It began with a donation
In 1935 a far-sighted man named Kim Jong-ik, known as Useok, made a donation so that Suncheon Public Agricultural School could open. That school is where SCNU counts its start.
Sunchon National University
SCNU · Suncheon, South Jeolla
Sunchon National University is a national university in Suncheon, South Jeolla. It opened in 1935 as an agricultural school and has been a university since 1991. Exchange students study at its campus in Suncheon.
- Founded
- 1935 as an agricultural school
- Campus
- Suncheon 30 minutes by bus from Yeosu Airport
- Dorm
- ₩1,376,730 to ₩2,020,920 spring 2026, weekday meals included
- Dorm place
- Open to all international students who want one
hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0, croppedWhat SCNU is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
From school to university
It became an agricultural and forestry middle school in 1946, a high school in 1951, and a junior college in 1979. A four-year Sunchon College started in 1982, and it became Sunchon National University in 1991.
A tree, a flower and an eagle
SCNU's school tree is the bald cypress and its flower is the plum blossom. Its symbolic animal is the eagle.
The campus museum
The SCNU museum opened in September 1987 as the first museum in eastern South Jeolla. Its galleries include archaeology and the Geomdan Mountain Fortress, a Baekje fortress from the 6th century.
A ₩10 billion gift
In 1994 Pohang Iron and Steel, now POSCO, gave ₩10 billion for training local talent. SCNU used it to set up the Sunchon National University Academic Scholarship Foundation.
- Words you'll hear
- Sunchondae 순천대 Short for Sunchon National University
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From Sunchon National University's official Korean history and symbols pages and its English museum and introduction pages, checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Help and events for exchange students at SCNU.
SCNU Buddy Program
Pairs incoming exchange and international students with Korean students, who help with studying and settling in at SCNU.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at SCNU.
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 SCNU.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
SCNU's campus is in the city of Suncheon, about 30 minutes from Yeosu Airport by bus.
Address in Korean
전남광주통합특별시 순천시 중앙로 255
255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- From Yeosu Airport
- A taxi takes 30 to 40 minutes and costs about ₩20,000. The airport bus to Suncheon stops at SCNU's main gate and takes about 30 minutes.
- From Suncheon Station
- 10 to 20 minutes by taxi, about ₩4,000 to ₩5,000. City buses 53, 56 and 60 also run from the station to SCNU.
- From the bus terminal
- From Suncheon Bus Terminal, a taxi takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs about ₩3,000 to ₩4,000.
Every place to eat near campus.
77places to eat near SuncheonVegetarian options 33Each 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 SCNU page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on SCNU's official site before you apply or book anything. SCNU inbound exchange ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university nominates you, then you apply by email. For spring the deadline is in December, SCNU screens applications in mid-January and tells you the result in late January. For autumn it's June, mid-July and late July.
Send every document SCNU asks for, because an application with anything missing won't be processed. SCNU doesn't return documents.
Exchange students pay tuition to their home university, not to SCNU.
Once you're accepted, apply for a student visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country. What they ask for and how long it takes differs by country, so check with them early.
Once you register for your residence card, you join National Health Insurance automatically. Each month's fee is due by the 25th of the month before.
SCNU's international office also arranges group accident and illness insurance with a Korean insurer, at ₩140,000 a year or ₩80,000 for 6 months, paid up front.
Other dates
- 18 DecemberAutumn semester ends
- 1 FebruaryCourse registration
- Last spring: 1 MarchDorm move-in
- Last spring: 19 JuneDorm move-out
After you arrive
Residence card
Register within 90 days of arriving.
SCNU helps new students apply as a group at the start of the March and September semesters.
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, your passport, a 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photo on a white background taken within 6 months, your enrolment certificate and proof of where you live, which is the dorm check-in confirmation or your housing contract.
- Fee
- The government fee for the card is ₩35,000.
- Immigration office
- SCNU's office is the Yeosu immigration office at 265 Museon-ro, Yeosu. From Suncheon Bus Terminal, take a bus to Yeocheon, get off at Yeocheon Bus Terminal and walk 10 minutes.
- 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.
- Lost card
- If you lose the card, get a new one within 14 days. Hand it back at the airport when you leave Korea for good.
- Extensions
- If your attendance is 70% or lower, or your grades are below a C (2.0), immigration can limit an extension of your stay.
- 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 SCNU with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
SCNU's dorm has room for every international student who wants a place, whatever your grades.
SCNU Living Hall
₩1,376,730 to ₩2,020,920spring 2026, 111 days with weekday meals
- Rooms
- Most places for international students are in the Hyangnim Hall apartments. Other halls have a few places too.
- Fees
- A Hyangnim apartment double was ₩1,422,240 for spring 2026, with weekday meals. Weekend meals are optional, at ₩288,000 to ₩297,000.
- Dates
- Spring 2026 ran from 1 March to 19 June. Meals ran from dinner on 2 March to lunch on 19 June.
- Furniture
- A bed, wardrobe, desk, bookshelf and chair. Bring your own bedding.
- Kitchen
- A free kitchen for international students, with a large fridge, an electric stove and a microwave, and a prayer room.
- Paying
- Print the bill from the SCNU portal and pay at a NongHyup bank. Other banks don't take it.
Before you apply
- Open 24 hours. The dorm doesn't close at night. Rooms are checked at 20:00 at least once a month.
- Visitors. Only residents can go into each building. A guest needs approval from the duty office or the dorm office.
- Banned. No alcohol, smoking or gambling. No heaters, kettles, electric blankets, irons, gas burners, TVs, instruments or pets. A fridge of 45 litres or less is fine if your roommate agrees and you fill in a form.
- Penalty points. At 9 penalty points you have to leave, and you can't come back to the dorm for a year.
- Moving out early. You get back the fee for the days left, minus one week. You can't move back in the same semester.
- Last day. Meals stop after lunch on the last day, and you have to finish moving out by 16:00.
SCNU's dorm and international pages. Fees change a little each semester. Checked on 21 October 2026.
Off campus
- Off campus
- Studios and goshiwons near SCNU cost about ₩250,000 to ₩400,000 a month, depending on size. You sign the contract directly, so make sure it's in your name and keep a copy.
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
- Credits
- You study at SCNU for one or two semesters and transfer the credits to your home university.
- Registration
- SCNU's course registration for spring 2027 runs from 1 to 5 February. Check with the international office how exchange students register.
- Attendance
- Korean universities usually fail you after a set number of absences, whatever your grades. Ask each professor in week one.
- Calendar
- SCNU's academic calendar, in Korean, with exam weeks and holidays.SCNU calendar ↗
Questions exchange students ask
How does course registration work at SCNU?
SCNU's course registration for spring 2027 runs from 1 to 5 February.
Check with the international office how exchange students register.
How much is the dorm at SCNU?
SCNU Living Hall · On campus
From the last semester₩1,376,730 to ₩2,020,920
Spring 2026, 111 days with weekday meals
What about living off campus at SCNU?
Studios and goshiwons near SCNU cost about ₩250,000 to ₩400,000 a month, depending on size.
You sign the contract directly, so make sure it's in your name and keep a copy.
What do I need for the visa to study at SCNU?
Once you're accepted, apply for a student visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country.
What they ask for and how long it takes differs by country, so check with them early.
How do exchange students meet SCNU students?
SCNU Buddy Program
Pairs incoming exchange and international students with Korean students, who help with studying and settling in at SCNU.
Is there a group chat for SCNU exchange students?
Yes.
SCNU 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 SCNU?
Register within 90 days of arriving.
SCNU helps new students apply as a group at the start of the March and September semesters.
Do exchange students at SCNU need health insurance?
Once you register for your residence card, you join National Health Insurance automatically.
Each month's fee is due by the 25th of the month before.
How many credits can I take at SCNU?
You study at SCNU for one or two semesters and transfer the credits to your home university.
How do I apply to SCNU as an exchange student?
Your home university nominates you, then you apply by email.
For spring the deadline is in December, SCNU screens applications in mid-January and tells you the result in late January.
For autumn it's June, mid-July and late July.
Who do I contact at SCNU?
Official links and help
Office of International Affairs+82-61-750-3142
lee18039@scnu.ac.krStudent life
- Events
- A welcome party for new international students and cultural activities during the semester.
- Health centre
- The campus health centre keeps cold, headache and stomach medicine and first aid for minor injuries, so you don't need a pharmacy for small things.
- Inbound exchange
- Visa and residence card
- Insurance
- Housing
- Dorm fees and dates
- Academic calendar
- International office staff