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 Sejong University charts path to global top 100 by 2030
Sejong University President Eom Jong-hwa speaks during an interview at the university’s main building in Gwangjin District, Seoul, July 30. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Jung Da-hyun
University expands programs and partnerships to keep pace with changing world
Sejong University is ramping up its global strategy with an ambitious goal: to break into the world’s top 100 universities by 2030. At the heart of this vision is a new academic model designed to help foreign students not just gain admission, but thrive in Korea’s higher education system.
"The Ministry of Education's Study Korea 300K initiative presents a pivotal opportunity to elevate the global competitiveness of Korean higher education," Sejong University President Eom Jong-hwa said in an interview with The Korea Times.
"We aim not only to align with this national vision, but also to lead it by attracting high-quality international students and helping them successfully settle in Korea, as a model institution."
To achieve this, Sejong is moving forward with the establishment of Sejong International College, which will include the International Year One program — an intensive foundation course aimed at easing academic and language barriers for foreign students.
"Even students with a fair proficiency in Korean can feel lost when they try to register for courses," Eom explained. "Sejong International College will take charge of first-year academic guidance for these students, providing the support they need to adapt and succeed."
The university plans to launch and operate the new college starting in the upcoming fall semester.
"This will be an innovative academic model that directly answers the government’s call to enhance the quality of education for international students," he said.
Domestic and international students attend a graduate school class at Sejong University. Courtesy of Sejong University
The university highlighted its greatest strength: supporting international students through its meticulously designed, step-by-step assistance system.
From the moment admission is confirmed, students receive essential information on visas, dormitories and more through a multilingual online orientation. Upon arrival in Korea, the on-campus orientation goes beyond academic and scholarship guidance, offering practical life information such as crime prevention tips in cooperation with Seoul Police Department and details on immigration laws. These sessions are conducted simultaneously in Korean, English and Chinese.
The centerpiece of Sejong’s early adaptation support is the Sejong Education Center of Korea Culture.
"Our center is not just a language school," Eom said. "While TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) preparation is standard, we also provide Korean for Academic Purposes courses tailored to university lectures."
As a Ministry of Justice-designated operator of the early adaptation program for immigrants, the center delivers credible, up-to-date lifestyle information. It also offers cultural classes and hands-on experiences utilizing hallyu content, creating an environment where international students can learn practical, real-world Korean.
Additionally, the university offers specialized programs to help students design a successful future. It holds the nation’s largest job and startup fair for international students annually, providing practical employment opportunities for foreign students. The school also hosts career mentoring sessions featuring accomplished alumni, who share firsthand insights and professional know-how.
The International Student Fair, the country’s largest job and startup fair for international students, is held at Sejong University’s Gwanggaeto Building in Seoul, May 13. Courtesy of Sejong University
Another pillar of Sejong University’s internationalization strategy is the standardization of its academic system to meet global norms.
"Transcripts from China, Vietnam and the United Kingdom all look different," Eom explained. "The challenge is how to standardize these varying formats at the admissions stage. Each country has a completely different grading system, and without a clear set of criteria, it’s difficult to evaluate applicants on an equal basis."
The same issue applies to exchange programs. Currently, most exchange courses are graded on a pass or fail basis without assigning letter grades or GPA equivalents. The university believes such measures would foster more dynamic student exchanges while enhancing the quality of academic collaboration.
Expanding global partnerships is another major focus. Building on the success of its dual-degree program with Arizona State University, Sejong aims to extend its reach into Europe and Central Asia.
The university has identified countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania as strategic gateways for deeper engagement, citing both their geopolitical value in accessing Europe and their appeal as destinations for Korean investment.
Through partnerships with universities in these countries, the university plans to strengthen student exchanges, joint research and dual-degree opportunities. The goal is to significantly increase the number of students from Eastern Europe coming to Korea — that figure stood at just 490 in 2024 — and position Sejong University as a leading hub for academic exchange between Korea and Eastern Europe.
Students practice on an autonomous driving platform at Sejong University’s Department of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology. Courtesy of Sejong University
Alongside its strategic internationalization efforts, Sejong University has recently launched a range of cutting-edge departments, including the School of Liberal Studies, dubbed Daeyang Humanity College, as well as departments for Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Content Software and Cyber Defense.
"This highlights our commitment to meeting the rapidly changing demands of society and industry," Eom said.
Over the past three years, the university has secured the education ministry’s approval for six new high-tech departments, adding a net total of 220 student slots. This includes the Department of Quantum Intelligent Information, set to open in 2026.
Furthermore, the Department of Cyber Defense, created under a contract-based program, addresses the growing importance of national security. The program is designed to train specialists equipped with both advanced cybersecurity skills and the practical expertise required in defense and industry.
Building on its existing partnerships with the Navy through the Department of Defense System Engineering and with the Air Force through the Aerospace Systems Engineering program, the university will launch the Army-affiliated Department of Cyber Defense this year and the Marine Corps-affiliated Department of Defense Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Convergence Engineering next year.
Together, these programs will establish a full "all-branch contract department system" encompassing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This, the university says, is a prime example of Sejong University’s strategic role and standing as an educational bridge between the defense sector and industry.
"Our ultimate vision is to become a world-class institution leading the era of creative convergence," Eom said. "Amid constant change, we will continue to actively support each student in becoming a leader of the future, while fulfilling our social responsibilities to the fullest."
Graphic by Bae So-young