It began as an art school
Sangmyung says it was founded in 1937 as Sangmyung High School of Art and Design, to train leaders during Japanese colonial rule.
Sangmyung University
Sangmyung · Seoul
A university in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that began in 1937 as Sangmyung High School of Art and Design. It has been coeducational since 1996. Exchange students in this guide study at the Seoul campus in Hongji-dong.
- Founded
- 1937 as a high school of art and design
- Campus
- Seoul Line 3, Gyeongbokgung Station, then a bus
- Dorm
- From ₩790,000 a semester, fall 2026 rate
- Residence card
- Within 90 days of arriving in Korea
hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0, resizedWhat Sangmyung is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
Moving to Hongji-dong
Sangmyung Women's College of Education was established in 1965. On 1 September 1966 it moved into a new building in Hongji-dong, Jongno-gu, where the Seoul campus is now.
Open to men since 1996
The school was a women's university from 1983 to 1996. On 1 March 1996 it became Sangmyung University and admitted men.
A second campus in Cheonan
The Cheonan campus was established on 1 March 1985. It runs its own exchange programme, separate from the Seoul campus.
A deer, a flower and a pine
The school's symbol animal is the deer, for love, ideals and sacrifice. Its flower is the apricot flower (매화 in Korean), for cleanliness, nobleness and fidelity, and its tree is the pine.
- Words you'll hear
- Sangmyungdae 상명대 Short for Sangmyung University
- Hongji-dong 홍지동 The neighbourhood of the Seoul campus
- Cheonan-kaem 천안캠 The Cheonan campus
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From Sangmyung's official English history and symbol pages and its Korean symbol page, checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at Sangmyung.
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 Sangmyung.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
This guide covers Sangmyung's Seoul campus in Hongji-dong, Jongno-gu. The Cheonan campus runs its own exchange programme.
Address in Korean
서울특별시 종로구 홍지문2길 20
20 Hongjimun 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03016
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- Bus
- Bus 7016 stops at the main gate. You can catch it at the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center, and it goes through Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Station.
- Subway
- There's no station by the campus. Get off at Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, use exit 3 and take a bus.
- Other buses
- 1711 and 7022 also start at the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center. Other buses stop at Sangmyung Univ. or Sangmyung Univ. Entrance. From the Segeomjeong stops it's about 5 minutes on foot.
- From Gimpo Airport
- Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, exit 2, then a bus from the stop at the KT Gwanghwamun office.
- In a taxi
- Show the driver 상명대학교 서울캠퍼스로 가 주세요.
- International Office
- First floor of the main administration building.
Inwangsan and Gyeongbokgung Palace within 4 km of campus.
365places to eat near SeoulRestaurants 222 · Cafés 107 · Bars & pubs 36 · Vegetarian options 28 · Open late 45Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
2.0 km from campus
Inwangsan Mountain
An hour and a half round trip, starting right at Gyeongbokgung Station. A good first hike in Seoul.
2.8 km from campus
Tongin Market Coin Lunchbox
Open 11:00-16:00 on weekdays and 11:00-17:00 on weekends. It closes on Tuesdays, the same day as Gyeongbokgung, so if you plan both for the same Tuesday you'll miss both.
3.2 km from campus
Seodaemun Prison History Hall
09:30-18:00 in summer, 09:30-17:00 in winter. When a Monday falls on a public holiday, it closes the following day instead.
3.6 km from campus
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Closing time moves with the season. From June to August it is 09:00-18:30. In March to May and September to October it is 09:00-18:00. From November to February it is 09:00-17:00. Last admission is one hour before closing, so arriving late afternoon in winter does not work.
3.9 km from campus
Bukchon Hanok Village
Tourists are barred from the lanes from 17:00 until 10:00 the next morning. Breaking the rule carries a 100,000 won fine.
- Coffee & dessert 76
- Soups & stews 38
- Korean BBQ 32
- Street food 28
- Bakery 24
- Western 23
- Japanese 22
- Fried chicken 22
- Pocha 22
- Korean home food 21
- Pub & Bar 14
- Chinese 11
Checked by A-CHA
- 아마스빈 상명대점Amasvin
- 빨간계단
- 팔선생
- 옥상Try: Crispy Yurinki with Chili, Mala Xiang Guo, Boneless Spicy Chicken Stew
- 청학동Try: Al-gopchang, Cheese Al-gopchang, Kkanpunggi Boneless Chicken
- 스탑바이Try: Gamjatang, Spicy Stir-fried Chicken, Grilled Dakgalbi
- 송스키친
- 파리바게뜨종로구기Paris Baguette
- 히바치광Try: Chicken Neck, Chicken Skin, Beef Flower Cut
- 구기동야키토리Try: Skewer Set (6), Skewer Set (10)
- 프리퀄
- 구기동면옥
Before you come
0 / 2The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official Sangmyung page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on Sangmyung's official site before you apply or book anything. Sangmyung international student support ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Sangmyung's Seoul campus exchanges students with partner universities. Ask your home university's exchange office about the nomination and the dates.
Partner universities ↗The dorm asks for a chest X-ray for TB when you move in. For autumn 2026 it only took results from 15 June 2026 on.
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
- When and where
- Register within 90 days of arriving, at the Sejongno branch of Seoul immigration.
- Fee
- The government fee for the card is ₩35,000.
- Health insurance
- You join National Health Insurance automatically when you register, at about ₩79,000 a month in 2026. The bill goes to the address you gave immigration and is due by the 25th of each month.
- Time abroad
- If you're out of Korea for more than a month, you don't pay insurance for that time.
- Unpaid bills
- Unpaid premiums stop your cover, add up to 5% in late fees and can limit your visa extension.
- Insurance helpline
- NHIS answers in English and other languages on +82-33-811-2000.
- 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 Sangmyung with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
Villa House is Sangmyung's dorm for international students in Seoul. Exchange students and students recommended by the International Student Support Team are picked first.
Villa House
₩790,000 to ₩1,564,000a semester, fall 2026 rate
- Rooms
- Women can choose rooms for one to six people. Men can choose rooms for one, two or four.
- Prices
- ₩1,564,000 for a single, ₩1,100,000 for a double and ₩790,000 for a room of six. You can pay in two parts.
- Autumn 2026
- Applications by email in late July, move-in on 28 August and move-out on 18 December.
- Rooms have
- Bunk beds, a desk, a wardrobe, a fridge, a shower and toilet. Laundry is shared.
- Bring
- Your own bedding, and slippers for the room and the bathroom.
- House rules
- Roll call at 21:00 Monday to Thursday. No shoes inside and no guests. Smoking outside the smoking area gets you removed.
- Refunds
- Cancel before move-in for a full refund. Leaving early costs the days you stayed plus 10%, and with under 30 days left there's no refund.
- Contact
- +82-2-396-0852.
Sangmyung's Villa House notice for autumn 2026 and its international student support page. 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.
Questions exchange students ask
How much is the dorm at Sangmyung?
Villa House · On Hongjimun 2-gil, the campus street
From the last semester₩790,000 to ₩1,564,000
A semester, fall 2026 rate
Is there a group chat for Sangmyung exchange students?
Yes.
Sangmyung 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 Sangmyung?
Register within 90 days of arriving, at the Sejongno branch of Seoul immigration.
Do exchange students at Sangmyung need health insurance?
You join National Health Insurance automatically when you register, at about ₩79,000 a month in 2026.
The bill goes to the address you gave immigration and is due by the 25th of each month.
How do I apply to Sangmyung as an exchange student?
Sangmyung's Seoul campus exchanges students with partner universities.
Ask your home university's exchange office about the nomination and the dates.
Who do I contact at Sangmyung?
Official links and help
International Student Support Team+82-2-2287-5469
smu.isst@smu.ac.krStudent life
- Health centre
- Student Union room 314. Weekdays 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00 in the semester, and 9:00 to 15:00 in the holidays. Bring your student ID and it's free. Phone +82-2-2287-5200.
- Cafeterias
- On the fifth floor of Mirae Baengnyeon Hall and the second floor of Jonghap Hall.