Yonsei University School of Business

What Yonsei University School of Business does

Yonsei University School of Business is the business school of Yonsei University, founded in 1915 as the first business school in Korea and operating from Seoul with international locations including Songdo and international partner campuses. The school delivers undergraduate, MS, and PhD degree programs alongside seven MBA variants (Full-time, Part-time, Advanced, Police, Executive, Global, and MS), targeting a mix of recent graduates, mid-career professionals, public-sector officials, and senior executives. Programs are delivered by a faculty selected through competitive admissions, with research supported by the Korean government's BK21 Four program. The school holds Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), and runs corporate-engagement vehicles such as the Y-VIP program in partnership with AmorePacific and consulting firm tie-ups with EY.

Revenue mechanics derive from tuition across degree programs, executive education fees, government research grants (BK21 Four), and corporate sponsorship through the Y-VIP platform. Recent strategic emphasis has been on AI/data-driven management education via the new AI Management Convergence Major, cross-border dual-degree programs (notably with Tsinghua University), and executive specialization (Advanced MBA, Police MBA). The school is positioned within the "SKY" elite tier of Korean universities, providing durable brand-driven demand from Korean students and recruiters. International partnerships span ESSEC (France) and Washington University Olin (US), enabling student exchange and joint credentials.

Distribution is primarily through admissions-driven enrollment and direct corporate channels for executive programs. The school's "Learning by Doing" pedagogy emphasizes experiential learning, case work, and corporate-sponsored projects, supported by industry advisory boards. Post-2024 leadership under Dean Heo Dae-sik signals continued investment in AI curriculum integration and global program expansion, with Triple Crown accreditation providing a regulatory-quality moat that strengthens international recruitment competitiveness.

Name

Yonsei University School of Business

Legal name

연세대학교 경영대학 (Yonsei School of Business)

Website

https://ysb.yonsei.ac.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Yonsei University School of Business is a Seoul-based business school founded in 1915, offering undergraduate, MS, PhD, and seven MBA programs. It serves Korean and international students with a focus on management education and holds Triple Crown accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business School Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

Keywords

• Business school education
• MBA programs
• Executive education
• Graduate research programs
• Undergraduate business degree

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: YSB generates revenue through tuition fees from its undergraduate program, MS/PhD programs, Full-time Global MBA, Executive MBA, Advanced MBA, Police MBA, and specialized programs including CLC (special program) and YVIP (Yonsei Venture Innovation Program). Revenue is recurring per academic term.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

YSB delivers multi-tiered business education — undergraduate business administration, MS/PhD graduate research programs, and four MBA variants (Global MBA in English, Executive MBA, Advanced MBA, Police MBA) — supported by executive education (Sangnam Management Institute), research units (Business Research Institute, BK21 Four), career services (CDC), and an entrepreneurship program (YVIP). Students are admitted through direct channels and taught on campus in Seoul.

Product overview

Yonsei University School of Business operates as a comprehensive business school offering a multi-tiered portfolio of educational programs. The core offerings include undergraduate business education, MS/PhD graduate research programs, and multiple MBA variants (Global MBA, Executive MBA, Advanced MBA, and Police MBA). Supporting programs include the BK21 Four education research team for government-funded research, the Sangnam Management Institute for executive education, the Career Development Center for student placement, and the YVIP startup innovation program. The school also offers specialized programs like the CLC for international students and a newly launched AI Management Convergence major.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Triple Crown: International business education accreditation achieved by obtaining AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA certifications
• Global MBA
• Executive MBA
• YVIP (Yonsei Venture Innovation Program)
• Advanced MBA
• Police MBA

Products and services

• Global MBA Full-time English-language MBA program targeting domestic and international students; ranked No. 1 in Korea / No. 82 globally by QS Full-Time MBA 2025.
• Executive MBA Part-time MBA program for experienced executives and business leaders; ranked No. 1 in Korea / No. 49 globally by Financial Times 2024 and Top 29 globally by FT 2022.
• Advanced MBA Advanced MBA program for professionals seeking specialized business education beyond traditional MBA formats.
• Police MBA Specialized MBA program designed for police officers and law enforcement professionals.
• Undergraduate Business Program (학부) Four-year undergraduate business administration degree program providing foundational education in business administration, management, and related fields for Korean high school graduates.
• MS/PhD Programs Graduate programs at Master's and PhD levels offering advanced business research training and academic preparation, supported by the BK21 Four government-funded program.
• Sangnam Management Institute (상남경영원) Executive education and management training institute offering the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and other executive programs.
• BK21 Four Education Research Team Government-funded research and education program cultivating management talent that creates social value; provides scholarships, research opportunities, and international conference participation for MS/PhD students.
• YVIP (Yonsei Venture Innovation Program) Startup innovation and entrepreneurship program operated in partnership with AmorePacific, supporting venture creation among YSB students and alumni.
• CLC (Comprehensive Learning Center) Special Program Special language and business communication program supporting international students and exchange participants at the undergraduate level.
• AI Management Convergence Major (인공지능경영 융합 심화전공) New interdisciplinary undergraduate major combining artificial intelligence studies with business management education.

Quantifiable outcome

• QS Business & Management 2025: No.1 Korea / No.34 Global
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tsinghua University (칭화대학교)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024YSB signed a dual degree agreement with Tsinghua University in 2024, enabling students to earn degrees from both institutions.
• Amore Pacific (아모레퍼시픽)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Amore Pacific and YSB signed an agreement in 2017 to operate the YVIP (Yonsei Venture Innovation Program), a startup innovation program supporting entrepreneurship among YSB students and alumni.
• ESSEC Business School (France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016YSB signed its first dual degree agreement with ESSEC Business School (France) in 2016, the first such agreement for Yonsei University.
• Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013YSB signed a dual degree agreement with Washington University's Olin Business School in 2013, continuing a relationship that began with the W.U. Project in 1958 when professors from Washington University were sent to teach at Yonsei.
• CFA Institute (Chartered Financial Analyst)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010YSB entered into a partnership agreement with the CFA Institute in May 2010.
• GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010YSB was approved as the first Korean member school of GMAC (the governing body for the GMAT) in March 2010.
• Washington University in St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1958The W.U. Project began in 1958, with management professors selected from across the U.S. dispatched to Yonsei to teach business courses directly, marking the beginning of modern business education at Yonsei.
• BK21 Four (Brain Korea 21 FOUR)coreOthersBK21 Four is a Korean government-funded research and education program operated by YSB's School of Business. The program supports graduate students (MS/PhD) with scholarships, research opportunities, and participation in international conferences. YSB hosts the 'Social Value Creating Management Talent' research team.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INSEAD: INSEAD is a globally leading business school whose Executive MBA and Global MBA compete with YSB's executive and global programs for internationally mobile Korean executives. As a broader incumbent, INSEAD's brand and scale set the upper benchmark YSB's Global MBA aspires to in FT rankings.
• NUS Business School (National University of Singapore): NUS Business School is a leading Asian business school competing with YSB for international MBA applicants and as a destination for Korean students. Its scale, AACSB/EQUIS credentials, and global rankings make it a broader incumbent in the regional elite business school market.

Direct peers

• Korea University Business School (KUBS): KUBS, part of the SKY trio like YSB, directly competes for top Korean undergraduates and MBA candidates. Both schools have Triple Crown aspirations and compete head-to-head in domestic rankings, executive education, and alumni network influence in Korean chaebol.
• ESSEC Business School: ESSEC is YSB's first dual-degree partner (since 2016) and a comparable European business school with Triple Crown credentials. Both schools serve executive and global MBA candidates with similar French/Asian cross-cultural positioning and AACSB/EQUIS/AMBA accreditations.
• Seoul National University Business School (SNU GSOM): SNU's graduate business school is the most direct domestic competitor to YSB in Korea, competing for the same top Korean undergraduate, MBA, and executive education candidates. SNU GSOM's public-university brand and global rankings place it as YSB's primary rival in the Korean elite business school market.
• Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Business School: SKKU Business School competes with YSB across undergraduate, MBA, and executive programs, particularly leveraging its partnership with Samsung. Like YSB, it targets the Korean elite business education market with international exchange programs and English-taught MBAs.
• Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management: Tsinghua SEM is a strategic dual-degree partner of YSB (since 2024) and a top Asian business school. The schools compete for MBA candidates interested in China-Korea business networks and share similar positioning in government-supported research and executive education.
• KAIST College of Business: KAIST's business college competes with YSB for top Korean STEM-leaning MBA and MS applicants, leveraging KAIST's strong technology and analytics positioning. Both schools emphasize AI, analytics, and digital transformation in their curricula, directly competing for similar candidate profiles.
• Washington University Olin Business School: Washington University Olin has a longstanding partnership with YSB dating to 1958 (the W.U. Project) and a formal dual-degree agreement since 2013. As a top US business school with strong executive and specialty MBAs, it is both a partner and a competitor for Korean candidates seeking US-Korea dual credentials.

Emerging players

• Hong Kong UST Business School: HKUST is a top Asian business school competing with YSB for international MBA candidates in Asia-Pacific and for Korean students seeking regional MBA alternatives. Its strong rankings and technology focus make it a key benchmark for YSB's international positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDgvUs6fJ7rhe1i8eDHELMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ysb1915
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yonsei-university-school-of-business
• Instagraminstagram.com/yonsei_business_official

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yonsei University School of Business