Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

The Korea Times - Sep 17, 2026

The Korea Times has revised the evaluation criteria for its University Rankings 2027 to provide a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the internationalization of Korean universities. This year’s evaluation expanded its coverage from 54 universities last year to 60, while increasing the total score from 190 points across 18 indicators to 200 points across 19 indicators. Notably, The Korea Times introduced a new indicator measuring the proportion of full-time international faculty. It also changed the calculation method for the academic retention rate of international students, focusing the measure on degree-seeking students, and refined the evaluation period for research performance. The new international faculty indicator, worth 10 points, is designed to strengthen the assessment of internationalization in the education and research environment, marking the biggest change in this year’s rankings. Accordingly, the education category’s score increased from 60 points to 70 points. The category now consists of seven indicators, including the ratio of degree-seeking internationa

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Gov't vows to end outdated dance ban at live music venues

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President Lee, IEA chief discuss response to energy crisis

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N. Korean sports minister arrives in Japan ahead of Asian Games

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N. Korean auxiliary boat sinks off S. Korea's east coast

N. Korean auxiliary boat sinks off S. Korea's east coast

POHANG — An auxiliary ship belonging to a North Korean merchant vessel sank in international waters between South Korea and Japan on Thursday, leaving one crewman missing while three others were rescued, Seoul authorities said. The South Korean Navy notified the East Regional Coast Guard Headquarters of the sinking at around 10:50 a.m., after the auxiliary craft went down in waters roughly 200 kilometers off the southeastern coastal city of Pohang, Coast Guard officials said. All four crew members aboard the ship had gone missing at first, but three of them were rescued by the Japan Coast Guard, according to South Korean authorities. The Korea Coast Guard has joined search-and-rescue operations to locate the missing crew member, based on international law and humanitarian principles, officials said.

[PHOTOS] Block Party Music & Art Festival survives 5th year

[PHOTOS] Block Party Music & Art Festival survives 5th year

Block Party Music & Art Festival 2026 took over central Seoul's multicultural Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan neighborhoods last weekend, presenting over 100 music acts and other performing artists at 10 participating venues. Now that the magic, glitter and even the hangovers are wearing off, here are photos of a very limited selection of the highlights from the three-day festivities. Visit debasermagazine.com or follow @blockpartykorea on Instagram for more information.

‘Provocation’ could accelerate Taiwan reunification, retired PLA major general says

‘Provocation’ could accelerate Taiwan reunification, retired PLA major general says

Progress towards reunifying with Taiwan hinges on factors like the island’s level of provocation, retired PLA major general Luo Yan told the South China Morning Post, warning that Taiwan’s leader had challenged Beijing’s red lines. Speaking on the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, Luo said the timeline for reunification with mainland China was shaped by “the development of our national strength, our defence needs, the global security environment, as well as the degree of...

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

Taiwan has quietly acknowledged donating a coastguard vessel to the Philippines, potentially adding to Manila’s maritime patrol capacity amid its long-running stand-off with Beijing in the South China Sea. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said on Wednesday that “this case” was being handled in line with previous transfers of vessels to the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu. Unlike those three Pacific states, which all maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, the Philippines recognises...

President Lee set to meet IEA chief to discuss energy security

President Lee set to meet IEA chief to discuss energy security

President Lee Jae Myung will meet with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol on Thursday to discuss energy security and other global issues, his office said. The meeting at Cheong Wa Dae was arranged as a follow-up to Lee's proposal during the Group of Seven summit in June to discuss ways to cooperate to strengthen the resilience of Asia-Pacific nations' energy supply chain, it said in a press release. Lee and Birol plan to share views on ways to strengthen global energy security amid the intensifying energy and climate crises seen in the recent war in the Middle East and devastating flood in Nepal. Birol has been at the forefront of efforts to overcome the global energy crisis, such as by getting IEA member countries to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves in response to the Middle East conflict in March, the presidential office said.

Donald Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors ahead of US summit

Donald Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors ahead of US summit

US President Donald Trump has urged Beijing to take “more aggressive action” to curb the export of drug precursor chemicals, noting to the US Congress that he had raised the issue “directly” with his Chinese counterpart. Trump’s call comes just days ahead of a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and just a week after security agencies from the two countries praised progress in cooperation on counternarcotics law enforcement. The call was noted in an annual list sent to the US...

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

Held up on the banks of the Dadu River by a lack of ferries to carry its soldiers and equipment across, the Central Red Army was under imminent threat from a vast, rapidly-approaching enemy force. To open up an alternative route across the river, the Red Army's 4th Regiment was ordered to capture the Luding Bridge, 120 kilometers away.

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province. However, their attempts to cross were severely hampered by the limited number of boats available and the river's swift, turbulent current.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan. However, the possibility of crossing it was complicated by a severe shortage of available ferries.

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