Education leaders, envoys urge Korean universities to expand global reach
University leaders and foreign diplomats underscored the importance of international cooperation in higher education at the 2025 Korea Times Global Conference in Seoul Wednesday, calling it vital for both Korea’s competitiveness and the global exchange of experts. While Korea’s soft power has made its culture an increasingly sought-after commodity, experts at the conference argued that the country’s universities must do more to compete for the best and the brightest around the globe. With a demographic cliff looming and the nation’s economic future hanging in the balance, failure to attract and retain foreign professionals could stifle innovation and threaten Korea’s long-term prosperity. Ewha Womans University President Lee Hyang-sook said the event comes at a time when Korean universities are drawing growing global attention. “I heard that The Korea Times is planning evaluation programs to raise the global standards of domestic universities,” she said. “As Korea becomes more globalized and attracts more inbound and outbound students, I believe this forum will play a ro
