Kyung Hee University
Kyung Hee University is a private Seoul-based higher education institution serving undergraduate, graduate, and international students across three campuses and affiliated hospitals, generating revenue from tuition, healthcare services, R&D grants, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kyung Hee University does
Kyung Hee University is a private, non-profit higher education institution founded in 1949 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, operating three campuses (Seoul, Global/Yongin, and Gwangneung) and serving undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and continuing-education students across humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, Korean medicine, arts, and professional disciplines. The university generates revenue through tuition and academic fees, healthcare services delivered via two affiliated hospitals (Kyung Hee University Medical Center and Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital), external R&D funding (record 194.8 billion KRW in 2025), and alumni and corporate donations. Its distribution relies on direct enrollment through dedicated admissions offices for domestic and international students, supplemented by channel partnerships such as Hana Financial Group's Social Venture University program serving 30 universities and Seoul Metropolitan Government's lifelong learning partnership.
The university maintains significant research infrastructure including the Quantum Materials Global Research Center led by 2010 Nobel laureate Konstantin Novoselov, the Advanced Display Research Center under Professor Jin Jang (partnered with Silvaco), the reactor research center housing Korea's only educational nuclear reactor (IAEA-designated), and the H&T Analytics Center (co-developer of the Global Festival Attractiveness Index with Purdue and Yanolja Research). Technology and product surface includes the ChatKHU generative AI platform, AI-integrated fashion design curricula (CLO 3D, StudioLab, Mitown, Code-Create, MetaBank BOGOFIT, Faddit), AI-driven perovskite solar cell design with Hyundai Motor Group, transparent UVA photodetectors with Bluetooth connectivity, and the HEVC international standard patent. Notable research partnerships include the WHO-led BK-LUPIC nursing education project in Kyrgyzstan, the Pasqal quantum computing MOU, and four-year R&D agreements with Silvaco for Micro-LED/OLED co-optimization.
The university's go-to-market is predominantly direct-to-consumer for student recruitment (digital admissions, overseas recruitment events, international student fairs), augmented by event-driven marketing through academic conferences (Quantum Materials Frontier 2026, International Nursing Forum) and channel partnerships for entrepreneurship and research programs. Customer segments include prospective domestic and international students, healthcare institutions and government health agencies, aspiring entrepreneurs and startup teams, industry partners across fashion tech, semiconductor, display, energy, automotive, and robotics sectors, and Seoul city residents participating in lifelong learning programs.
Kyung Hee University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kyung Hee University
- Legal name
- Kyung Hee University
- Website
- https://khu.ac.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kyung Hee University is a private Seoul-based higher education institution serving undergraduate, graduate, and international students across three campuses and affiliated hospitals, generating revenue from tuition, healthcare services, R&D grants, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kyung Hee University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Law & Legal Studies Research Universities (EDAHABAF)
Keywords
Where Kyung Hee University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kyung Hee University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Academic Fees: Kyung Hee University generates primary revenue from tuition and academic fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students across its Seoul, Global (Yongin), and Gwangneung campuses. Fee structures vary by program (regular, graduate business, international programs) and campus.
- Healthcare Services (Kyung Hee University Medical Center): The university operates Kyung Hee University Medical Center and Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, providing healthcare services that generate revenue through patient care. These affiliated hospitals also serve as clinical training sites for medical and nursing students.
- External R&D Funding and Government Grants: Kyung Hee achieved a record 194.8 billion KRW in external R&D funding for 2025, sourced from government grants (Korea Research Foundation, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of SMEs and Startups), industry partnerships, and international collaborative research projects.
- Alumni Donations and Development Fund: The university receives substantial donations through its GIVE Kyung Hee campaign and Magnolia Honor Club (매그놀리아 아너스클럽) donor program. Major donors include Cha Hoo-young (4 billion KRW total), Lee Geon-soo (1 billion additional), Kim Hyun-tae (100 million), and Moon Kyung-Kim Ji-yeon (100 million each).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate School of Business - Asian Business Leaders Program (4-semester accelerated) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kyung Hee University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kyung Hee University is a private, non-profit higher education institution operating across three campuses (Seoul, Global/Yongin, and Gwangneung) that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs spanning humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, Korean medicine, arts, hospitality and tourism, and law. The university also provides healthcare services through its affiliated Kyung Hee University Medical Center and Gangdong Hospital, conducts externally funded R&D (194.8 billion KRW in 2025), and runs international cooperation, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning programs.
Product overview
Kyung Hee University operates as a comprehensive higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs across multiple campuses (Seoul, Global, Gwangneung). The university's product portfolio includes AI-integrated educational platforms like ChatKHU for campus-wide AI access, digital fashion education programs with AI and 3D technologies, research initiatives such as the Global Festival Attractiveness Index for tourism analytics, and entrepreneurship support programs including Hana Social Venture University. The institution also maintains research centers focused on quantum materials, display technology, and nursing education development internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ChatKHU A generative AI platform aggregating the latest AI models for Kyung Hee University community members, launched as a dedicated campus-wide AI access platform.
- Hana Social Venture University AI-based entrepreneurship training program partnered with Hana Financial Group, selecting approximately 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs from 30 universities for startup support from idea validation to commercialization.
- BK-LUPIC (Bright Kyrgyzstan-Leading University Project for International Cooperation) International cooperation project managing nursing education development in Kyrgyzstan, securing government approval for the country's first four-year bachelor's and master's degree programs in nursing.
- Global Festival Attractiveness Index (Yanolja Festival Index) Research index evaluating 560 major international festivals using multilingual social media big data from Brandwatch, measuring festival appeal from traveler consumer perspective, developed jointly with Purdue University's CHRIBA Institute and Yanolja Research.
- AI-Powered Fab Technology Co-Optimization (Silvaco Partnership) Four-year strategic R&D partnership with Silvaco Group for display technology advancement using Digital Twin modeling, combining Micro-LED and OLED experimental data with simulation tools including Victory TCAD, Victory DoE, Victory Analytics, SmartSpice, and UTMOST IV.
Quantifiable outcome
- 194.8 billion KRW external R&D funding in 2025 (record)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kyung Hee University
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Kyung Hee University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature7 records
Kyung Hee University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kyung Hee University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Korea University: One of South Korea's SKY (Seoul National, Korea, Yonsei) trio of flagship private universities, with similar comprehensive doctoral portfolio, affiliated hospital, and global research ambitions. Closest direct competitor for high-achieving domestic and international students.
- Hanyang University: Seoul-based private research university with strong engineering and medical programs, comparable research output, and a similar affiliated hospital model. Competes with KHU in the Seoul private-university talent market.
- Yonsei University: Top-tier private comprehensive research university in Seoul, founded 1885, with comparable breadth across humanities, sciences, medicine, and affiliated hospital. Directly competes with KHU for domestic students, international applicants, and THE/QS ranking position.
- Sungkyunkwan University: Historic private research university in Seoul with Samsung-backed engineering and a comparable comprehensive portfolio spanning humanities, medicine, and engineering. Competes directly with KHU in THE Impact Rankings and industry-funded research.
- Ewha Womans University: Top Seoul private university with comprehensive doctoral programs, strong internationalization, and a major hospital affiliate. Overlaps with KHU in women-led research, healthcare education, and global rankings positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Seoul National University: South Korea's flagship public research university and the benchmark against which all private peers (including KHU) are ranked. Sets the ceiling on THE/QS positions, government R&D funding, and Nobel-affiliated faculty recruitment.
- POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology): Top private STEM research university with strong industry partnerships (POSCO) and Nobel-affiliated faculty (e.g., 2024 Chemistry laureate). Direct competitor for international STEM talent and research funding.
- KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology): Korea's premier public STEM-focused research university with leading positions in AI, semiconductors, and quantum research. Sets the bar for the STEM-research prestige KHU pursues via Novoselov and Hyundai/Silvaco partnerships.
Regional players
- Inha University: Private research university near Seoul (Incheon) with engineering and medical programs. Comparable research output and affiliated hospital model, but operates in a secondary metropolitan geography versus KHU's Seoul core.
Others
- Yonsei University Wonju Campus: Satellite campus of Yonsei with a healthcare and industrial-academic focus. Comparable to KHU's Global Campus (Yongin) model of a second campus serving medical, hospitality, and applied programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kyung Hee University social profiles
Digital presenceKyung Hee University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kyung Hee University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kyung Hee University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Kyung Hee University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kyung Hee University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kyung Hee University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kyung Hee University
What does Kyung Hee University do?
Kyung Hee University is a private, non-profit higher education institution operating across three campuses (Seoul, Global/Yongin, and Gwangneung) that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs spanning humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, Korean medicine, arts, hospitality and tourism, and law. The university also provides healthcare services through its affiliated Kyung Hee University Medical Center and Gangdong Hospital, conducts externally funded R&D (194.8 billion KRW in 2025), and runs international cooperation, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning programs.
Is Kyung Hee University a public or private company?
Kyung Hee University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kyung Hee University founded?
Kyung Hee University was founded in 1949. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kyung Hee University based?
Kyung Hee University is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Kyung Hee University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Academic Fees are the primary driver. The others are healthcare Services (Kyung Hee University Medical Center), external R&D Funding and Government Grants and alumni Donations and Development Fund.
Who are Kyung Hee University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Korea University, Hanyang University, Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University and Ewha Womans University. Broad incumbents are Seoul National University, POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). Inha University is listed as a regional player. Yonsei University Wonju Campus is listed as an others.
Does Kyung Hee University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kyung Hee University.
What industry is Kyung Hee University in?
Kyung Hee University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary), with a secondary code of EDAHABAB, STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.