St. Michael Seminary(1914-1920)
The Anglican Church of Korea first started its mission in 1889 at Gangwha Island. From the beginning, focusing on the missionary works in areas of medical, cultural and social welfare, the church built hospitals, schools, and orphanages. To nurture clergy and spirituality training, the Anglican Church of Korea established St. Michael Seminary in 1914 in Gangwha Island, Gyeong-gi Do. Bishop Mark Trollope, the third bishop of the Anglican Church of Korea, appointed father Cecil Heo as the first head of the missionary. The missionary provided thorough religious training as a monastery, and theological education respecting indigenous Korean cultures. However, after the first graduates in 1916, St. Michael Seminary had no choice but to close due to the First World War in 1916.
Sufferings of the nation and Relocation of the campus(1921-1956)
St. Michael Seminary moved from Gangwha Island to Incheon in 1921, and to Jeong Dong, Seoul in 1925 when Bishop Mark Trollope was inaugurated as the second dean. In 1940, the Japanese police forcefully closed the seminary and it couldn’t open again for the next 8 years. In 1948, father Lee Do Am took office as the fourth dean, but the seminary had no option but to close again because the Korean War broke out in 1950, and father Lee Do Am and professor/father Cho Yong Ho were kidnapped to the North Korea during the war, again the seminary had no choice but to close. In 1952, the seminary moved to Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk Do.
The Beginning of HangDong Campus and a New Model of Theology Education(1957-1981)
ThroughIn 1957, St. Michael Seminary moved to the current Hangdon Campus, father Reuben Archer Torrey III, Cheondeok Dae in Korean name, was inaugurated as a dean. Since then, the seminary has emphasized communal living and spirituality training more. Since 1961, the seminary has admitted bachelor's degree holders from general universities and adopted a three-year graduate school of theology course teaching them basic theology subjects and training as clergies. In 1966, the main building of St. Michael Seminary was built, permissions for establishment of the school corporation Cheonsin Academy and Cheonsin Seminary were approved.
School Cooperation Establishment and Beginning of 10,000 Prayer Movement (1982-1991)
In 1982, Cheonsin Academy as a 4 year undergraduate course in School Cooperation, Cheonsin Academy, was established and started with 40 freshmen of Theology Department. In 1987, the course received a 4-year university education accreditation from the Ministry of Education. In 1988, the University could continue the missionary philosophy of the Anglican Church founded on social services by opening Dept. of Social Welfare. In 1989, the school name was changed to ‘Sungkonghoe Theological Seminary.’ In september 1991, as a fund-raising campaign for university development, ‘10,000 Prayer Movement’ began. In November 1991, the preliminary approval for the reorganization of ‘Sungkonghoe Theological University’ from the Education Ministry, which provided an opportunity for a leap forward.
The Youngest University in Seoul(1992-1997)
In 1992, the university received the final approval for promotion to a college level educational institution as ‘SungKongHoe Seminary College’ from the Korean Education Ministry. In 1992, the college newly opened the Dept. of Religion and Sociology, and the Dept. of Missionary English. In 1994 when it celebrated its 80th year anniversary, the college changed its name from ‘Sungkonghoe Seminary College’ to ‘Sungkonghoe University’, and launched a new and fresh start as a comprehensive university. In 1995, the University newly added ‘Computer Science and Information.’ In 1996, the departments of Japanese Language, Journalism and Broadcasting, Information and Communications and the Graduate School of Theology, were added. In 1997, the Dept. of Distribution and Logistics, and the Dept. of Social Welfare in the Graduate School of Civil Society and Social Welfare were established. Finally, SungKongHoe University has been equipped with the status of a true comprehensive university in name and reality.
The University of Human Rights and Peace(1998-2004)
Through the first long-term development plan, the University was characterized as ‘a university of human rights and peace’ to realize its educational philosophy: Openness, Sharing and Service. Under this foundation, it has tried to make an alternative university cultivating a critical and democratic citizen with specialties and humanities knowledge. In 1998, the University opened the Dept. of NGOs in Graduate School of Civil Society and Social Welfare, and a civil society leader training course was established in the graduate school for the first time in Korea. In April 2000, the university opened the Democracy Museum, Dept. of Digital Contents in 2001, and Graduate School of Culture in 2003 respectively.
Asia Peace Community University(2005-2014)
As a result of implementing the first long-term development plan, the University could establish itself as ‘the university of human rights and peace.’ With the success of the first plan, the University drafted the second long-term development plan (2005-2014) to grow into a hub of ‘Asia’s Peace Community.’ According to these visions and goals, the University made an every effort to expand infrastructures to strengthen a connection of Asian civil society and industry-university cooperation. It, first in Korea, opened a degree course called MAINS for civil and social activity leaders in Asia, ran a business to strengthen solidarity with Asian civil and social societies. Through this project, the University presented a new direction as ’a civil and social community university with Asia.‘
The University in Solidarity with the World with Human Rights and Peace(2015-present)
Commemorating the centennial anniversary, the University drafted the third long-term development plan (2015-2024) to advance to ‘the University in Solidarity with the world through Human Rights and Peace.’ According to the third long-term development plan, freshmen from 2018 academic year are free to choose two majors until the third semester and pursue their majors from the fourth semester. By offering this flexible curriculum, the University is nuturing convergent talents with professional competences based on the values of peace and of respect for life.
