Welcome Message

Greetings from Seoul National University (SNU)!

With the launch of the Office of Global Affairs, Seoul National University (SNU) enters a new phase of global engagement grounded in a clear institutional vision. At this important juncture, we understand internationalization not simply as the expansion of external links, but as a sustained commitment to meaningful academic exchange and mobility. Guided by the principle of “Rooted Excellence, Global Relevance,” SNU seeks to strengthen both inbound and outbound mobility while deepening its engagement with global partners in ways that reflect the University’s distinctive strengths. We believe that what is most distinctive about SNU forms the strongest foundation for meaningful global engagement.

Seoul National University’s excellence is rooted in Korea’s lived experience of transformation—colonialism, division, war, development, democratization, and technological advancement. Building on this foundation, SNU aims to translate its scholarly and policy expertise into globally relevant knowledge through active global engagement. This includes expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers to move across borders, as well as creating an academic environment in which international members of the SNU community are fully supported, valued, and integrated into campus life.

Looking ahead, SNU’s global engagement will be shaped by mobility, partnership, and strategic engagements on the basis of mutual respect, co-creation, and shared purpose with global partners. Alongside strengthening outbound opportunities for our students and scholars, we are committed to enhancing institutional support and services for inbound international students, faculty, and researchers, ensuring that Seoul National University is a welcoming and enabling place to study, teach, and conduct research. By remaining firmly grounded in our own intellectual traditions while engaging openly with diverse global communities, we aspire to advance a form of internationalization that is both distinctly SNU and genuinely global.

Taekyoon Kim, Ph.D.
Vice President of OGA
Seoul National University