Pusan National University (PNU, also called Busan National University) is one of ten flagship Korean national universities and a leading university in South Korea.
Located mainly in Busan (or Pusan), the university’s English name is a translation of its former
Korean name, “Gungnip Pusan Daehakgyo”. Although the University started initially with
just two faculties, since then it has grown into a major research level institution covering all the major disciplines within academia. Today, the University enjoys its reputation as one of top universities in Korea. The University now comprises fifteen colleges, one independent division, one general graduate school, four professional graduate schools and five special graduate schools, and contributes to the development of the nation by producing prominent experts and talented leaders.
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Although it ranks 109th in the world in terms of land area, the country is a center of economic activity, culture, and arts. Korea was colonized by Japan in the early 20th century and later had to endure the Korean War (1950-53), but it has achieved amazing economic growth in a short period, dubbed “the Miracle on the Han River.” Today, Korea is an industrial nation standing tall on the world stage. Its semiconductor,
automobile, shipbuilding, steel making, and IT industries are on the leading edge in global
markets.
Busan (Pusan) is Korea’s second largest city with close to 4 million people. It also serves as
the country’s main port for international cargo, as well as passenger ferries to Japan and Jeju
Island. The city is famous for its seafood and beaches, as well as the Hallyosudo Waterway
with its picturesque islands. The Busan fish market has a huge selection of fresh seafood in the early morning. Although primarily known as a port, the city has many steep hills, creating a very unusual mix of mountains and ocean. The area remained relatively untouched during the Korean War, but the flood of refugees drastically shaped the city. The city’s natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan’s increasing reputation as a world class city of tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as an international convention destination.
Pusan National University has comfortable dormitories available to students who come from
other cities or have difficult commutes. The PNU dormitories, also known as “college living
halls”, accommodate 16% of the student body. The basic structure of the college living hall is 2
students to a room, with shared communal facilities such as showers, toilets, and a gym.
Tourists often come to this region to hike and to visit the Buddhist Temples located deep within the region’s mountains. For art buffs, Busan offers several museums and historical
buildings. If scenery is your thing, try visiting the Dongbaek Island, or bird watch at the
Nakdong river estuary. Busan is a gateway city for the Asian Continent and the starting point
for a New Silk Road across the Eurasian Continent. Busan is trying to establish a broader metropolitan transportation network by building or expanding railways and expressways, including double-track construction of the Donghae-Nambu railway line (Busan Bujeon Ulsan), new expressways (Busan-Ulsan, Busan-Eonyang, Busan-Daegu), and a highway along the coastline. There are also 4 ferry routes to Japan (Shimonoseki, Fukuoka, Tsushima and Osaka).