In 2020, Korea had 7.89 million students, but that number has fallen to roughly 6.98 million this year. Existing global rankings focus mainly on domestic elements, offering little insight into critical information such as support systems and career prospects after graduation for international students. To help universities navigate a changing higher education landscape and guide prospective international students, The Korea Times, the nation’s leading English-language newspaper, has launched the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER). For international students, they can function as a guidebook for their academic plans here. KGER promises to highlight a more competitive and inclusive higher education environment while positioning Korea to attract global talent and foster a virtuous cycle of global exchange and university growth here.