IES Seoul Center: Building an Educational Hub that Cultivates Students’ Global Awareness

The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), a leading organization specializing in international education, officially opened its Seoul Center in Gwanghwamun this August, marking a new turning point in Korea. Founded in 1950, IES is the world’s most reputable study abroad organization with 75 years of history, and more than 10,000 students participate in its programs each year.

The newly established IES Seoul Center has chosen Gwanghwamun as a strategic base. Director Kyuseok Kim explained, “Gwanghwamun is surrounded by cultural and historical resources, such as the Seoul Museum of History and the Seoul Museum of Art, and it is close to Jeong-dong and Seochon. It is the optimal location for international students to experience Korean society in diverse ways, and this fits well with IES’s educational philosophy. IES is a learning platform that emphasizes supporting student growth and development by providing quality educational experiences, and ultimately nurturing them into individuals who will contribute to the sustainable development of humanity.”

– Please briefly introduce IES and the Seoul Center.

“IES is headquartered in Chicago and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Starting with its first program in Europe in 1950, it expanded across Asia, South America, and the rest of the world. Today, IES operates in more than 30 cities across 19 countries.

The Seoul Center opened this August in Gwanghwamun in response to rapidly growing demand to study in Korea after COVID-19, with the aim of providing students with better learning environments and support. In the past two years alone, nearly 300 U.S. students have come to Korea, and we plan to expand further.”

– What are IES’s distinctive educational programs?

“IES does not pursue study abroad simply as ‘going overseas.’ Our programs emphasize learning and growth. The Global Pillars Initiative, which seeks to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into IES programs, is structured around three axes: Sustainable Living, Equitable Living, and Human Well-Being. We also place importance on STEM Abroad, which enables students in science and engineering fields to maintain connections with their major coursework while still enjoying global learning opportunities.

In particular, IES operates a unique student success program called ENGAGE (Encouraging New Growth About Global Experiences). ENGAGE consists of four modules: multicultural understanding and competence; identity and belonging; goal setting; and reflection on the learning process and achievements. When U.S. students go abroad, they take part in sessions tailored to the context of each IES Center, which deepens their learning in that country. Above all, we prioritize student safety, welfare, and health, helping students not only to gain overseas experiences but also to cultivate global perspective and awareness.”

– Has the U.S. administration’s policy on international students had any direct or indirect effect on the Seoul Center?

“If we limit the scope to the Seoul Center, the influence of recent U.S. policies is limited. One reason is that the Center has been in full operation for only one or two years. More broadly, however, the influence of K-soft power in global higher education, which gained momentum around 2010, is now producing very clear results after 10 to 15 years.

In a recent webinar I organized with Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, it was projected that the tangible and intangible cultural assets Korea has accumulated worldwide over the past several years will have a massive influence for the next 20 to 30 years. Considering the success of Korea’s content industries entering the U.S. market, it is expected that the number of U.S. students coming to Korea through the Seoul Center will steadily increase. 

The rising international competitiveness of Korea’s higher education system also plays a significant role. For U.S. students, diverse experiences in Korea are attractive, but high-quality education and learning environments are equally important. If Korean universities had not achieved significant growth, the decision to establish the Seoul Center would not have been easy.”

– International students are a major issue in Korean higher education. How do you view the policy direction?

“I believe Korea’s international student policies are drawing more attention abroad than they are valued at home. Before the launch of the Study in Korea project in 2004-2005, Korea had only a minor status as a study destination. Now, however, the country hosts over 200,000 international students and more than 400,000 test-takers of the TOPIK exam, earning international recognition.

I believe that two decades of sustained policy, despite political changes, have accumulated achievements and brought us to the present. The launch and growth of the IES Seoul Center is closely tied to this trend. Since students studying in Korea through IES are not included in government statistics, the actual base is much larger than 200,000.

Of course, rapid quantitative growth has its shadows, for better or worse. Issues such as illegal stays, entry into the labor market under the guise of study, or reckless recruitment focused only on profitability occur. But such problems are also common in the ‘Big 4’ destinations (U.S., UK, Australia, Canada). For example, Australia’s recent increase in visa fees and limits on international student numbers are telling.

This is not to argue that ‘since it happens elsewhere, it is acceptable here.’ Considering population decline, labor shortages, and even university closures, attracting international students is a major national agenda. For sustainable international student recruitment and success, we must minimize side effects. In particular, greater effort is needed to view international students through the lens of diversity, inclusion, and social integration.”

– Recently, Korea’s competitiveness in global university rankings seems to be slipping. What is your assessment?

“Rather than ‘slipping,’ I think ‘standing still’ or ‘polarization’ is a more accurate description. The centralization of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area, exemplified by the ‘10 Seoul National Universities’ agenda, has created imbalances in competitiveness at the international level. Many universities have declared globalization in their missions, but only a few have gained real global excellence and reputation. Frankly, there are not many institutions that have brought about noticeable, tangible change.

The tuition freeze, which has lasted 16 years, and the resulting over-reliance on government funding programs are problems readers of University News Network will resonate with. Some argue that deregulation of tuition would not necessarily have led to better outcomes. Still, I believe the more persuasive logic is that without realistic investment and financial rationalization, sustainable growth and innovation cannot be achieved.”

– Partnerships and program quality are also key to success. What is the current situation?

“Ultimately, universities must decide whether to focus on being education-centered or research-centered. The two are not mutually exclusive, but each university needs a clear specialization strategy.

Partnerships with prestigious overseas universities are important, but more weight should be placed on whether such ties align with our strategic direction. In the past, slogans like ‘XX number of sister universities globally!’ attracted attention. Today, the real question is whether a university has substantive programs that genuinely support the growth and success of the people it serves.

Based on accumulated capacity nationwide, the next step should be exporting the content and services of Korean universities overseas. Good examples are Ajou and Inha University’s campuses in Central Asia, and the University of Tsukuba’s entry into Malaysia.”

– How extensive is the Seoul Center’s collaboration with Korean universities? Are there aspects to improve?

“Currently, we mainly collaborate with Korea University and Yonsei University, two leading research universities. For Korean universities, collaboration with IES provides efficiency in attracting U.S. students, while the Seoul Center benefits from leveraging Korea’s strong higher education infrastructure to invite students from many of our partner universities.

Through short-term programs of two to four weeks, we are also exploring broader collaboration with other institutions. But IES is not simply a recruitment agency or connector. As an independent international education organization, under the slogan ‘Study Abroad Changes Lives, Changed Lives Change the World,’ we design student-centered programs for future talent.

At the same time, I want to cautiously point out that some Korean universities remain hesitant about partnering with external providers. From their perspective, they already have infrastructure and staff, so why collaborate externally? But creating degree or summer programs in-house takes time and makes quality assurance difficult. I believe that working with professional organizations like IES, with specialized expertise and networks, can provide real benefits in supporting student growth and development.”

– Does the Seoul Center have distinctive educational know-how or operational methods?

“Because the term 'study abroad' is often translated as 'yuhak' in Korea, some people mistakenly view IES as a private or consulting agency. But that is not accurate. IES was founded as a nonprofit organization, and we focus on international education programs for U.S. undergraduates, that is inbound mobility from a Korean standpoint.

At the same time, we also run services for Korean students who want to study abroad through visiting student or internship opportunities. IES acquired the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF) in 2017–2018, which provides programs for Asian students to study in the U.S. and UK. Today, SAF Korea offers Korean students opportunities at English speaking universities as well as at IES Centers in more than 30 cities worldwide. Korean universities that partner with professional organizations like IES can create even greater opportunities.”

– What are the Seoul Center’s future plans and goals?

“The Seoul Center expects to host around 300 students across more than 10 programs by 2026. Moreover, beginning in fall 2026, we will also operate a multi-location program in partnership with our Tokyo Center, allowing students to spend one semester experiencing both Korea and Japan.

As an inaugural director, I have articulated the vision ‘Holistic Transformation in Korea, Lasting Impact in Lifetime.’ Through the Seoul Center, we aim to help students experience the culture, history, and heritage of Korea and East Asia, and support their growth into individuals who contribute to the sustainable development of humanity.”

* This is a translation of the Korean interview article published in the University News Network in September 2025. For the original work, please visit https://news.unn.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=583421.