Sahmyook University opens department exclusively for international students

Sahmyook University's campus in Nowon District, northern Seoul [SAHMYOOK UNIVERSITY]

Sahmyook University announced Tuesday it has created the Division of Global Culture & Arts Convergence, a department exclusively for international students.

The university established a Performing Arts major under this division, which covers various performing arts, including acting, dance, singing and playing musical instruments. Technical aspects, such as performance production, stage design, lighting and scriptwriting, will also be taught through the major.

Students will be able to choose between two main focuses, performance or design.

Applications for the first cohort of students will remain open until Aug. 2, with selected students being admitted in the fall semester of 2024.

The Division of Global Culture & Arts Convergence is an international-student-exclusive department, and students will have to take Korean classes in their first year of study.

Students will be able to do internships in their fourth year at organizations that Sahmyook University has partnered with. The university currently has partnerships with Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany and 16 performing arts organizations in Korea and abroad.

To be eligible to apply for the department's majors, both the applicant and the applicant's parents must be of foreign nationality. Students must also have Topik level 2 or above, or pass the SU-Topik, a similar Korean proficiency test made by the university.

International students are admitted outside the university's set admissions quota, and there is no set quota for the division.

"Since the Division of Global Culture & Arts Convergence is a specialized department for international students, we plan to provide education fit for the needs of those students and help them adapt to university life in Korea," said Je Hae-jong, president of Sahmyook University.

"We plan to open more majors within the department to attract outstanding international students and enhance our global competitiveness."

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]