To mark its 76th anniversary—and 70 years since becoming an official university—Kyung Hee University (KHU) has opened a new exhibition titled “The History of Kyung Hee, the Future of the University”. Created by the University Archives (UA), the exhibition offers a space for all visitors to explore KHU’s past, present, and vision for the future.

76 Years of Change, One Walkthrough 

“The History of Kyung Hee, the Future of the University” offers a comprehensive view of the KHU’s history, encompassing the University’s growth and students’ campus life. Held at the central exhibition hall of the Central Museum, the main exhibition provides an overview of the University’s development from its founding to the present. A supplementary exhibition titled “Student Life Archive” is also on display, offering a glimpse into the campus experiences of earlier generations of KHU students.

The central exhibition hall for “The History of Kyung Hee, the Future of the University”

Lee Keum-hwa, the deputy director of UA, explained, “This is the first exhibition to present KHU’s full history, from its founding to today. It highlights how the KHU community has pursued its founding principle of ‘creating a civilized world’ through education, research, and practice over the past 76 years.”

KHU’s Past and Future at a Glance

The exhibition traces KHU’s evolution from 1949 to the present, divided in three chapters.

The first section, “Daring Dreams, Adventurous Actions” (1949–1978), begins with KHU’s founding in Busan, where it evacuated during the Korean War. After the war, KHU established its first campus in Seoul and received official recognition as a university. As a newly founded institution, it also introduced innovative policies. These developments are presented through books, documents and a video of constructing the Seoul Campus based on a detailed master plan.

Before the next section, a video introduces founder Choue Young-seek’s life and philosophy—ideas that continue to guide the University today.

Next, “Leading the Times, Embracing Communities” (1979–1999) highlights KHU’s significant expansion, including the opening of the Global Campus in Yongin and its dedication to education, research, and practice upon the changing social needs. Visitors can see how the campus rapidly evolved alongside the rise of information technology and globalization.

Toshiba T1800 laptop and publications for information technology and foreign language education

The final section, “Kyung Hee’s New Vision: A University for the Future” (2000–present), outlines the University’s global mission. On its 60th anniversary in 2009, KHU reflected on its fundamental mission and embarked on a new journey “Towards Global Eminence”. Efforts in this era include the establishment of Humanitas College, formation of the Kyung Hee Future Compact, and the annual Peace BAR Festival. This ongoing period presents the future of KHU, committed to Academe and Peace.

The Kyung Hee Fellow plaque and early textbooks from Humanitas College

After touring the main exhibition of the University’s history, visitors can explore the supplementary exhibition, “Student Life Archive”. It presents the campus experiences of former students through a personal lens. Photographs, documents, and videos capture diverse moments in student life, such as school festivals, club activities, course registrations, and exams. Through black-and-white photographs and handwritten documents, students can compare their own campus life to the past and see how much has changed.

An Exhibition Designed for Everyone

This exhibition is designed as an open space where anyone can visit and enjoy. In previous exhibitions, only Korean descriptions were available, making it difficult for international visitors to understand. However, with the support of professors from the Dept. of English Language & Literature, this exhibition now offers English descriptions, allowing international visitors to engage with the content.

“Since the opening, many international students have visited the exhibition. In early June, about 30 Taiwanese students from National Taiwan University and Chinese Culture University came here as a group,” Lee explained. “I hope the exhibition becomes more widely known among the international students in KHU, so they can discover the University’s history this way,” she added.

To make the exhibit more interactive, one side of the gallery offers game stations: card flipping, history quizzes, and campus map puzzles. These interactive elements draw students in and make the experience more memorable. “Thanks to the games, I gradually found the exhibition more interesting,” Song Eun-ju, a student from the Dept. of Applied English Linguistics & Translation Studies said. “It was a meaningful experience that brought me one step closer to the University’s history,” she added.

In June, the UA held a lucky draw event for students who participated in the game program. “Many students joined the event to explore the University’s history through fun games and win some prizes,” Lee said, adding, “UA is planning another event in September, when the second semester begins.”

“The History of Kyung Hee, the Future of the University” is a meaningful space to reflect on the University’s journey of the past and for the future. By following KHU’s footsteps, visitors can discover the University’s identity shaped by 76 years of education, research, and practice. This exhibition is available until the end of February next year. Group visits and guided tours are also provided upon prior request to UA. All visitors are invited to experience KHU’s history and identity through various exhibits and interactive content.