Hongik University
Hongik University is a private South Korean comprehensive university operating four campuses (Seoul, Sejong, Daehakno, Hwaseong) that delivers undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, design, engineering, business, and humanities to domestic and international students under its 'Where Industry Meets Arts' philosophy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hongik University does
Hongik University (홍익대학교) is a private comprehensive university in South Korea, founded in 1948 and operating across four campuses: Seoul (arts and humanities main campus), Sejong (science, technology, engineering, games, and business), Daehakno (performing arts including musical theater and practical music), and Hwaseong (autonomous driving, AI, and 4th industrial revolution education). The university serves a diversified student base including domestic undergraduate students, graduate students, international students from 139 partner universities across 25+ countries, and lifelong learners, with educational programs spanning engineering, arts, design, business, law, education, humanities, and social sciences guided by its motto 'Where Industry Meets Arts' (산업과 예술의 만남).
The university's core technology and infrastructure includes the 250-meter Hongik Art & Design Valley (5,200 pyeong facility for startup education and industry-academia collaboration), the Shared Equipment Center established in 2020 for convergent research, digital and physical Maker Spaces with 3D printing, CNC, vacuum forming, and electroplating capabilities, and the Metaverse Convergence SW Academy (now in its 6th cohort). Research is delivered through 30+ specialized institutes including AID Convergence Technology, Smart Mobility, Autonomous Driving Mobility, Digital Healthcare, Digital Information Security, Mechatronics, Metamaterial Electronic Devices, and Smart City Environment Design centers.
Revenue is generated primarily through subscription/recurring tuition and admission fees across undergraduate and graduate programs, supplemented by continuing education through three lifelong learning centers, international student tuition, industry-academia collaboration contracts, government research grants, and donations via the Hongik Development Fund. The university employs approximately 60 staff in its Industry-Academia Collaboration Unit and operates a marketing and distribution model combining direct domestic admissions (수시/정시 cycles), international student recruitment through partner universities, and specialized graduate school tracks. Its proprietary technology differentiators center on integration and interoperability across arts-design-engineering disciplines rather than standalone commercial products, consistent with its nonprofit educational mission.
Hongik University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hongik University
- Legal name
- HONGIK UNIVERSITY
- Website
- https://hongik.ac.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Hongik University is a private South Korean comprehensive university operating four campuses (Seoul, Sejong, Daehakno, Hwaseong) that delivers undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, design, engineering, business, and humanities to domestic and international students under its 'Where Industry Meets Arts' philosophy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hongik University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
Keywords
Where Hongik University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Hongik University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Admission Fees: As a private university in South Korea, Hongik University generates revenue primarily through undergraduate and graduate tuition fees, admission fees, and various academic service charges. The university operates regular semesters plus summer and winter intensive sessions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hongik University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hongik University is a comprehensive private university delivering undergraduate and graduate education across engineering, arts, design, humanities, business, law, and social sciences through four campuses in South Korea. It offers specialized professional graduate schools in design, fashion, performing arts, architecture/urban studies, industrial arts, arts management, and video/communication, alongside industry-academia research, startup incubation, career services, and international exchange with 139 partner universities across 33 countries.
Product overview
Hongik University operates as a comprehensive private university with a portfolio of academic programs and student services organized across multiple campuses (Seoul, Sejong, Daehakno, Hwaseong). The core offering consists of undergraduate programs spanning engineering, arts, design, business, humanities, law, and education, alongside a graduate school system that includes general, professional, and special graduate schools. Notable specialized graduate schools include the International Design Graduate School (IDAS) for design leadership, the Performing Arts Graduate School for music and theatre, the Fashion Graduate School, the Architecture and Urban Graduate School, the Arts Management Graduate School (cultural arts MBA), the Industrial Arts Graduate School, and the Video and Communication Graduate School (covering VR/AR and digital media). The university further provides open education via the International Language Education Institute and lifelong learning centers, an international exchange program with 139 partner universities across 33 countries, career and employment support through its Career Center, and startup/entrepreneurship incubation including the Hongik Art & Design Valley co-working space. The academic portfolio reflects the institution's motto of 'Industry Meets Arts,' integrating creative disciplines with technical and managerial fields.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HIesta: Annual campus festival of Hongik University (Seoul Campus), e.g., 'HIesta : MEMENTO' (2026 edition).
- 홍아람 (Hongaram)
- 홍익 아트앤디자인밸리 (Hongik Art & Design Valley)
- 홍익 Research Frontier
- HI-Up
- 홍익의료원 (Hongik Medical Center)
- HIesta
- 홍익신문고 (Hongik Report Box)
- 홍익발전기금 (Hongik Development Fund)
Quantifiable outcome
- QS World University Rankings - Art & Design 48th globally (2026)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hongik University
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hongik University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Hongik University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Hermitage Museum (에르미타주 박물관)flagshipWorld-renowned Hermitage Museum (one of the world's three greatest museums) is discussing a memorandum of understanding with Hongik University for education and culture cooperation. The meeting explored possibilities for digital culture and arts collaboration between the two institutions.
- Noroo Paint (노루페인트)coreNoroo Paint collaborated with Westworld and Hongik University to co-develop and launch Korea's first domestically-produced chroma key专用 paint through a 12-month industry-academia cooperation project.
- Westworld (웨스트월드)coreWestworld collaborated with Noroo Paint and Hongik University to co-develop Korea's first domestically-produced chroma key paint through a 12-month industry-academia cooperation project.
- 139 International Partner UniversitiescoreHongik University maintains academic exchange agreements with 139 universities across 25+ countries including USA (18), China (20), Japan (15), France (14), and others. Programs include exchange student (SEA), visiting student (VSA), and dual degree (DDA) arrangements. Notable partners include Tsinghua University, Royal College of Art, Parsons School of Design, and Rhode Island School of Design.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hongik University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Parsons School of Design (The New School): US-based global design leader and named Hongik partner university. Competes for top international design students and faculty, and serves as a benchmark for Hongik's IDAS graduate school positioning.
- Chung-Ang University: Seoul-based Korean private university with a similarly strong reputation in performing arts, film, and design. Directly competes with Hongik for creative-talent students and operates a comparable multi-campus structure.
- Seoul Institute of the Arts: Korean private arts-focused university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in performing arts, broadcasting, and design. Competes directly with Hongik's performing arts and design programs.
- Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Premier US art and design school ranked similarly to Hongik in global art/design rankings. A named Hongik partner university; competes for international students and global brand positioning in design.
- Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts): Public Korean university dedicated entirely to the arts, including music, drama, film, dance, and visual arts. Directly competes with Hongik's specialized arts graduate schools and arts/design undergraduate programs for top creative talent.
- Kookmin University: Seoul-based Korean private university with a strong design and engineering portfolio, including industrial design and film programs. Directly comparable in size and in competing for creative-industry students.
Broad incumbents
- Hanyang University: Major Seoul-based Korean private research university with strengths in engineering, design, and performing arts. Comparable scale to Hongik and competes across multiple disciplines including engineering education.
- Seoul National University (SNU): Korea's flagship public research university, dominating across all disciplines including arts, engineering, and business. Competes with Hongik for top undergraduate applicants and faculty, and represents the gold-standard benchmark in domestic higher education.
- Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU): Historic Korean private research university with strong engineering, business, and design programs. Competes with Hongik for STEM and design students and for industry research partnerships in Korea.
- Yonsei University: Top-tier Seoul-based Korean private research university with a comprehensive portfolio including arts, engineering, and business. Competes broadly with Hongik for students and research funding across disciplines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hongik University social profiles
Digital presenceHongik University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Hongik University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hongik University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hongik University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries63 records
Hongik University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hongik 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 Hongik University
What does Hongik University do?
Hongik University is a comprehensive private university delivering undergraduate and graduate education across engineering, arts, design, humanities, business, law, and social sciences through four campuses in South Korea. It offers specialized professional graduate schools in design, fashion, performing arts, architecture/urban studies, industrial arts, arts management, and video/communication, alongside industry-academia research, startup incubation, career services, and international exchange with 139 partner universities across 33 countries.
Is Hongik University a public or private company?
Hongik University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hongik University founded?
Hongik University was founded in 1948.
Where is Hongik University based?
Hongik University is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Hongik University make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition and Admission Fees.
Who are Hongik University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Parsons School of Design (The New School), Chung-Ang University, Seoul Institute of the Arts, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts) and Kookmin University. Broad incumbents are Hanyang University, Seoul National University (SNU), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) and Yonsei University.
Does Hongik University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hongik University.
What industry is Hongik University in?
Hongik University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAG, Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.