurance is compulsory, about US$72 a month.
You're enrolled automatically when you apply for your residence card, and the bill comes to your address.
Travel insurance is optional.
How do I apply to KMU as an exchange student?
Your home university nominates you, then Keimyung emails you a link to the online application, where you also choose your dorm.
For spring 2027, nominations close on 23 October and applications on 20 November.
Who do I contact at KMU?
Official links and help
International Affairs Team+82-53-580-6027 · Weekdays 8:30 to 17:30
intl@kmu.ac.krStudent life
- Lounge programmes
- The International Lounge runs K-LACE for Korean language and culture, language classes taught by Keimyung's international professors, and paid sessions where you teach English or your culture to local school students.
- Field trips
- Keimyung runs day trips to historical sites around Daegu and Gyeongbuk for international students.
- Exchange student notices
- Fact sheet 2026/2027 (PDF)
- Courses in English
- Academic calendar 2026 (PDF)
- Orientation slides, autumn 2026 (PDF)
- Dormitory
- Directions