“Why is that university there?”
The history of Seoul's university districts, unknown even to current students but curious to test takers!

'Campus tours' are trendy.
Students and their parents visit university campuses to get a sneak peek at admissions information and university life.
Even students suffering from entrance exam stress often take this time to envision their future "campus life" and stroll around the campus of their dream university with excitement.

However, it is difficult to grasp the stories hidden in every corner of the campus by simply taking in the grand buildings, comfortable facilities, and the appearance of the wonderful seniors.
Why did the university I want to attend end up in that particular location? Why did this topography and building layout come about? How did these geographical and spatial characteristics become each school's unique characteristics? A closer look at a campus inevitably leads to specific questions.

The author, who has long explored "geography in everyday life" as a geography teacher at Whimoon High School and an EBSi instructor, has prepared a unique campus tour that stemmed from the curiosity of one of his students.
As you walk along the streets and alleys of Seoul's major universities with the author, the flat landscapes you've passed by will come to life in three dimensions and speak to you.
Once you understand the natural conditions and cultural background of a space, college becomes a vivid story, not a simple "goal" arranged solely by grades.

The location of Seoul National University is also closely related to the urbanization process of Seoul.
Even just a hundred years ago, Seoul (Hansung) was nothing more than a walled city within the four great gates centered around Jongno.
However, the castle quickly lost its function after the introduction of the chariot and was dismantled.
As Seoul's outer periphery expanded rapidly, its population also grew exponentially.
(...) The campus and the surrounding area have had a mutually coexisting or complementary function.
For example, Korea University is like that.
The narrow, long residential area that extends deep into the Gaeunsa Temple area provides a clue to the expansion of Korea University's campus.
The contrast between Gangnam and Gangbuk is also an interesting point.
Among the universities in Seoul, the ones with the longest history are generally located north of the Han River.
On the other hand, most relatively young universities and campuses are located south of the Han River.
(...) It was quite an unconventional move at the time for Chung-Ang University to establish its campus in Heukseok-dong and Soongsil University to establish its campus in Sangdo-dong.
However, both universities have something in common: they were located near Yeongdeungpo, the most prosperous area south of the Han River.
---p.8~9 (Introduction: A geographical campus tour like this?)

The situation is similar not only in the Konkuk University Station section, but also in other above-ground sections.
Line 2 trains also run above ground between Hapjeong Station and Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station, between Sindap Station and Seongsu Station, and between Daerim Station and Sindaebang Station.
Among these sections, only the section from Hapjeong Station to Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station is raised above ground for a short time for the purpose of crossing the Han River, and the bedrock of the remaining sections is all soft, riverside alluvium, which is not solid.
The degree of urbanization at the time of construction would also have been a variable.
Nowadays, there is no neighborhood in Seoul that is not bustling around a train station, but even when the railroad was being laid, the population density around the line was low.
Naturally, there was little need to consider the city's appearance, and there was not much opposition from residents.
There was no need to hide the railroad underground while spending more on construction costs.
---p.21 (Chapter 1: A Gorgeous Commercial District Embracing a Magnificent Lake - Konkuk University)

What is unique is the size of the main gate, the Sasamun Gate.
Compared to the majestic Cheonglammun Gate that we passed before, the main gate feels more like a back gate.
Was it really necessary to make the back door larger than the main door? If you carefully examine the spatial clues, you'll quickly find the answer this time, too.
(...) But if Seochojungang-ro had been a major road when the campus was first built, wouldn't the main gate have been built there from the beginning? From here, we can naturally infer the history of the space.
When the Seoul National University campus was built, there would have been more people walking along Saimdang-ro.
However, with the construction of the Gyodae Station and the establishment of the Law Town, the status of Seocho Jungang-ro, which connects Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, will have risen.
So, the back gate rebellion was a success! In fact, if you look at a map from the 1970s, you can see that the area around the current main gate was a village, while the area around Gyodae Station was farmland along the river.
---p.101~103 (Chapter 5: The History of the Gyodae that Runs Through Gangnam - Seoul National University of Education)

Mongchon Toseong, located in the thick greenery on a low hill, was discovered when relics were excavated during the construction of Olympic Park. The toseong was preserved as much as possible and renovated into the park it is today.
In contrast, the earthen fortress of Pungnap-dong, built on the plains around the Han River, has not been properly protected during the urbanization of Seoul, and has remained in poor condition to this day.
Therein lies the paradox of urbanization.
The earthen fortress in Pungnap-dong, located in a low-lying area, was developed relatively quickly, but as a result, its form was not preserved.
Meanwhile, Mongchontoseong, which had been in a slump, was developed systematically with the Olympics in mind, and now remains in its current form.
---p.129~130 (Chapter 6: Baekje's Ancient Castle Site, Embracing the Glory of the Olympics - Korea National Sport University)

As I was organizing my thoughts at Dasan Hall, my eyes suddenly caught sight of the red bricks.
The building, neatly finished with red bricks, is actually a representative architectural style of Catholic churches in our country.
Most Catholic buildings, including the Basilica of St. Ignatius, which we passed by earlier, were built primarily with red bricks.
Think of an old cathedral you came across while traveling, or a cathedral in your neighborhood.
Aren't most of them actually built with red brick? For what reason?
---p.168~170 (Chapter 8: A Cozy History of Architecture in Red Bricks - Sogang University)

But today, it seems that the current Sungkyunkwan University is eating up the good site of the old Sungkyunkwan.
What does that mean?
Of course, the location of the old Sungkyunkwan will not change, whether it was in the past or present.
However, the current Sungkyunkwan University has grown in size day by day.
As the campus expanded, it gradually took over the site of the old Sungkyunkwan, encroaching on the hilltop, or in other words, the ridge where the energy of the land flowed.
Unlike in the past when a Confucian temple (a shrine to Confucius) was enough to function properly, a comprehensive university would have needed as much space as possible.
So, Sungkyunkwan University has to have a narrow and long entrance, and the buildings have to be high-rise and compact on high ground.
---p.189~190 (Chapter 9: When you climb to Sungkyunkwan, you can see the civil service examination at a glance - Sungkyunkwan University)

Meanwhile, the fact that both the traditional Gyeongchun Line and the emerging Yangpyeong Line are geographically closely connected to the Han River is particularly interesting when examining the geographical factors of MT locations.
(...)
The Gyeongchun Line route is laid carefully along the very narrow and sharp valley of the Bukhan River.
MT villages like Daeseong-ri, Cheongpyeong, and Gapyeong are located in spaces where the steep, narrow gaps in the valleys slightly widen.
(...)
The Yangpyeong Line, a new attraction in MT, passes through Ungilsan Station and Yangsu Station, and connects to Yangpyeong and Yongmun Stations.
After passing Yangsu Station, famous for being the meeting point of the Namhan River and Bukhan River, you will pass through narrow and wide spaces along the Namhan River, creating a variety of spaces.
(...) Although the road is divided by the Bukhangang and Namhangang Rivers, both MT spots boast outstanding scenery thanks to the terrain formed by the splitting of the land long ago.
Perhaps that is why it has become a place frequently visited by college students.
---p.194~195 (TMI you'd be remiss to ignore: Let's go on a trip! Geographical characteristics of MT locations)

It is said that Cheongryong Pond, created in 1968, was originally a natural pond with a small ecosystem.
However, in 2010, the university changed it into an artificial pond.
(...)
Even though it is now an artificial pond, the fact that it was originally a natural pond is geographically interesting.
(...) Gneiss is a rock that inhibits drainage.
The band-like structure developed in the gneiss prevents water from draining away.
(...) So, in the valleys of mountains and hills made of gneiss, water can be secured in abundance.
In other words, it means that the ecological potential is high.
---p.229~231 (Chapter 11: Breaking Down the Wall and Standing Tall in the Plaza - Chung-Ang University)

Hanyang's method is a novel method that takes full advantage of the steep slope of the campus, connecting buildings on different floors with sky bridges.
For example, if you enter the main entrance of a building, you will reach the second floor, and if you cross the cloud bridge from there, you will reach the third floor of the building next door.
Looking at the tall glass elevator structure across from the main sports field, Hanyang University's efforts to improve the convenience of moving on slopes stand out once again.
---p.265 (Chapter 13: Crossing the Cloud Bridge Over Dumulmeori - Hanyang University)

If you head northeast from Oxford, you will come across the University of Cambridge.
The roots of Cambridge University are actually Oxford University.
In 1209, a major conflict broke out at Oxford University between university students and Oxford residents.
Taking advantage of this gap, some researchers from Oxford University moved to Cambridge and founded a new university, the University of Cambridge.
So, the system of Cambridge University is very similar to that of Oxford University.
Cambridge also faithfully embodies the image of a university town.
Cambridge is run by the River Cam.
The Cam and Thames rivers are different only in location, but their geographic grammar is the same based on bedrock.

---p.291 (Exploring Overseas Universities: Long-Time Rivals, Geographical Twins? - Oxford University and Cambridge University)