Keimyung University (), abbreviated as KMU or Keimyung, is a private university located in Daegu, the fourth largest city in South Korea. The university was founded in 1954 with the support of the leaders of the Northern Presbyterian Church of the U.S. as a Christian university. KMU is composed of three campuses in the city of Daegu, South Korea. They are named for their locations within the city; Daemyeong, which is near the downtown area; Seongseo, which is in the western part of the city; and Dongsan campus, which includes Dongsan Medical Center.
Keimyung University has relationships with more than 400 research and educational organizations worldwide as well as one of the largest communities of international professors in South Korea.
History Keimyung University originated from Keimyung Christian College, which was founded in 1954 by Reverend Edward Adams, an American missionary of the Northern Presbyterian Church of the U.S., and by Reverends Choi Jaehwa and Kang Ingu, two local Presbyterian Church leaders. The founding principle guiding their concerted efforts was to provide Koreans with higher education firmly anchored in Christianity. 1978, the year of Keimyung's elevation to the status of a university, marked the beginning of a new period of rapid development. In October 1980, the university acquired Dongsan Hospital, a local hospital with an 81-year history of service, and re-opened it as Keimyung University Medical Center. The development of Keimyung acquired a new dimension in the early 1980s when it added a new campus built on 550,000 pyeong (181,500 sq. meters) at Seongseo in Sindang-dong, Dalseo-gu, to its existing Daemyeong and Dongsan campuses.
Rankings
The K-Universities Global Excellence Ranking 2026 listed Keimyung University among the top 30 universities in two categories: education and student support.
In 2025, the Center for World University Rankings ranked Keimyung University 1,250th out of 21,462 universities worldwide (top 5.9%) and 39th nationally.
The SCImago Institution Rankings, which focuses on research institutions worldwide, ranked Keimyung University 42nd out of 102 South Korean universities, with a best quartile of Q1.
According to the AD Scientific Index 2026, the university is ranked 56th in H-index, 40th in recent (last 5 years) H-index, 53rd in i10-index, 46th in recent (last 5 years) i10-index, 48th in citations, and 41st in recent (last 5 years) citations among 240 universities in South Korea.
According to EduRank, Keimyung University is ranked 31st in South Korea and 1,728th globally. The university scored in the top 50% across 108 research topics.
QS Top Universities ranked Keimyung University in 2025 #701–850 in QS WUR Ranking By Subject (Medicine).
Academics
Undergraduate colleges College of Humanities and International Studies College of Education College of Business Administration College of Social Sciences Keimyung Adams College College of Natural Sciences College of Pharmacy College of Engineering College of Medicine College of Nursing Tabula Rasa College College of Music and Performing Arts College of Physical Education College of Fine Arts Artech College
Other programmes Korean Language Programme Korean Cultural Experience Programme Cross Cultural Awareness Programme Evening Programmes
Graduate schools Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate School of Natural Sciences Graduate School of Engineering Graduate School of Arts and Physical Education Science Graduate School of Medical Sciences Graduate School of Education Graduate School of Business Graduate School of Policy Studies United Graduate School of Theology United Graduate School of Arts Graduate School of Sport Industry Graduate School of Early Childhood Education Graduate School of Convergence Engineering
University periodicals Acta Koreana, a peer-reviewed international journal of Korean Studies published in English by Academia Koreana. It is indexed in Thomson Reuters Arts and Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI), Elsevier's Scopus, EBSCO, and Korea Citation Index (KCI). Acta Via Serica, an international, multi-disciplinary, open-access journal published in English semi-annually. The journal is devoted to publishing new research within the arts, humanities, and social sciences concerning the Silk Road region and Central Asia. Keimyung Medical Journal, a biannual journal published by the School of Medicine. It publishes articles in all medical fields, including clinical research, basic medicine, and nursing. Keimyung Gazette.
Facilities
Dormitory
Housing Number of rooms Room type Amenities International House 80 30 m2 1 room for single residents, larger married housing for couples Bed, air conditioner, desk, closet, shoe rack, telephone, LAN connection, washroom, kitchen General House 698 12.5 m2 1 room for 2 persons Bed, air conditioner, desk, closet, shoe rack, telephone, LAN connection, washroom
Dongsan Library
The Dongsan Library, originally known as the Library of Keimyung Christian College, was established in July 1958. It was moved to its current site at the Seongseo Campus in March 1993 to facilitate expansion into a much larger facility that meets the needs of the information age. The Dongsan Library comprises three separate libraries: the main Dongsan Library at Seongseo Campus (seven stories above and two below ground level, with a total floor space of 6,538 pyeong), the second Dongsan Library at the Daemyung Dong Campus (seven stories above and two below ground level, with a total floor space of 5,392 pyeong), and the Medical Library at Dongsan Medical Center. Equipped with multi-media functions and an advanced information retrieval network, the Dongsan Library is now the focal point for research activities of faculty members as well as students. At present, the Dongsan Library houses around one and a half-million books, including specialized reference books, scientific journals, theses, ancient documents, microdata, CD-ROMs, and multimedia materials. The information or data owned by the Dongsan Library is made available for users around the world through the Keimyung University Library Integrated Information Management System (KIMS).
Dongsan Medical Center Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center consists of a medical school, Dongsan Hospital, and Gyeongju Dongsan Hospital. The history of the medical center began when American Presbyterian missionary Dr. Woodbridge O. Johnson arrived in Daegu on December 25, 1897. Two years later, in 1899, he turned a small cottage that used to be occupied by servants into what he named American Pharmacy, and began to distribute medicine to local people. This was the first modern medical service provided in Daegu. Subsequently, he ordered medicine from the US and began to offer treatment full-time, under the name Jaejungwon. In 1906, Jaejungwon was relocated to its current address in Dongsandong and was renamed Dongsan Hospital. In 1980, Keimyung University acquired Dongsan Hospital, renamed it Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, and established a medical school. Currently, the medical center has over 1000 patient beds and over 1700 employees. Due to the acquisition of the medical center, Keimyung University now regards its foundation to be in 1899.
Hengso Museum
Since it was established on May 20, 1978, the Museum has devoted its efforts to studying the historical and cultural heritage of the local region with a special focus on Kaya, an ancient civilization that once flourished in Korea, but which left few records. Since then, the museum has accomplished much, including the excavation of the royal tombs of the Kaya Dynasty. Many Kaya artifacts uncovered through those efforts are on display in the Museum. Currently, a plan is underway to construct a new museum on a 9,900 square-meter site with a total floor space of 5,940 square meters. The opening is scheduled for May 2004, which will also mark the 50th anniversary of the university. The new museum building will feature a university history gallery, a Korean history gallery, a curatorial department, a conservation science laboratory, and other accommodations, including a museum shop and a café.
Edward Adams Hall of Worship and Praise (Adams Chapel)
Located high on the flank of Kungsan Hill above the Seongseo Campus of Keimyung University, the Edward Adams Hall of Worship and Praise (known as the Adams Chapel) was built to honor the achievements of missionary Edward Adams, one of the founders of Keimyung University. The Adams Hall of Worship and Praise has three towers on the facade and a central domed tower. Those three towers in front (the two to the right of the center and one to the left) represent Keimyung University's educational precept, "truth", "justice", and "love", and the central dome represents "the Kingdom of God". The seven round columns in the main chapel represent the seven early churches in Asia referred to in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. In the main chapel, there is a beautiful pipe organ built by the Karl Schuke company of Germany. On the front of the organ are three crowns, underneath each of which are arranged seven pipes. These represent the Holy Trinity, as well as the seven angels with seven trumpets, as recorded in the Book of Revelation. In addition, the Adams Chapel has over 160 stained glass windows of various sizes. The stained glass window depicts the twelve disciples of Christ, the three Wise Men, the Ten Commandments, the judgment of Solomon, and other stories from the Bible. The pipe organ, the stained glass, the chapel chairs, and the marble of the columns of the Adams Chapel were all made through the generous donation from the friendly Keimyung University.
International Lounge
The Keimyung University International Lounge (KMUIL) is a self-access learning center that opened in March 2005. It serves as a hub for promoting independent learning and meaningful engagement, fostering interactions among students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. The lounge offers a comprehensive range of language and cultural programs for both Korean and international students, as well as community outreach initiatives designed for local middle and high school students and senior citizens. In 2018, the space was expanded and remodeled to accommodate a greater number of visitors.
Colleges Keimyung Adams College
Keimyung Adams College (KAC) is an honors college within Keimyung University. All of its courses are taught in English according to North American and European standards. Its student body includes Korean and international students. The college offers two bachelor's degrees: one in International Business and one in International Relations. Because the curriculum is based on North American and European standards, KAC is a popular school for exchange students. The college also supports international students seeking a dual degree from abroad. This program requires a four-semester residency. Graduation requirements for each of KAC's degree programs include a senior thesis, an international internship, and proficiency in Korean, English, and either Japanese or Mandarin.
College of Music and Performing Arts Keimyung has offered programs in music since the 1960s and the College traces its lineage to the Department of Religious Music. Over time, course offerings were expanded to include theater, music production and dance. The college is divided into two faculties: Faculty of Music and Faculty of Performing Arts.
Keimyung-Chopin Music Academy