Soongsil University’s roots trace back to 1897, when Dr. W. M. Baird, an American missionary started teaching from his residence in Pyongyang. Soongsil was then given the title of the first university in Korea. Later during the Japanese occupation when Korea lost its sovereignty, Soongsil University made national liberalization its top priority and took the lead in the national independence movement. In 1938, the school even decided to close itself down in protest against forced worship at Japanese shrines. Even throughout Korea’s tumultuous history, Soongsil has always striven to be the first.

The university signed partnership cooperation agreement with STU in 2020.