Seoul: Struggling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates at 0.72 as of 2023 and financial constraints, Korean universities are confronted with the urgent task of finding ways to produce future workers both domestically and globally. As the Korean economy continues to seek future markets for export-led growth, its higher education institutions are being urged to enhance their globalization outreach and attract students eager to pursue academic studies in Korea. Fast-changing technology demands corresponding action from these universities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this initiative aligns with President Lee Jae Myung's vision to position Korea among the global artificial intelligence top three, alongside the administration's focus on creating ten universities that match the prestige of Seoul National University. In terms of globalization, the administration aims to make Korea one of the top ten destinations for foreign students.
Education Minister Cho Kyo-jin has expressed the government's intention to create a "virtuous cycle" for foreign students, enabling them to study in college and build stable lives in Korea. These remarks were part of his address at the 2025 Korea Times Global Conference, titled "Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Competitiveness of Korean Universities."
While Korean higher education institutions have seen declines in areas such as citations in top-ranked scientific journals, the global popularity of Korean content continues to draw foreign students. According to education ministry data, the number of foreign students in Korea surpassed 200,000 in 2024. Korean universities, while academic institutions, also serve as a layer of the country's soft power.
The global conference highlighted that despite skepticism about Korean universities, they are gaining recognition. Seoul topped the most recent Best Student Cities ranking for 2026 by QS, a global higher education analytics firm. In the latest World University Rankings, Korea had 43 universities included, with two in the top 50, and 46 in the Sustainability Rankings.
In the inaugural K-universities Global Excellence Rankings, Korea University ranked first with 144.86 points across four categories, followed by Seoul National University and Yonsei University. The top ten also included Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, Sogang University, University of Seoul, Ewha Womans University, Kyung Hee University, and Dongguk University.
These Seoul-based universities, some with regional campuses, boast collaborative programs with businesses and the government. However, to enhance their global competitiveness, experts at the conference called for establishing global campuses and cooperation on education and research networks. While Songdo houses the Incheon Global Campus for foreign institutions, Korean universities have yet to open campuses overseas. They are encouraged to adopt strategies similar to leading foreign schools like Harvard and MIT, and offer digital learning platforms.
While supporting the drive of Korean universities toward better global outreach, the government needs to balance policy intervention with autonomy for innovation. Korean universities are advised to learn from Singapore, where government investments and global fellowship programs propelled two universities into the world's Top 30. Conversely, Japan's higher institutions faced stiffer regulations and insufficient funding, leading to a decline in global standings, as noted by experts at the conference.
Improvement and innovation require investment. The government recently imposed a ceiling on tuition increases for 2026, which may benefit students, but Korean universities have not raised tuition for over a decade. Accelerating to the next level requires funding. Korea's public education spending for college students lags behind the OECD average, with $14,689 per student compared to the OECD's 2022 average of $21,444.
Education is key to Korea's future, shaped by aggressive demands from evolving technologies and global uncertainties. The new landscape compels universities, the government, and businesses to collaborate and produce a workforce proficient in new tools, promoting Korea abroad, and enabling it to be a global partner to other nations.