A Global Community of Excellence, Convergence, and Creativity

Have you ever seen the 1965 cartoon by artist Jung-moon Lee “Life in the Year 2000 AD?” It features a “portable TV phone,” “electric car,” “radio wave newspaper,” “solar-powered house,” “moving roads,” and even a “school trip to the moon.” Sixty years later, we enjoy most of these “futuristic” ideas. This exemplifies how engineering transforms imagination into reality, earning its title as the "Enabler Discipline." The dreams and aspirations of humanity have kindled the passion of engineers, serving as the driving force behind world-changing innovations.

South Korea’s rapid economic growth was made possible through industrialization. At the same time, education played a pivotal role in laying the foundation of the country. At the intersection of these two pillars of industry and education was the College of Engineering at Seoul National University, which was the first national university in South Korea. The country's development has been led by its prominent alumni, including CEOs of major corporations, founders of venture capital firms, national policy makers, and world-renowned engineers. To this day, the lights in SNU's engineering laboratories shine bright in pursuit of relentless innovation, while over 70,000 alumni play leading roles across diverse fields in this era of borderless and fierce global competition.

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the comprehensive development of Seoul National University’s Gwanak Campus, followed by the 80th anniversary of Seoul National University in 2026—both truly meaningful milestones in our history. This is not only a momentous occasion, but also the “beginning of change” for Seoul National University College of Engineering towards a new talent model unique to our institution. Seoul National University's assets are its 80-year tradition of excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration that has been built up over the 50-year history of the Gwanak campus. By leveraging Seoul National University College of Engineering’s unparalleled legacies of excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to nurture exceptionally creative talent, expand the frontiers of engineering technology, and establish a groundbreaking ecosystem of transformative innovation. We humbly solicit your interest, advice, and encouragement as we begin the transformation of Seoul National University College of Engineering towards a global community of “excellence,” “collaboration,” and “creativity.” Together, we look forward to working with aspiring individuals who wish to change the world.

Kim, Young-Oh
32nd Dean
Seoul National University College of Engineering