When you are new to the vast Ewha campus, it is easy to get lost on the first day of school. In fact, you might feel anxious about being late to class or intimidated about entering the wrong building. However, once you find the shortcuts into each building, the rest of your college life will be smooth sailing in terms of wayfinding. Just in time for the beginning of the new spring semester, we have compiled a list of useful tips and tricks on Ewha campus navigation.
Ewha Campus Complex (ECC) to anywhere up the building
Instead of walking up the myriad stairs outside the ECC, enter through the B2 exit and you will be far ahead of the stair-hikers, dismissing almost half of the stairs you would have had to walk all the way up. All you have to do is go inside B3 through exit number 1, walk straight, and turn right, and you will see stairs that lead you up to B2. Then stop at B2 and go straight in the right direction until you exit another gate with a huge “7” written in it. This will leave you with only half the ECC stairs to walk up!
Ewha-Shinsegae Building to Ewha-POSCO Building
When your classes require you to go back and forth from the Ewha-Shinsegae Building to the Ewha-POSCO Building, you may have to climb up and down an intimidating hill. However, a smart shortcut many seasoned Ewha students use is cutting through the “swimming pool” building, where the swimming pool used to operate. Starting from the Ewha-Shinsegae Building, walk towards the Ewha-SK Telecom Center, but here is the trick — when you walk past the building you will soon find another gate towards the Human Ecology Building (Morris Hall) with the writing ‘swimming pool’ in Korean. Go inside the building and once you walk up, the Student Union will be waiting for you. Climb the stairs inside the Student Union up until the second floor and turn right, and there will be more stairs (yes, those are quite some stairs) but afterwards, the Ewha-POSCO Building will be right out, waiting for you.
Ewha-POSCO Building to dorms
If you missed the shuttle bus that takes you to the dormitories up on the hill, specifically the Hanwoori Hall and the E-House, a shortcut you could use is going through the Ewha-POSCO Building. First, go up to the fourth floor using the elevator and cross the small bridge that leads to Science Building B. Enter the building and walk straight until you stop in front of the elevator to head up to the fourth floor again. When you head out the building and walk towards the right direction, there will be some hills to walk up to until you reach the elevators that lead you back to your dorm room.
Science Building to Law Building
Another shortcut for moving from the Science Building to Law Building is going through the Ewha Archives. If you exit Science Building B stairs that are right beside Science Building A and follow down additional stairs right up ahead, you will find a stairway leading up to the hillside towards the Ewha Archives. Walk past it, and you will reach the Law Building in no time.
Ewha-POSCO Building to Ewha Centennial Library
One of the most well-known shortcuts is the route through the Ewha-POSCO Building to Ewha Centennial Library. Dubbed the PoDo Gil — a portmanteau of both buildings, once you cross the route and head up the street, you will arrive at the library.
Main Gate to E-House
In case you miss the shuttle bus and would like to scurry back to your dorm room as quickly as possible, you can always cut through the Law Building. Start from the Main Gate at the campus and walk up the street where you normally line up for the shuttle bus. After passing the Admission Hall, hike up the small hill towards the Law Building then use its elevator up to the fourth floor and exit the gate to reach your dormitory. Instead of the exhausting march all the way through the hills to the dorm, you will find yourself smugly in front of the E-House, sweat-free.