This case study explores the internationalization dynamics and institutional shifts at Seoul
National University in response to globalization trends. In the name of internationalization, market
ideas of efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability have been incorporated into academic
environments. This is manifested in the international student recruitment as well as prestigious
professors and researchers intended to increase international prestige and thus to appeal to more
students from abroad and secure more research funds. Rather than internationalism,
internationalization guides the university to compete for a higher international presence in the
global education market. In doing so, the university reforms the institution by emulating the
Anglo-Saxon universities, which leads toward an atmosphere of profit-making programs, and
English has become the language of education. Academic disciplines are now driven by external
accountability. Thus, many academic fields have become more strongly linked to industries.
Academicians often criticize this type of globalization by citing concern about the nature of
universities, where the search for knowledge for its own sake was once given the highest value.
Seoul National University is reforming its institution while pursuing diverse internationalization
strategies. In doing so, the university is slowly but certainly moving toward an entrepreneurial
culture. This is manifested in overseas student recruitment and increasing university-industrial
ties that secure further funding.