S. Korea sees possibility of N. Korea-U.S. dialogue discussions during Kim Jong-un's China visit

The University of South Korea (SNU) is planning to establish a new international division focused on admitting students from Vietnam and China. This proposal was discussed at a university senate meeting on October 22, following its approval in April. The division aims to prioritize schools known for nurturing academically outstanding students, such as international and gifted schools.

SNU's vice president for global affairs, Cha Suk-won, emphasized that the university's focus is on regions with strong talent development systems, not just countries with high numbers of successful applicants.

Faculty members from the University College, which will house the new division, will visit Vietnam in January 2027 to present admissions guidelines to prospective students. Additionally, the university is considering visits to other countries, including Kazakhstan. Vietnamese students have become the largest group of international students in South Korea, numbering 96,834 or 31.5% of the total 307,464 as of April 1.

SNU is developing a "fly-in program" to bring outstanding overseas high school students and prospective incoming students to campus as a recruitment tool. Incoming students will need to take Korean-language courses based on their TOPIK scores before selecting a track in humanities, social sciences, arts, or science and engineering. They can then pursue one major offered by departments across 10 of SNU's undergraduate colleges.

The new division is expected to admit around 36 students annually, in addition to the regular enrollment quota, keeping the number of places for Korean students unchanged. It is set to launch in March 2027, with classes beginning in September. Foreign nationals, both applicants and their parents, must apply. SNU, currently ranked 38th in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, has seen a decline in international student ratio and diversity, factors cited as contributing to the lower ranking.

The university has been less aggressive in recruiting international students compared to peers like Yonsei and Korea Universities, which have significantly higher numbers of foreign students. Some SNU students have expressed concerns that the new division could strain educational resources and student welfare services, including classrooms, dormitories, and scholarships.