While Bong was in elementary school, the family relocated to Seoul, taking up residence in Jamsil-dong by the Han River. In 1988, Bong enrolled in Yonsei University, majoring in sociology. College campuses such as Yonsei's were then hotbeds for the South Korean democracy movement; Bong was an active participant of student demonstrations, frequently subjected to tear gas early in his college years. He served a two-year term in the military in accordance with South Korea's compulsory military service before returning to college in 1992. Bong later co-founded a film club named "Yellow Door" with students from neighboring universities. As a member of the club, Bong made his first films, including a stop motion short titled "Looking for Paradise" and 16 mm film short titled "Baeksaekin (White Man)". He graduated from Yonsei University in 1995.