Underwood International College — photographing an academic environment

Located in Seoul, Underwood International College (UIC)forms part of Yonsei University. I was commissioned to photograph the campus and its academic environment, focusing on how architecture, learning, and everyday life intersect.

My approach to this project grew out of long-term work in architectural and urban photography. Earlier recognition, including the European Architectural Photography Prize in 2011, reflects that ongoing focus, but the work itself remains rooted in observation rather than emphasis.

Observing UIC

UIC offers an English-language liberal arts program within a Korean research university. The campus brings together students and faculty from different cultural backgrounds and disciplines. Rather than concentrating on institutional scale, I focused on spaces where learning happens daily—classrooms, pathways, and shared areas.

The architecture supports close interaction. Buildings, interiors, and outdoor spaces feel compact and connected. Through photography, I aimed to reflect that atmosphere without staging or interruption.

Within Yonsei University

UIC sits within the larger structure of Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s long-established private universities. Founded through the merger of Yonhi College and Severance Union Medical College, Yonsei has played a central role in Korean higher education for decades.

As part of Korea’s so-called “SKY” universities, Yonsei carries strong academic weight. However, my photographic work does not address rankings or reputation. Instead, it looks at how an academic institution functions as a lived environment within the city.

A photographic approach

While photographing UIC and its surroundings, I focused on light, material, and movement. I worked with existing conditions and everyday use rather than idealized views. This allowed the images to reflect how the campus is experienced by those who study and work there.

The goal was not to define the institution, but to record moments where architecture and activity align.

An ongoing exploration

This project fits into a broader interest in photographing places shaped by structure, purpose, and routine. UIC and Yonsei University offered a setting where academic life, international exchange, and urban context meet.

The images form a quiet record of that relationship—one that values clarity and presence over representation, and observation over statement.