Prisons, once widely regarded as undesirable facilities, are now drawing competition from local governments seeking to revive shrinking communities and struggling economies. Seven municipal governments are competing to host four new correctional facilities as part of the Ministry of Justice’s first nationwide competitive bidding process for prison sites. The ministry launched a nationwide call for applications on Aug. 28, marking the first time it has used a competitive bidding process to select sites for new correctional facilities. Previously, sites were chosen through consultations between the ministry and local governments. Under the new system, municipalities must seek residents' input and obtain approval from their local councils before submitting bids. The four planned facilities will each have a capacity of 1,000 inmates and employ around 250 staff members. Seven local governments have joined the race, including the counties of Yeongyang, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok and Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province, the city of Jecheon and Boeun County in North Chungcheong Province and Jeongse

Sungkyunkwan University President Yoo Ji-beom has been reappointed for a second four-year term. The university's board of trustees approved Yoo's reappointment at a meeting Thursday. His new term will run from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2030. The board credited Yoo with strengthening the university's research capabilities and global competitiveness, particularly through improvements in international university rankings. It also highlighted his vision for advancing institutional innovation in the artificial intelligence era. The university rose 19 places to 68th among 2,297 institutions worldwide in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, released earlier this month. It ranked third in Korea and first among private universities, extending its streak of annual improvements in the rankings to four consecutive years. The university also ranked among the top five universities in education, research and graduate outcomes in The Korea Times University Rankings. Yoo graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1982 and later earned a master

Students seeking degrees from prestigious universities overseas could head straight to their main campuses overseas. But Incheon Global Campus (IGC) is making a case for choosing Korea instead, offering access to the country's thriving high-tech industries alongside a world-class education. Located in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), IGC is seeking to turn its proximity to major biotechnology, semiconductor and other advanced technology companies into a competitive advantage, connecting international education with hands-on industry experience and career opportunities. "Simply having prestigious foreign universities in Incheon is no longer enough to prove our value," said Byun Ju-young, CEO of the Incheon Global Campus Foundation, during an interview with The Korea Times. "What matters now is whether their education and research capabilities can translate into technological innovation and job creation in the region." Established in 2012, IGC was designed to serve as a global education hub within the IFEZ, attracting foreign universities while nurturing talent for the region's strat

SINGAPORE, LONDON, SEOUL — Breaking into the world’s top 100 has become a common ambition among Korean universities. However, the world’s leading university ranking agencies have a surprising response for institutions chasing higher positions: Stop chasing the rankings. "The dog should wag the tail, the tail should not wag the dog," said Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at Times Higher Education (THE), cautioning universities against allowing rankings to dictate their priorities. "Rankings should inform university strategy and decision-making, not drive them." Ben Sowter, senior vice president at QS, raised a similar concern, warning that universities risk losing their competitive edge if they all pursue similar strategies. “The important thing is that you build a really nuanced strategy where you don’t have a whole group of universities trying to do exactly the same thing as each other,” he said. “In that context you end up competing with yourselves rather than necessarily distinguishing yourselves internationally.” Global university rankings are evolving to reflect

SINGAPORE, LONDON, SEOUL — Breaking into the world’s top 100 has become a common ambition among Korean universities. However, the world’s leading university ranking agencies have a surprising response for institutions chasing higher positions: Stop chasing the rankings. "The dog should wag the tail, the tail should not wag the dog," said Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at Times Higher Education (THE), cautioning universities against allowing rankings to dictate their priorities. "Rankings should inform university strategy and decision-making, not drive them." Ben Sowter, senior vice president at QS, raised a similar concern, warning that universities risk losing their competitive edge if they all pursue similar strategies. “The important thing is that you build a really nuanced strategy where you don’t have a whole group of universities trying to do exactly the same thing as each other,” he said. “In that context you end up competing with yourselves rather than necessarily distinguishing yourselves internationally.” Global university rankings are evolving to reflect