KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

The recent intense conflict between students and the administration at Dongduk Women’s University illustrates this complexity. According to media reports , the issue began when the university administration pushed forward plans to transition to a coeducational system without sufficient prior discussion with students. The situation escalated as students attempted to physically block the initiative, leading to additional disputes over property damage and financial compensation. The opposition, rooted in the argument that allowing male access to a university established to promote women’s education and rights was unacceptable, further intensified the conflict. This incident, like many others, invites a variety of perspectives. Understanding it accurately requires insights from sociology, gender studies, political science, and communication studies. However, I believe that perspectives from higher education administration and international education are equally indispensable. One of the ke...

US students are choosing South Korea. This marks a new milestone for the country, which over the past decade has been receiving spotlight as a popular study abroad destination for international students globally.  The data from the Institute of International Education (USA) and Korea’s Ministry of Justice corroborate the shift in mobility patterns. In 2002/03, a small margin of internationally mobile US students was found in Korea, 834 or about 0.4% (739 of 174,629). Since then, inbound numbers have grown eight-fold (to 5,909) in 2022/23, representing a dramatic increase in the shares of total US students found globally. The ratio of US students in Korea to global numbers stood at 2.1% for the 2022/23 academic year while pandemic levels were even higher with US students in Korea representing nearly 7 percent of the global US study abroad population (977 out of 14,549). Notably, Korea is exemplary for having not only the highest rate of growth in recent years, but also fast rebound ...

Motivation to Apply for the Fulbright Program  In 2012, I embarked on a pivotal journey as a Fulbright scholar in the Korea International Education Administrator (IEA) Program. My decision to apply was rooted in a deep-seated desire to bridge the gap between South Korea’s higher education system and the global landscape. As a professional navigating the intricacies of international education, I recognized the need to expand my understanding of global best practices, forge meaningful partnerships, and cultivate innovative strategies that could elevate the institutions I served.  South Korea’s higher education sector, while robust in its academic rigor, faced challenges in adapting to the demands of globalization. I believed that participating in the Fulbright program would provide me with unparalleled exposure to diverse educational models and strategic frameworks employed by U.S. institutions. Fulbright’s mission of fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across cultu...

In a recent podcast interview with Fabrizio , I shared insights into my professional journey in international education, reflecting on pivotal experiences, challenges, and the evolving trends shaping the field. For the entire recording, please visit HERE . "Kyuseok Kim, Center Director at IES Abroad Seoul, tells us how his interest in international education began when as a teaching assistant at an international summer school program in South Korea, where he worked closely with a broad range of international faculty and students, and experience that contributed to his decision to work in the international education sector, including eventually at Suny Korea, the first and the largest US campus in South Korea, operating within Incheon Global Campus education hub. KS shares his passion for facilitating transformative international education experiences for students, and how he has been able to put this passion into practice in his current work as the inaugural Director of IES Abroad...

 "Competence is inversely rewarded." This was what a staff member at T University told me in a casual conversation about two years ago. At first, it struck me as an exaggeration, perhaps even a contradiction. Surely it couldn’t be that bad, I thought. But as we continued our discussion, I began to see his point. What seemed like a cynical remark was, in fact, a reflection of the frustrations stemming from the structural and inherent limitations in the system. His comment also made me realize that the atmosphere was quite different from what I had experienced at S University, where staff capabilities, pride, and commitment as agents of university innovation were strongly emphasized. After transitioning from S University to N University (a U.S. campus located in Songdo International City), one question I frequently received from former colleagues was, "How far can you advance over there?" While becoming a university president seemed out of reach, they were curious abo...

Over the past two decades, South Korea has seen significant growth in its international student population, driven by factors like the Korean Wave and the expansion of English-medium instruction. This rise has transformed South Korea into a global education hub, shifting its role from a "sending" to a "receiving" country for international students. By 2023, international students represented 9% of the global international student population. A detailed analysis shows that Korean language studies and undergraduate programs attract the most students, while advanced degree enrollments are smaller. However, the surge in international students has introduced challenges, particularly concerning illegal residency. In 2023, 16% of international students were found to be residing illegally, with a stark contrast between non-degree (34%) and degree-seeking students (6%). Issues like universities struggling to manage students, and some engaging in illegal employment or activit...

In recent times, it has become increasingly difficult to find a term as frequently mentioned in South Korean universities as "international students." About a year ago, a plan was announced to attract 300,000 international students by 2027, but efforts to recruit students from abroad have intensified unprecedentedly for several years now. The objective of 'internationalization'—far from being a mere emulation of others or a lofty goal—has transformed into a fierce struggle for survival, a stark contrast to the situation before 2010. The Rapid Rise of Diversity in South Korea Around the turn of the millennium, the number of international students in South Korea began to significantly manifest, with the Ministry of Education reporting 180,000 and the Ministry of Justice over 230,000. It has been about three years since South Korea transitioned into a 'receiving country,' where the number of students coming from abroad surpasses those leaving for studies overseas...