Founded in 1995, Handong Global University is a private evangelical university located in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. The four-year university is known for embracing progressive policies such as not requiring all students to declare a major in their first year and offering a high portion of lectures in English. Handong Global University has a unique campus culture based on the university's religious affiliation, with selling and drinking alcohol and smoking banned. Despite being located in a relatively small city, 40 percent of students come from other parts of the county or abroad. It is surrounded by farms and mountainous areas, far from the bustling urban setting.