Korea University defends tuition hike, vows more support for int'l students

Korea University President Kim Dong-one speaks during a press conference marking the school's 120th anniversary at Korea University campus in Seongbuk District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Korea University is advocating for stronger support for international students and expanded global outreach while justifying its tuition hike as inevitable.

The number of international students at the university is surging, drawing attention to the school’s support efforts for them.

During a press conference Monday marking its 120th anniversary, Korea University said that the number of international students admitted to degree programs has surged by 87 percent compared to last year.

Graduate student enrollment alone increased from 379 to 1,359, while the number of short-term international students, including those in exchange and visiting programs, also grew by an average of 10 percent.

With their numbers growing, the university raised its tuition for international students by 9 percent. Tuition for international students tends to rise at a higher rate, as it is not subject to a legal cap.

Calling the increase unavoidable, Korea University President Kim Dong-one stressed the school remains committed to strengthening support for international students and expanding its global engagement.

He added that the tuition increase was not unilaterally imposed by the school but finalized through consensus by a university review committee.

The committee consists of 13 members — six representing the university, six representing students and one external member who holds the deciding vote. None of the members are international students.

“There may be criticism that foreign students should have representation on the committee,” a university official said. “But the student council has never formally requested this. Structurally, we believe there are no blind spots, as the representatives are expected to reflect international students’ views as well.”

Kim pointed out that many universities abroad charge different tuition for domestic and international students, adding Korea University's tuition policy is based on a reasonable approach.

“In other countries, out-of-state tuition can be nearly three times higher than in-state rates. Ours isn’t anywhere near that level — it’s about 1.2 times higher,” he said.

“We are working to ensure that international students’ voices are reflected through mutual consultation."

The university said it is reaffirming its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for international students, citing Korea University’s status as one of the most globalized universities in the country.

A task force chaired by Kim meets biweekly to address the needs of international faculty, staff and students. These meetings allow members of the university's international community to raise concerns and help the university build a to-do list for improvements.

The school noted that issues like dormitory concerns or difficulties interacting with domestic students are often raised.

In response, the university is planning to build new dormitories for international students and expand initiatives like its buddy program to help students of different nationalities form friendships and adjust to campus life alongside domestic peers.

Meanwhile, like many other universities across the country, Korea University is facing the fallout from an ongoing conflict between the government and health care professionals over medical school admission quotas.

Although many medical students have returned to campus, a large number continue to boycott classes in protest. Under Korea University’s regulations, students who miss more than one-third of the total class days may be required to repeat the academic year.

Under these rules, the university announced that it will issue academic probation notices this week to around 120 students following a full faculty meeting on Monday.