KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

Challenges in South Korea’s Higher Education Reforms South Korea's higher education system is undergoing significant reforms in response to demographic decline, regional disparities, and global competition. The government has introduced initiatives like the Glocal University 30 and the Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) to restructure institutions, enhance global competitiveness, and address financial instability. However, these reforms have faced strong resistance from students, faculty, and local communities, particularly regarding university mergers. Cases like the proposed integration of Pukyong National University and Korea Maritime and Ocean University, as well as Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation, have sparked student opposition due to concerns over institutional identity and lack of transparency. Emotional and Cultural Resistance to Reform Beyond structural changes, reforms have triggered emotional and cultural tension...

The Impact of South Korea’s Political and Economic Crisis on the Won The declaration of martial law by South Korea’s now-arrested president, Yoon Suk Yeol, led to the won plummeting to its weakest level against the US dollar since the 2009 financial crisis. The won had been steadily depreciating, but the turmoil in December 2024 caused it to surpass 1,474 won per dollar, a 14% increase from the previous year. With South Korea facing political instability and economic challenges, forecasters predict that the won is unlikely to recover soon. This decline could have significant consequences for international higher education, particularly for South Korean students studying in the US, as tuition and living expenses become increasingly unaffordable. Rising Costs and Potential Shift in Study Abroad Destinations The sharp depreciation of the won has made US higher education significantly more expensive for Korean families. At the current exchange rate, annual tuition at a public university, p...

With South Korea’s Constitutional Court preparing to rule on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, university campuses have become battlegrounds for opposing political forces. While pro-impeachment sentiment has been dominant among students, recent weeks have seen a surge in pro-Yoon demonstrations, many of which have been orchestrated with the involvement of external conservative groups and far-right influencers. What began as a series of student-led discussions has evolved into a crisis, as politically motivated agitators force their way onto campuses, disrupting academic life and threatening student safety. Universities have long been centers of political engagement, but the escalating conflict, marked by intimidation, violence, and unauthorized intrusions, raises urgent concerns about the erosion of academic autonomy. Spreading Controversies Across Major Universities The wave of campus protests began in early February when students at Yonsei University held a pro-impeachment ...