[Walking and Thinking of Seoul] University City Seoul, the Rise and Fall of Hot Places

After Liberation, Numerous Universities Established
Increase in College Entrants with Economic Growth
Student-Centered University Districts Flourish
Starting Point of Korean-Style Gentrification

1980s: Status as a Hub for Democratization Movements
Since the 1990s, Transformed into a Youth Culture Street

A few days ago, New York City police forcibly dispersed Columbia University students who were protesting against the war in the Gaza Strip. Images related to this incident flooded various channels, including social networking services (SNS). Seeing this, I suddenly recalled Seoul in the 1980s. Although today's New York and Seoul's protests back then are entirely different, the way young students passionately demand change and society responds with force when unable to accept it is quite similar.

What kind of changes did the student movements that heated up Seoul in the 1980s bring about? Korea's current education system largely started as part of the colonial structure during the Japanese occupation. Universities were not as common as they are now. Instead, there were public higher education institutions established by the Japanese and private higher education institutions founded by dedicated Koreans and Western missionaries. Today's Seoul National University was created by merging several institutions shortly after liberation, centered around Keijo Imperial University established by the Japanese. Korea University originated from Bosung College, a private educational institution, and Yonsei University was formed by combining Yonhi College and Severance Medical College, both founded by American missionaries. Those who received higher education during the Japanese occupation were a very small elite group. Among them were some 'pro-Japanese collaborators,' but most held high social status and contributed significantly to Korea's development after liberation.

The scenery of Jongno 2-ga, where the old Jongno Bookstore used to be. In the 1980s, Jongno 2-ga became famous for its entrance exam academies and emerged as a playground for college students, so much so that it was called "Jongno University." Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

After liberation, many new universities were established. The social status of universities remained high. The success of the April 19 Revolution in 1960, led by numerous university students and professors, might have been due to the high social status of universities or university students. In May 1961, Park Chung-hee staged a coup d'?tat, marking the beginning of a military dictatorship. From the mid-1960s, with the introduction of an industry-centered economic development policy, Korea's economic structure and lifestyle began to change rapidly. As the economy grew, the number of university entrants increased, and the demand for professionals with university degrees also rose. The social status of universities remained high, and the military regime viewed universities as objects of surveillance, leading to prolonged conflicts.

During the 1970s under the Yushin regime, politically bleak times, university culture began to flourish. The MBC College Song Festival, which started in 1977, rapidly became a symbol of social interest in university culture. The number of university students continued to grow, and as highly educated individuals spread throughout society, expectations for democratization also increased. Despite political repression, the democratization movement persisted tirelessly. After President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979, political turmoil peaked, but many university students who did not give up hope for democratization took to the streets. However, they failed to prevent the rise of the Chun Doo-hwan regime, and political repression continued.

In the 1980s, Korea became a middle-income country. The expansion of university admission quotas increased the number of students, and the size and influence of universities grew. As the number of students increased, student-centered commercial districts emerged near universities. Youth culture rose to the center of commerce, and commercial facilities began to appear in residential areas around universities. This period can be seen as the beginning of Korea's version of 'commercial gentrification.' Prosperity was not limited to 'in front of universities.' Jongno 2-ga, famous for its cram schools, became known as 'Jongno University,' a playground for university students. At this time, Gangnam was undergoing explosive development, while Gangbuk was gradually declining. Many universities were concentrated in Gangbuk, so the prosperity of university districts served as a new driving force for the declining Gangbuk area. During this period, universities had a significant impact on Seoul's urban space.

Meanwhile, as the Chun Doo-hwan dictatorship prolonged, social desire for democratization intensified. University students led continuous democratization movements. Because universities still held high social status, social support and participation in university students' democratization struggles continued. Religious figures and intellectuals from various fields also joined. The late martyr Park Jong-chul, who died from torture, and the late martyr Lee Han-yeol, who died at a protest site, became symbols of the democratization struggle, igniting flames of mourning and remembrance. Finally, in the spring of 1987, the democratization movement led by students achieved a monumental success.

What about after the 1990s? The relationship between Seoul and universities gradually began to change. Before the establishment of democracy, democratization and social development were mainly dreamed of around universities, but now broad discussions could take place throughout society. The social status of universities remained high, but their role significantly diminished in the process of changes in Korea's political structure. Instead, as purchasing power increased, students began to focus more on personal activities like travel rather than collective activities such as social movements or clubs. University districts remained popular, but from the late 1990s, they gradually declined. Areas like Hongdae, specialized around live clubs, emerged as new hotspots in Seoul, becoming centers of youth culture rather than strictly university student culture.

Since the 21st century, the rapid spread of the internet and smartphones has rapidly changed not only universities but society as a whole. As digital media deeply penetrated daily life, students hardly felt the need to gather on university campuses. Instead, places good for taking photos for social networking services (SNS) gained popularity. University districts, once always bustling with students, mostly declined except for the so-called area in front of Hongdae. It is not wrong to say that the rise and fall of Seoul's 'hot places' today are determined by the tastes and sensibilities of young people in their 20s and 30s, not university students.

Nevertheless, as of 2024, Seoul remains a university city. 500,000 students study at 41 universities. The social status of universities is still high, though in a different sense than before. If universities in the past were sanctuaries of students' intellect, places to cultivate better humanity and seek desirable social directions, today's universities have transformed into places that enhance and research individual students' expertise. Due to these changes, the social influence of universities has diminished. Perhaps that is why, when thinking about anti-war protests in Seoul today, the first image that comes to mind is not a university campus but a candlelight rally at Gwanghwamun Square.

Robert Fauzer, Former Professor at Seoul National University