Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
INTERVIEW Sungkyunkwan University puts global impact at center of leadership vision
Sungkyunkwan University President Yoo Ji-beom speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the university's Seoul campus in Jongno District, Seoul, June 25. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Jung Da-hyun
University seeks deregulation, support for private schools to compete globally
Sungkyunkwan University is working to redefine global academic leadership — not merely by climbing rankings such as the QS World University Rankings, but by addressing major challenges through pioneering research.
As it presses forward with efforts to boost global competitiveness, the university is also calling attention to broader challenges — advocating for a shift toward quality-driven global engagement and increased support for Korea’s private universities.
"When people think of a 'global leader university,' they often equate it with being highly ranked. But that is a superficial measure," said Sungkyunkwan University President Yoo Ji-beom during a recent interview with The Korea Times.
"A true global leader university tackles the grand challenges that humanity faces through impactful research and technology innovation, while also shaping cultural and social disclosure that leads the spirit of the times."
Yoo made it clear that rankings are not the destination, but a stepping stone toward a broader mission: delivering lasting global impact and fulfilling the university’s social obligations over time.
The university was recently ranked 102nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 126th in the QS World University Rankings — positions that notably place it ahead of several institutions traditionally regarded as top-tier within Korea.
"We strengthened our research infrastructure, and I think that had a meaningful impact," Yoo said.
A front view of Sungkyunkwan University Natural Science Campus in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University
In response to rapid industrial shifts and rising demand for future technologies, Sungkyunkwan University is broadening its academic programs and deepening industry-academic partnerships aimed at cultivating experts in cutting-edge sectors.
Among its newest additions is the Department of Battery Science and Engineering, launched in collaboration with Samsung SDI. Set to welcome its first cohort in 2026, the department will focus on training specialists in next-generation battery technologies to meet global market demand.
In 2024, the university also launched the School of Applied AI Convergence, designed mainly for working professionals. The school offers two tracks focused on artificial intelligence — AI convergence operations and industrial AI — aimed at equipping students with hands-on skills to solve complex, real-world problems and address complex challenges across industries.
Additional departments in biotechnology, energy, quantum information engineering and semiconductor convergence further reflect the university’s broader push to lead in advanced technology education and innovation.
These efforts have also strengthened the university’s position in industry-academic collaboration.
The university is partnering with global semiconductor firm Lam Research to run the K-Semiconductor Talent Development Program, which aims to cultivate skilled professionals for the chip industry.
In addition, the university’s AI Research Institute, established in partnership with Seongnam city in Geyonggi Province, has emerged as a successful model for regional cooperation — setting a new standard for advanced technology research and local industry collaboration.
The Sungkyunkwan University mascot greets international students participating in the International Summer Semester at the Seoul campus, June 25. Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University
Internationalization and next-level challenges
In addition to development in research and academics, the university is working to create an environment where students can gain meaningful global experience through active exchange between domestic and international peers.
It has built a global network with 549 partner institutions across 68 countries. It currently hosts around 4,000 international students from 82 nations and welcomes about 1,000 exchange students annually. Roughly 800 Sungkyunkwan students also study abroad each year, reinforcing the university’s status as a global institution.
A cornerstone of the university’s global outreach is the International Summer Semester, launched in 2008. The program draws more than 800 students and faculty from around the world each year, fostering academic exchange and cross-cultural understanding in a dynamic learning environment.
"This program aims to provide participants with deeper insight into Korean society and culture while enhancing their ability to engage with the world through mutual understanding," Yoo said.
To further strengthen its internationalization efforts, the university is expanding its courses taught in English and encouraging joint research with overseas institutions. This year, the university also plans to launch a dedicated Korean Studies track and lecture series tailored for international students, offering in-depth academic engagement with Korean history, society and culture.
International students pose in hanbok, traditional Korean attire, during a cultural experience event at Sungkyunkwan University's Seoul campus, Sept. 20, 2024. Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University
While the university continues to make strides in global engagement, Yoo noted that significant challenges remain in improving its global competitiveness, including the area of internationalization.
He pointed out that although the number of international students has increased, a large proportion still comes from a limited number of countries, especially China, highlighting the need for greater diversity.
"The university is at a transition point — we’re no longer focused solely on numbers, but on how to attract high-quality global talent," Yoo said. "We’re making targeted efforts to recruit students from a broader range of countries, especially in science and engineering, where we have strong research infrastructure."
Regarding the possibility of creating specialized majors or departments exclusively for international students, Yoo said it had been carefully considered. However, he emphasized that such separation runs counter to the university’s vision of meaningful globalization.
"I believe true globalization happens when students from different countries naturally mix and learn side by side in the classroom," he said.
Furthermore, Yoo emphasized that boosting the global competitiveness of Korean universities will require easing regulations and expanding support for high-potential private institutions.
While public funding remains essential, he noted its limitations and called for greater flexibility to raise resources through private sector partnerships and donations.
"Regulations such as tuition caps continue to hinder the growth and innovation of Korean higher education," Yoo said, noting that excessive regulation has become a major obstacle to the advancement of Korean universities.
"The more financial resources a university secures, the more it can invest in its students," he added.
Yoo also highlighted that while it is important to support struggling universities, backing high-performing institutions is equally essential to maintain balance and strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness.
Graphic by Bae So-young, Cho Sang-won