[5] The university also operates campuses in Peckham, Gyeongju, and Los Angeles, United States.

It became the Central Education Institution (중앙학림; 中央學林) in 1915,[6] but was closed by the Japanese Occupation Government from 1922 to 1928 for its connection to the Samil Undong uprising.

[6] In 1928, the foundation of the Buddhist Specialised School (불교전수학교; 佛敎專修學校) was permitted after Buddhist temples all across colonial Korea donated 601,425 yen and established the Central Administrative Headquarters of the Joseon Buddhism Foundation (조선불교중앙교무원; 朝鮮佛敎中央敎務院) in 1924.

[7] After the World War II the school was reopened on October 27, 1945, and was expanded into Dongguk College (동국대학; 東國大學) on September 20, 1946.

Construction of Myeongjin Hall which is the oldest building in the university now began in March 1956, and finished on December 30.

Students participated in the April Revolution against the autocratic government in 1960, and the June 3 Resistance in opposition to the negotiation for the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1964.

[14] Dongguk University said that it lost millions in contributions and the opportunity to build a new law school, but the lawsuit was finally concluded with Yale's innocence over the scandal.

[19] Dongguk University celebrated the 111st anniversary of the foundation in 2017, and announced new motto of 지혜, 자비, 정진 (智慧, 慈悲, 精進; Wisdom, Compassion, Endeavor) which replaced the previous motto, 섭심, 신실, 자애, 도세 (攝心, 信實, 慈愛, 度世; Steady one's clean mind, Behave truly and reliably, Love people with benevolence, Save mankind from agony).

[20] Dongguk University's main campus is located in Jung District, Seoul, just north of Namsan.

The campus' main entrance is at Dongguk University Station the intersection of Seoul Subway Line 3 and 4.

[citation needed] In addition, in order to foster inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation personnel in preparation for reunification, and to nurture experts who have the ability to analyze inter-Korean relations, they established the North Korean Studies Department in Korea for the first time in 1994.

In 2017, a North Korean studies alumnus Suh Hoon was appointed as the 22nd director of National Intelligence Service of South Korea.

Young K from the JYP Entertainment rock band Day6 is also an alumnus but graduated with a bachelor's in Business Administration.

Alumni in professional sport include baseball player Kim Seong-han, Han Dae-hwa, Song Jin-woo, Park Han-yi, footballer Ahn Hyo-yeon and mountaineer Park Young-seok, and alumni in arts include novelist Hwang Sok-yong, Jo Jung-rae, poet Shin Kyeong-nim, Moon Chung-hee, singer-songwriter Young K and painter Seok Cheoljoo.

Both newspapers are overseen by a board of directors of the university and run by a student chief editor.