Visit Korea's Famous Universities in Seoul: Ewha Womans University & Yonsei University

I may have a complex for prestigious universities. Many years ago, when I traveled to a city or country, I would visit the best local university to experience the atmosphere. On the third day of my trip to Seoul, I visited some prestigious universities. It was still cloudy, and we didn't get a single sunny day in Seoul, which was a little sad. The first stop was Ewha Womans University. Founded in 1886, it is one of the oldest women's universities in the world and the largest women's university in Asia. The most direct impression Koreans have of Ewha Womans University is that it is a school that produces female elites. "I'm not a future wife, I'm a future boss." This powerful slogan is a symbol of female power. The school is open to the public. Due to the large number of visitors, some core teaching areas have signs prohibiting entry to avoid disturbing students. Not far from the entrance is the most distinctive building of Ewha Womans University: the ECC (Ewha Campus Complex), designed by French architect Dominique Perrault. The building is sunken, with a scenic avenue hiding classrooms and many spaces on both sides. The walls are all glass curtain walls, so the lighting is excellent. In addition to the avant-garde and modern ECC building, most of the buildings at Ewha Womans University exude an elegant European style, with a church as a typical representative of European style. The buildings are distributed among lush trees, following the terrain. Winding paths lead to various corners of the campus, creating a serene and elegant scene that truly reflects the unique charm of this century-old prestigious university. After leaving Ewha Womans University, Yonsei University is not far away. It is a comprehensive research university founded in 1885 with a Christian spirit. It is also a century-old prestigious university, along with Seoul National University and Korea University, known as the "S.K.Y."—the three most famous universities in Korea. The school motto "Truth and Freedom" is displayed on its emblem, with the "book" symbolizing the pursuit of truth, the "torch" representing the light of freedom, and the "shield" steadfastly guarding these core values. Entering through the main gate, the first thing you see is rows of neat trees. The view is wide, and the surrounding buildings are arranged in an orderly manner, giving a modern and concise feeling. At first, I wondered if I hadn't entered the campus yet, as a historical university shouldn't be so modern and lack historical atmosphere. But as we walked through the "modern" front half, surprises began to appear. First, we came across a courtyard with an ancient atmosphere: Gwanghye-won. At first, I thought it was a place like a study hall, but later I learned it was actually a royal hospital founded by an American missionary and Korea's first modern hospital. I was surprised by its Chinese-style architecture. This courtyard was restored to its original appearance in 1987 in the Yonsei University History Museum to record and preserve the history of Yonsei University and has been used as the Yonsei Historical Materials Museum. As we walked further, we finally reached the part of the campus that truly befits a century-old prestigious university: the classical Western-style buildings. A strong sense of history hit us, and this is where the main building of Yonsei University is located! The walls of these exotic and historically rich buildings are covered with plants, and the weathered brick walls and elegant window frames blend perfectly with the exquisite architecture, giving a feeling of a European castle. In the central square, a statue of Horace Underwood stands tall. He was an American missionary who came to the Korean Peninsula and, in a sense, the founder of Yonsei University. It is for this reason that the "Truth and Freedom" motto of Yonsei University is a highly condensed expression of the Christian spirit. Some modern buildings are hidden in the dense forest, blending well with the ancient buildings. After passing through the forest, several castle-like buildings stand in front of us, even larger and more imposing than before. The dense ivy almost covers the entire building in green.