It started as Yuil Haknim
WKU's first school, Yuil Haknim, opened in May 1946. The university calls it Iksan's first educational institution.
Wonkwang University
WKU · Iksan
Wonkwang University is a private university in Iksan, North Jeolla. It was founded on the spirit of Won Buddhism and began as Yuil Haknim in 1946. Exchange students study at its one campus in Iksan.
- Founded
- 1946 as Yuil Haknim
- Campus
- Iksan About 1 hour 10 minutes from Yongsan by KTX
- Tuition
- Waived for one semester or a full year
- Residence card
- Within 90 days of arriving in Korea
이명민, CC BY 3.0, resizedWhat WKU is like
Things Korean students all know that are new when you arrive.
Wonkwang College
Wonkwang Junior College was set up in September 1951. Wonkwang College followed in January 1953, with Dr Park Gil-jin as its first dean.
A Won Buddhist foundation
WKU says it was founded on the spirit of Won Buddhism and the will to help people through education. Its founding ideal is to raise people with both knowledge and virtue, which Korean calls jideok gyeomsu.
The phoenix emblem
The head and chest of the phoenix follow one carved on a Baekje-era incense burner, and the body and tail form the letters WKU. The three tails stand for study, building character and serving society.
Gold, the ginkgo and the magnolia
WKU describes its school colour, gold, as the centre of the universe and the source of life. The school tree is the ginkgo, which shows that gold best, and the school flower is the white magnolia.
- Words you'll hear
- Wondae 원대 Short for Wonkwang University
- Bonghwang 봉황 The phoenix, WKU's symbol
- Iksan 익산 The city where the campus is
- Sugang 수강신청 Course registration
From Wonkwang University's official English welcome, logo and introduction pages and its Korean symbols and history pages, checked on 26 October 2026.
People
Places and help on the WKU campus.
Country chats
Country chats are for everyone from that country studying anywhere in Korea, not only at WKU.
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 WKU.
Flash meetups. Anyone can start or join a short meetup in the app, like dinner tonight or a hike on Saturday.
Around campus
WKU has one campus, in Iksan, North Jeolla, and exchange students study there.
Address in Korean
전북 익산시 익산대로 460
460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54538
Also on Kakao Map and Google Maps. Naver and Kakao work best in Korea.
- By train
- Iksan Station is on the Honam and Jeolla lines, about 1 hour 10 minutes by KTX from Yongsan in Seoul. From the station it's about 10 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by city bus.
- By bus
- The airport limousine to Iksan Bus Terminal takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and the express bus from Seoul about 2 hours 40 minutes. From the terminal it's about 15 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes by city bus.
- Airport pickup
- WKU helps exchange students get to campus from where they land, such as Incheon Airport or Gunsan port. Send the international office your arrival details.
- International office
- Center for International Affairs. Questions go to bon5752@wku.ac.kr, +82-63-850-5752.
Every place to eat near campus.
76places to eat near IksanVegetarian options 28Each place shows the menu in English and Korean and walking directions.
Before you come
0 / 5For Autumn 2026. The emails from the school come first. Use this list to check nothing is missing. Ticks stay in this browser only.
Not an official WKU page. Dates and rules change. Check the details on WKU's official site before you apply or book anything. WKU exchange programme ↗ Checked on 21 October 2026
Your home university has to be a WKU partner and recommend you. WKU doesn't publish a fixed deadline, so ask your exchange office at home.
Exchange programme ↗The application form, a recommendation letter, a personal statement and study plan, your transcript, a certificate of enrolment, a copy of your passport and 3 photos (3 × 5 cm, white background). Add a TOPIK score and a TOEIC or TOEFL score if you have them.
Tuition is usually waived for one semester or a full year. Free dorm and meals depend on the agreement with your home university.
You need a student visa (D-2). A visa issuance certificate comes first, and you then apply at the Korean embassy or consulate with its number. The certificate is valid for 3 months and works only once.
For 2026, students on a D-2 visa pay about ₩79,000 a month for National Health Insurance. Paying late can shorten your next visa extension.
Other dates
- 14 DecemberFinal exams
- 18 DecemberAutumn semester ends
After you arrive
Residence card
Register within 90 days of arriving in Korea.
Bring your passport, one colour photo and a certificate of enrolment.
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
- Proof of address
- Dorm students get a residence certificate from the dorm. If you live off campus you show your rental contract, and moving without reporting it can cost you a fine.
- 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.
- Extending your stay
- Bring your passport, residence card, the application form, a certificate of enrolment, your transcript, proof you paid tuition and a bank book with over ₩3,000,000. The fee is ₩60,000.
- Bank
- Hana Bank and a post office are in the Student Hall.
- 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.
- 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 WKU with a friend? Send them this page.
Housing
WKU hasn't published dorm fees or how exchange students are placed. Ask the international office before you come.
- Iksan Global Exchange Center
- A dorm for international students, built with the Ministry of Education, the province and the city. It has twin rooms, a student support centre that helps with daily life and a global lounge for meeting Korean students.Global Exchange Center ↗
- Campus dorms
- The other dorms have shared bathrooms and showers, study rooms, lounges, a gym, a cafeteria and laundry rooms. They serve three meals a day, holidays included.
- Dorm rules
- WKU is strict about dorm rules. Penalty points add up, and with too many the dorm contacts your parents.
- Leaving early
- If you move out during the semester you get 91% of the dorm fee back in the first week, 51% within 6 weeks, 9% within 13 weeks and nothing after that.
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
- Korean for exchange students
- WKU runs Korean classes only for exchange students, at beginner and intermediate level. You take a level test after you arrive.
- Changing courses
- In autumn 2026 you could change courses on 7 and 8 September and drop a course from 14 to 16 September.
- Exams
- Classes run for 15 weeks. Week 15 is for make-up classes, and finals are in week 16, or in week 15 for courses that need no make-up.
- 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
What do I need for the visa to study at WKU?
You need a student visa (D-2).
A visa issuance certificate comes first, and you then apply at the Korean embassy or consulate with its number.
The certificate is valid for 3 months and works only once.
Is there a group chat for WKU exchange students?
Yes.
WKU 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 WKU?
Register within 90 days of arriving in Korea.
Bring your passport, one colour photo and a certificate of enrolment.
Do exchange students at WKU need health insurance?
For 2026, students on a D-2 visa pay about ₩79,000 a month for National Health Insurance.
Paying late can shorten your next visa extension.
Who do I contact at WKU?
Official links and help
Center for International Affairs+82-63-850-5752
bon5752@wku.ac.krStudent life
- Student Hall
- Club rooms, a bookshop, a post office, Hana Bank, a shop, a photo studio, a barber and a cafeteria.
- Sports grounds
- The main grounds have an artificial turf football pitch, a running track, an inline skating track and a basketball court.
- Health Mutual Aid
- Members get 70% of their medical costs back. Hand in the receipt and your student card within 6 months of treatment.
- Dorm festival
- Every May and November the dorms hold a festival with an open house, sports and a talent show.
- Exchange programme
- Academic calendar 2026 (PDF)
- Visa and residence card
- Global Exchange Center
- Getting to WKU