InterviewKyung Hee University calls for global recognition of 'K-education'

Kyung Hee University President Kim Jin-sang, the university’s first president with a science and engineering background, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the university's main building in Dongdaemun District, Seoul, Aug. 29. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

K-pop and K-dramas have propelled Korea’s cultural exports to unprecedented global heights, turning “K-” into a powerful global brand. Beyond the spotlight, Kyung Hee University President Kim Jin-sang pointed out that K-education and K-research still struggle to earn the same recognition — not for lack of quality, but because their value remains overlooked.

“Korean universities maintain world-class standards, but global recognition has yet to follow,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times. “This is where universities like Kyung Hee must step in and play a greater role.”

Kim considers Korea’s cultural ascent to be deeply connected to its strong educational foundation.

“Two factors made K-culture possible — the nation’s high level of education and its dynamic, fast-paced mindset,” he said. “With more than 70 percent of Koreans having attended higher education institutions, one of the highest rates in the world, it was natural that our cultural output would reach global standards.”

Kim emphasized that Korea must now channel its cultural momentum into deeper academic exchange.

“Global interest in Korea goes far beyond culture,” he said. “The next phase is fostering more structured, scholarly engagement — attracting international students who come not just for K-pop or entertainment, but to study Korea’s language, society and technology at an advanced level.”

Kyung Hee University President Kim Jin-sang, right, greets students from HSE University in Russia participating in a joint degree program with Kyung Hee University. Courtesy of Kyung Hee University

Founded in 1949 with a mission to pursue peace through scholarship, Kyung Hee University now ranks second in Korea in number of international students, enrolling around 2,500 students from abroad. The school has consistently emphasized global engagement, a priority that Kim says has become even more pressing in the age of artificial intelligence and accelerating internationalization.

“Kyung Hee was built on the idea of creating a cultural world where material and spiritual progress go hand in hand with peace,” Kim said. “To fulfill that mission, academic excellence cannot remain confined within Korea — it must be connected to global scholarly networks.”

Kyung Hee University has maintained a long-standing partnership with HSE University in Moscow. As part of the collaboration, students majoring in Asian Studies at HSE spend one year at Kyung Hee to earn a joint degree. The two institutions have continued their academic exchanges since the 1990s.

The university also prioritizes fostering international students as future contributors to Korea. The university offers an array of programs designed to help them adjust to campus life, build academic and language proficiency and gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. The initiatives also extend beyond the classroom, emphasizing career development, practical training and industry collaboration.

“We don’t view international students as short-term visitors,” Kim said. “Our aim is to cultivate global talent who can build their careers in Korea or make an impact abroad with the knowledge and experience gained here.”

More specifically, the university offers Korean language courses and mentorship programs that pair international students with Korean peers to ease their transition into campus life. It also provides customized career counseling and field internships tied to students’ majors. Special initiatives such as Global SDGs Team Challenge, which promotes the United Nations’ sustainable development goals through education, research and cultural exchange, aim to expand students’ opportunities.

Through these initiatives, Kyung Hee University has drawn talented students from a wide range of countries who demonstrate both strong language proficiency and academic excellence.

“We want these students to grow within Kyung Hee and go on to play meaningful roles on the global stage,” Kim said. “In doing so, the university reinforces its position as a bridge linking Korea to the wider world.”

International and domestic students play the Korean traditional board game yunnori. Courtesy of Kyung Hee University

In addition, the university plans a long-term expansion of its Global Virtual School initiative, building an international education platform that connects online and offline learning. More than 3,500 students — primarily from Southeast Asia, but also from Europe, Turkey, Egypt and Central Asia — have already participated.

The university also aims to establish an open major program exclusively for international students, offering a high-quality academic system while strengthening career and settlement support to help them grow steadily in both Korean society and the global arena.

Since the early 2000s, Kyung Hee has offered full scholarships for international graduate students in science and engineering — a policy that Kim says both raises research standards and diversifies academic culture. Most graduate-level courses are taught in English, easing access for non-Korean speakers.

A front view of Kyung Hee University's main building in Dongdaemun District, Seoul / Courtesy of Kyung Hee University

Hurdles to Korea’s academic globalization

While interest in studying in Korea continues to rise, language remains the biggest obstacle for many foreign graduates.

“Companies expect employees to be fluent in Korean, English and their own native language — that’s a high bar to meet,” Kim said.

He added that despite the university’s intensive Korean-language and career development programs, real progress will depend on whether Korean companies and society are ready to embrace international talent.

Kim stressed that Korea must overcome structural constraints for its universities to gain true global competitiveness, citing the recruitment of international faculty as one challenge.

“Foreign professors account for less than 10 percent of our faculty,” he said. “To compete with universities in Hong Kong or Singapore, we need to provide globally competitive salaries, housing and education support for their families, which requires stronger financial resources.”

Korean universities, particularly private institutions, operate under tight financial limits as tuition fees remain far lower than those of their global peers. Although private universities raised tuition last year for the first time in 16 years, greater public understanding is still needed to ensure sustainable funding for higher education.

Despite the challenges, Kim stressed that the university’s globalization strategy should play a crucial role in advancing Korea’s higher education. He said the focus must now move beyond simple inbound and outbound exchanges toward the full internationalization of education and research.

“Korean students should begin participating in joint research with international peers from their junior and senior years, fostering genuine global collaboration,” Kim said.

“The world already sings along to K-pop, but it’s time they also recognize the value of K-education and K-research. Our quality meets global standards — what remains is making it visible to the world.”

Graphic by Bae So-young