Nwely constructed Global Residence Halls
On September 9, SNU held an opening ceremony for the newly built Global Residence Halls. Approved by the SNU Office of Academic Affairs in 2013, construction of the facilities began in 2016 and was completed in July of 2019.
The Global Residence Halls were built to foster a more diverse and inclusive campus and provide better housing for international students at SNU. To better accommodate the majority of international students who enter SNU in the fall, in contrast with most Korean students who enter in the spring, the Global Residence Halls accept applications in both the fall and spring semesters.
Consisting of 28 buildings including the undergraduate, graduate, and family dormitories, the SNU Gwanak Residence Halls previously housed around 4,500 people. The Global Residence Halls now provides housing for an additional 960 people.
The new facilities consist of three main nine-story buildings, including two-person (297 units) and four-person rooms (90 units), as well as rooms designed for students with disabilities (6 units). The Global Residence Halls are equipped with a wide range of amenities and facilities, including a fitness center and a number of seminar rooms and lounges for student activities.
Many faculty members and staff attended the event including SNU President Oh Se-jung, Vice President for Academic Affairs Hong Keehyun (Department of Economics), Vice President for Research Affairs Noh Dong Young (Department of Surgery) and Vice President for Planning and Communication Yeo Jungsung (College of Human Ecology).
Do Junggeun, president of the Student Union, attended the event on behalf of the student body alongside SNU Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) students and a number of students from the SNU international community. Sheen Dong Jae, CEO of DAUL Architects & Planners, was also present at the event.
While expressing his congratulations on the opening of the Global Residence Halls to Korean and foreign students, President Oh highlighted SNU’s dedication to grow into a world-class research university the actively recognizes, embraces and celebrates diversity. He expressed his congratulations on the opening of the Global Residence Halls to Korean and foreign students, stating, "I hope the new facilities will foster a warm and supportive atmosphere for SNU’s international community.”
Dean of the Gwanak Residence Halls Roh Yoo-sun (Department of Biological Sciences) expressed his gratitude to President Oh, the faculty members of the SNU Gwanak Residence Halls, and three former deans of the SNU Gwanak Residence Halls, Kim Tae-wan (Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering), Kim Dae-yong (Department of Veterinary Pathology and Preventive Medicine) and Cho Je-yeol (Department of Biochemistry), for their continued support and efforts.
Roh promised to ensure that the new global living quarters are a place for students to “learn together, grow together, and dream together.”
Source: https://now.snu.ac.kr/46/1/1414
Written by Frances Seowon Jin, SNU English Editor, seowonjin@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr