Head of National Institute for International Education says foreign students boost profile, competitiveness of the nation


Globalization permeates every nook and cranny of society, making diplomatic expertise and international thinking increasingly important for the advancement of various sectors.

So it was no wonder that one of Korea’s top educational agencies is headed by a veteran diplomat.

“For Korea to join the ranks of the most advanced countries, attracting foreign talent is one of the most important tasks,” Ha Tae-yun, president of the National Institute for International Education, or NIIED, said in an interview with The Korea Herald.

Ha, former ambassador to Iraq, was appointed in 2011 to the agency in charge of promoting international educational exchanges and managing learning programs for overseas Koreans. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The agency has been playing a greater role in recent years as Korea is emerging as a popular destination for international students, especially from developing countries, attracted by its technology, culture, knowledge economy and development experience.

International enrollment at domestic universities totaled 89,537 last year, over five times more than that in the mid-2000s, and is expected to reach 100,000 this year, according to the ministry. The government is aiming to double the figure by 2020.

For Ha, increasing the inflow of foreign students is not simply a matter of education, but also should boost the country’s international profile, competitiveness and ability to embrace the global community.

“It helps the country become a more multicultural society,” Ha said. After returning home, the elite foreign students could help Korea expand its foothold in their nations, he added.

“My work is all about building networks of human resources,” he said, adding that it was a job for which personalized attention and care may be essential.

“I believe we need to touch their hearts,” he stressed, in addition to expanding scholarships and improving study environments.

He recalled his experience as ambassador to Iraq. One day he invited Christopher Hill, then the U.S. ambassador to Iraq and former envoy for the North Korean nuclear issue, over to his place for dinner.

“I had asked my staff coming back from Korea to get some tofu stew, his favorite Korean food. He seemed to be quite touched that night,” he said.

Hill is now dean of the University of Denver’s School of International Studies. The two met at the school in March and created a partnership program.

Forging friendship with global talents is one of his priorities.

The agency recently invited 19 foreign graduates who studied here with support from the Korean government, as part of an annual scholarship alumni program launched in 2003.

It is designed to help build a mutual relationship with the fellow students and improve Korea’s image in their countries through them.

“We’re planning to invite more alumni next year and continue to expand the program,” he said.

Since 2011, the state-run agency has also been organizing the Test of Proficiency in Korean.

Thanks to the growing popularity of Korean pop culture, the demand for learning the Korean language is higher than ever, he noted.

In 2006, 34,000 students took the TOPIK test, but the number jumped to 120,000 last year.

To meet the growing demand, Ha said, the NIIED plans to develop and provide more textbooks abroad.

The institution will also expand the scholarships program for foreign students. Its Global Korea Scholarship is one of the flagship student assistance programs by the Korean government.

In 2010 alone, up to 51.5 billion won ($45.3 million) was allocated to support 2,100 new students under the GKS, and the annual budget will be doubled by 2015.

In addition, the agency is preparing to upgrade its website to enable one-stop information service.

“The most common complaint we have is that there is still a lack of information, and the procedure is too complicated,” he said.

The institution already has a website (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) for foreign students, which is currently available in 11 languages, but it is now planning to expand the site as a Korean education portal to provide comprehensive information on all Korean universities and also application procedures for foreign students.

“We’re working on opening a new portal website where foreign students can find all the information they need, submit their applications and apply for a visa all at the same time.”

Ha believes the agency’s role will become more important in the coming years, as the country’s global presence continues to grow.

“Korea has benefited from the global society, and it’s now time for us to give back. And I believe Korean education can play a major role in that,” he added.


Ha Tae-yun

● A former diplomat, Ha was named president of the NIIED in October 2011.

● He served as Korean ambassador to Iraq in 2009-10. He also worked at Korea’s diplomatic missions in Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries.

● In 2005, he was the executive director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency. Ha graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a B.A. in public administration and passed the Foreign Service Examination in 1979.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)