Sogang University

Sogang University (hangul: 서강대학교 hanja: 西江大學校) is one of the leading research and liberal arts universities of South Korea. The university was established in 1960 by the Wisconsin province of the Society of Jesus to provide education based on Catholic beliefs inspired by the Jesuit education philosophy. Sister schools of Sogang founded on Jesuit philosophy include Georgetown University, Boston College and Sophia University.

History

Beginnings

At the initiative of the Catholic Hierarchy of Korea, Pope Pius XII gave assurance that a Catholic institution of higher learning would be established in Korea. In 1948 he entrusted the task to the Society of Jesus. In October 1954 Jesuit Fr. Theodor Geppert from Sophia University of Tokyo came to Korea in search of a suitable site to establish a Jesuit college. In February 1955 Fr. Leo Burns, Superior of the Wisconsin Province of Jesuits, came to Korea and, with the Catholic Hierarchy, began negotiations with the government for the foundation of the college. In January 1957 the Society of Jesus purchased a property of 67,075 pyong (217,323 sq. meters, 53 acres) at Nogo San, Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The site was prepared for construction of an Administration Building, which was completed in November 1959.