Chonnam National University President Lee Keun-bae speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the university's campus in Gwangju, Feb. 12. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
As regional universities step up efforts to attract and retain international students beyond the Seoul metropolitan area, Chonnam National University is seeking to position itself at the forefront — offering cradle-to-career support from admission through long-term settlement, while building on its expanding strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Our goal is to further solidify the university’s standing as a prestigious institution that nurtures global talent — one that grows together with the region, reaches out to the world and leads the future,” Chonnam National University President Lee Keun-bae said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.
Declaring this year the launch of a major global leap, the university plans to establish a dedicated Office of International Affairs to consolidate all functions related to globalization.
The new office will integrate responsibilities currently handled by the international cooperation division under the Office of Public Affairs, creating a centralized system to support the university’s growing international student population and broader global engagement efforts.
“Until now, international cooperation has been managed as a division, but with the number of international students steadily increasing, we decided to launch a dedicated office to bring all support systems under one umbrella,” Lee said.
The restructuring will significantly expand staffing, increasing from the current 13 personnel in the division to an estimated 20 to 30 staff members once the office is fully established.
“We believe this change will enable more comprehensive and systematic support for international students while accelerating the university’s globalization efforts,” he said.
International students participating in Chonnam National University’s 2026 International Winter School visit Gwangju Hyanggyo to experience traditional Korean culture, Feb. 12. Courtesy of Chonnam National University
Approximately 2,000 international students — including those enrolled in Korean-language programs, exchange programs and degree courses — are currently studying at the university. The highest proportions of students come from China and Uzbekistan, followed by Vietnam.
Source: Korea Times News
