In 1923, an organization called the Korea Private University Foundation Committee (조선민립대학기성회; 朝鮮民立大學期成會) was formed.

In response to their activism, the Japanese Government-General of Chōsen agreed to a proposal (경성제국대학령) to found a university in Korea.

An article in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture argues that science and engineering programs were deliberately not introduced until around Japan's entry into World War II.

[1] An alumnus of the university testified in 2010 that bureaucrats were held in much higher esteem than engineers and scientists in colonial Korea, which led to the law program becoming excessively popular.

While speaking to Korean officials, the U.S. Military Governor stated that the U.S. "gave a basic law enacted which will place our national university on a level equal to the best in the world.

The gathering of men and women by local police and administrative power had been conducted as measuring them was necessary for the progression of Keijō Imperial University's physical anthropology research.

In 1937, Keijō Imperial University extended its research of physical anthropology field studies to Manchuria and China.

Keijō Imperial University's field studies in Korea, Manchuria and China were financially supported by the Japanese government and research foundations.

Controversies surrounding Keijō Imperial University's research of physical anthropology and blood typing is related to the use of a racial index [R.I. (= A%+AB%/B%+AB%)].