find a phd south korea

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GSIS offers a doctoral program for scholars who wish to advance their research and knowledge in the area of international and area studies. The program provides an extended and in-depth program in international cooperation, international commerce, and international area studies. After meeting their degree requirements, students are granted a Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 45 credits and submission of thesis * For more detailed information, please refer to the Academic Requirements

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♣ For international students from English speaking region must choose one language from German, French, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese character, Korean.  

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* Note: Students who submitted test scores as part their application for admission are not required to retake one of the English language tests, provided that the scores they submitted met the minimum requirement.

* Only IBT TOEFL scores or TEPS scores (within 2 years) are available (not CBT/PBT TOEFL scores).

Major Subjects of Qualifying Examination

♣ For major subjects of qualifying exam, the candidates should contact two full-time professors of GSIS.  

• PhD in South Korea

Home » Admissions » PhD in South Korea

South Korea is gaining popularity among overseas students these days, and for good reason! Students from all over the world can pursue their Master’s, Bachelors and PhD in South Korea . Plus, for most people, living and studying in South Korea is relatively inexpensive. As a result, going to South Korea would provide spectacular scenery, intriguing friends, and excellent value.

Why Study in South Korea?

• For 33 subjects, Korea University is currently ranked among the finest in the world.
• In South Korea, education is highly valued and many students from across the world come there to study. The PhD length in south Korea is 3 years and academic year starts from March to February.
• Many south Korean universities features among the 100 in the world.

Top Universities in South Korea

• Seoul National University
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Sungkyunkwan University
• Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech)
• Korea University
• Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
• Yonsei University
• Kyung Hee University
• Sejong University
• Hanyang University

Specific Reasons to Study in South Korea

• South Korea is a world leader in information and communication technology (ICT).
• The educational system is outstanding.
• Tuition is reasonably priced.
• There are numerous scholarships available.
• Discover the fascinating culture and history of South Korea.

Popular Fields of PhD Study in South Korea

Top fields to study PhD in South Korea are:

• Physical Therapy
• Educational Leadership and Administration, General
• Chemistry, General
• Clinical Psychology
• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
• Psychology, General
• Education, General
• Physics, General

Program Duration and Cost of Education

Duration: 3 Years

Cost: ₩2,700,000 ($2,320) – ₩4,250,000 ($3,650) per semester

Scholarships and Funding

To appropriately qualified international students, several colleges will grant a full or partial fee waiver (usually between 30% and 100% of tuition costs). As you might assume, these are frequently provided on a competitive basis, so check with your institution to see what kind of assistance is available and what the application process is like.

In addition to scholarships offered by particular colleges, the South Korean government has established overarching initiatives to encourage and support international students interested in study in Korea .

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Degrees

The requirements for admission to a PhD program in South Korea will vary depending on the school. In most cases, a Master’s degree (or its equivalent) in a relevant area is required, however, a solid undergraduate degree may be adequate.

As a general guideline, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• A completed copy of your institution’s application form
• A personal introduction and outline of your study plan
• A letter of recommendation, typically provided by a member of faculty at the institution where your undergraduate or Master’s degree was awarded
• Documentation of your existing academic record at university (if you have not yet graduated from an undergraduate or Masters program you may provide a letter confirming your expected graduation)
• Proof of your nationality (a photocopy of your passport will usually suffice)
• Proof of proficiency in English and/or Korean (if required by your course)

Intake & Application Deadlines

Postgraduate programs at South Korean institutions can begin in either the spring or fall semesters of the academic year in South Korea:

• You must apply between September and November to be considered for a program starting in March.
• The application season for courses starting in September runs from May through June.

Student Visa Terms

If you wish to study for a PhD in South Korea, you’ll need to apply for a student visa in South Korea at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

You should apply for a Visa for Regular Educational Program as an international PhD student (D-2). You’ll need the following documents to complete your application:

• A valid passport
• A completed visa application form (this is provided by your local Korean embassy or consulate)
• A passport-size photo
• A letter of admission from your prospective university
• Certified copies of your academic record
• Proof that you have financial resources of at least USD $10,000

There is also a $60 application cost for single-entry visas and a $90 application charge for multiple-entry visas.

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Work in south korea after phd.

If you want to pursue a profession in South Korea after graduation, your PhD will be especially useful. There are already a substantial number of foreign academics working in South Korea’s higher education system, and there is some evidence that a domestic PhD may help with promotion and progress at its universities.

To begin, you must first convert your D-2 student visa to a D-10 Job Seeker visa. You can begin the process of obtaining a professional visa in South Korea once you’ve found a job.

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PhD in South Korea For International Students: Scholarship, Stipend, and More

• Updated on  
• Dec 15, 2023

Usually, South Korea is known for its technological advancement and influential cinema (K-dramas and K-pop). But the country is also fast becoming a popular hub for international students for higher education. Its world-class universities and thriving research landscape make it an ideal destination for a PhD. This blog will tell you all about pursuing a PhD in South Korea. We will cover all aspects, such as top universities, programs, tuition fees and other expenses, scholarships, and work opportunities. Read on to discover more!

This Blog Includes:

Why pursue phd in south korea, top universities for phd in south korea, top disciplines for phd in south korea, tuition fees and funding, cost of living in south korea, scholarships, when to apply for a phd in south korea, student visa.

Also Read: Study in South Korea for Indian Students

We can list several reasons for international students to enrol in PhD in South Korea. The country is home to institutes ranked in the 100 top universities of the world and is known worldwide for its technological innovation. But you can also find a blend of this innovation with ancient heritage in cities like Busan, Seoul, and Incheon. In addition to this, the Korean Government also provides many scholarships and funding programs for international students to cover their academic and other expenses.

Numerous public and private universities offer PhD in South Korea. These universities are among the top 100 institutes globally known for their courses in Engineering and Technology. So here’s a list of the top 5 universities in the country to pursue a doctorate in the field of your choice:

Also Read: Top Universities in South Korea 2024

Given below is a list of some of the popular fields in which South Korean universities offer doctorates to international students:

• Chemistry, General
• Clinical Psychology
• Education, General
• Educational Leadership and Administration, General
• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
• Physics, General
• Physical Therapy
• Psychology, General

PhD Program Structure: 

The academic year for PhD in South Korea lasts from March to February. It is split into 2 semesters, the first from March to June and the second from September to November. Here’s a general overview of what pursuing a PhD in South Korea looks like:

• You will be required to complete research training and taught courses to the value of 36 credits (or approximately equivalent to 72 ECTS Credits), depending on your Masters’ qualification.
• You will then have to clear a written/comprehensive examination.
• Ultimately, you will complete a thesis with one or more supervisors for guidance.
• After submitting your thesis, a panel of 5 supervisors will evaluate it. You may not need to prepare an oral defence of your thesis if it gets approved by the supervisory panel.

Note: To get a more specific PhD program structure, contact the respective university you wish to apply to.

The tuition fee for PhD in South Korea is the same for international and domestic students, costing around KWR 2,056,932 – 16,229,862/semester . The Engineering and Medicine courses are more expensive compared to the Humanities discipline. Here are some other academic costs that aspiring researchers can expect in South Korea:

Here are some living costs that international students can expect while doing their PhD in South Korea:

Also Read: Cost of Living in Seoul

While tuition fees for a PhD in South Korea can cost quite a bit, there are also several scholarships available for international students. These scholarships come in the form of partial or full fee waivers, covering 30%-100% of the tuition costs. Some of these merit-based schemes are as follows:

• Global Korea Scholarship – Covers medical insurance, tuition fees, flights, living costs, and language lessons.
• Support Program for Self-Financed Students – KWR 500,000 worth of living expenses per month to self-financed students in Korea.

South Korean universities generally have two intakes around the year: Spring and Autumn. Students going for courses starting in March should apply between September and November. Those seeking admission in courses starting in September must apply between May and June. Students can apply directly to the university of their choice.

Admission Requirements

To enroll for a Ph.D. in South Korea, students need to have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field. Some universities also accept an undergraduate degree from a recognized university. Here are some other requirements that aspiring researchers need to fulfill:

• Filled application form
• A personal statement
• A letter of recommendation from your previous alma mater.
• Academic transcripts
• Nationality proof of the applicant (copy of passport)
• Language proficiency in English and/or Korean (TOPIK Level 3 or above)
• Proof of financial means
• Portfolio with certification in practical courses
• A bank balance of USD 10,000

To get a student visa to South Korea, students will need to apply for the same at the Korean embassy in their home country. International students must apply for D-2 visa (Visa for Regular Educational Program) for PhD in South Korea using the following documents:

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport
• Passport-size photographs
• Offer letter from the university applied to.
• Academic transcripts (certified copies)
• Proof of financial means (at least USD 10,000)

Also Read: South Korean Student Visa for Indians: Process, Requirements & Duration

Relevant Reads:

Ans: Universities often offer Korean language courses for international students, and some scholarships even require basic proficiency. So, while it’s not essential to be fluent, starting or improving your Korean before or during your PhD will be highly advantageous for several reasons: 1. Enhanced research opportunities 2. Deeper cultural immersion 3. Improved career prospects

Ans: Your income as a PhD student in South Korea will depend on your scholarship/funding, university, research assistantships, and teaching opportunities. Prestigious government scholarships like the Global Korea Scholarship can cover full tuition and provide a monthly stipend of around $1,000-2,000 USD. Then there are universities offering merit-based scholarships, and research or teaching assistantships, which can add to your income.

Ans: While studying in South Korea offers exceptional opportunities, there are also potential challenges to consider: 1. Cultural adjustment 2. Language barrier 3. Academic pressure 4. Social isolation But with good preparation, cultural sensitivity, and a supportive network, you can overcome any obstacles and thrive in your academic journey.

We hope you got a complete overview of pursuing a PhD in South Korea from this blog. For more courses to study abroad , subscribe to Leverage Edu today. Thank you for reading!

Disha Kaira

Disha is an electrical engineer turned writer passionate about bringing a spark (and accuracy) to whatever content she comes across. Whether it's UI/UX Design or writing blogs on abroad education, she relishes every chance to learn and test the limits of her creativity.

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Study Ph.D. in South Korea: Requirements and Application Process

South Korea offers numerous benefits for international students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or doctorate program in the country. Specifically, doctoral students may benefit from excellent research and academic opportunities, which are made possible thanks to the country’s world-class research and academic institutions .

Additionally, doctorate students may be offered various funding and scholarship opportunities . They are also exposed to a dynamic and vibrant cultural and academic environment, novel to most foreigners. So, if you’re interested in all of that, read this article. It aims to provide international students interested in studying a Ph.D. program in South Korea with a general overview of the application process and possible enrollment requirements.

Ph.D. Degree Admission Requirements

Applying for a doctoral degree in South Korea requires the participants to provide certain requirements to showcase their academic and professional abilities. The requirements include materials like proof of academic qualifications, a curriculum vitae or resume, a research proposal, etc.

1. Proof of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Evidence of completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program from an accredited institution must be provided to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary educational background.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume

A resume or a CV is a document that summarizes your academic qualifications, research experience, publications, work history, as well as other relevant achievements. It will assist the admissions committee in assessing your professional and academic background.

3. Research Proposal

A research proposal is provided to assist the university in analyzing the feasibility and relevance of your research. Your research proposal should include a clear and well-defined research topic, objectives, intended research methodology, and expected study outcomes.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation , usually written by supervisors, mentors, and professors, attest your research skills, academic abilities, and potential to succeed in your doctoral program. These letters may showcase your potential contributions to academics, work ethic, and character.

5. English Language Proficiency

With English being the language of instruction in most Ph.D. programs, applicants for a Ph.D. in South Korea may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Typically, they do so using standardized language tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) .

These tests analyze your ability to communicate and understand English effectively. Applicants must meet minimum score requirements to ensure they can engage in discussions, coursework, and academic research.

It is important to note that application requirements to study a PhD program in South Korea may vary according to program and university. It is advised that you visit the official websites of universities offering Ph.D. programs for accurate details. For example, institutions like Yonsei University and Seoul National University offer detailed information on their application procedures and admissions requirements.

Language Proficiency Tests Needed for Doctoral Studies

Often, Ph.D. applicants in South Korea will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the Korean language. A very commonly used Korean language proficiency test is the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) , which assesses writing, listening, reading, and speaking skills in Korean. Typically, a minimum level of 3 or 4 is expected; however, the actual baseline score may vary depending on the program and university.

Universities in South Korea offer English-taught programs to accommodate non-Koreans. Thus, applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English instead or in addition to Korean proficiency. Additionally, South Korean universities may also offer programs in other languages like Chinese , German , Spanish , French , or Russian. These programs typically cater to students fluent in these languages. An example is Hankuk University of Foreign Studies , which offers programs in several languages other than Korean and English.

Ph.D. Degree Application Process

All Ph.D. applicants in South Korea must go through several steps for admission:

Step 1. Submit the Application Form

The online application form must be filled and submitted alongside the required documents, like letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, academic transcripts, and research proposal.

Seoul National University , for instance, provides a detailed application process for its postgraduate programs. Accordingly, applicants are required to create an application account, and fill out and submit the online application form together with the necessary documents through that account.

Step 2. Take the Entrance Exam

Entrance exams may be required by some universities to evaluate the academic abilities and potential for success of applicants. This would usually involve language proficiency tests, tests based on specific subjects, or interviews. Korea University , for instance, requires all graduate applicants to submit language proficiency test results.

Step 3. Attend an Interview

Interviews may be a part of the admissions process in some institutions. They allow the university to analyze the motivation, research interests, and potential for academic success of applicants.

For instance, the admissions process for doctoral programs at Ewha Womans University involves an interview that is conducted either in-person or via video conference, depending on the situation.

Step 4. Wait for the Admissions Decision

Following the application procedure , entrance exam, and interview, the final decision will be made by the admissions committee after reviewing each application. Applicants will then be notified through an email or an official letter. Instructions on enrollment will be provided to successful applicants.

You must note that the actual application requirements and steps for a Ph.D. program in South Korea will depend on the institution and program. Therefore, interested applicants must visit official university websites for up-to-date information.

FAQs: Ph.D. Application Process in South Korea

Is it expensive to study ph.d. in south korea.

International students may find it relatively affordable to study for a Ph.D. in South Korea compared to most other countries. Even though tuition fees vary depending on the program and institution, they are typically lower compared to universities in Europe or the US.

For instance, one of South Korea’s top universities, the Seoul National University, offers Ph.D. programs with tuition fees ranging from 3,200,000 KRW to 6,000,000 KRW per semester for international students. Another popular university, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , offers graduate programs with a tuition cost of 19,100,000 KRW per semester.

To become an international student studying for a Ph.D. in South Korea, you will be required to complete the application procedure, potentially sit for an entrance examination, or attend an interview. The final application process and enrollment requirements will depend on your university. It is therefore important to refer to university websites for up-to-date information.

We hope this article has been informative to you as an aspiring doctoral student in Korea. Head on over to our Study in Korea Page for more insightful articles about studying and living in Korea! If you’re also looking for a course or program to pursue, we suggest checking out our open courses page!

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Study and Research Opportunities in South Korea

Long and short term academic programs are available in South Korea across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, PhD and postdoctoral research programs in South Korea. Moreover summer schools and conferences are another excellent academic activities that makes South Korea an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every students, researcher and professor can always find a suitable program in South Korea and apply.

Scholarship in South Korea

• Hanyang University Scholarship for International Students
• Kyung Hee University International Scholarships
• Sogang University Scholarships
• International Scholarships at FAU Busan Campus, German University in Korea
• The Undergraduate Korean Government Scholarship
• Undergraduate Studies Scholarship, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
• Suny Korea’s Prosperity Award
• International Scholarship, Jeonbuk National University 
• KNU International Graduate Scholarship
• GIST Scholarship
• UST scholarship for Master’s and PhD degrees
• Korean University Scholarship for Excellent Undergraduate students
• Kaist Undergraduate and Graduate Program
• Global Scholarship, Inha University
• Jungseok International Scholarship
• Korean Language Program, Korea University of Technology and Education

Summer Programs in South Korea

• International Summer Session Program, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
• KAIST International Summer School
• Korea High School Summer Program, LanguBridge Education Center 
• Sogang International Summer Program
• Yonsei International Summer School
• Hallym International Summer Program
• CIS Abroad Summer in Asia - Japan & South Korea
• Summer in Seoul by TEAN
• Summer Korean Studies, CIEE
• Summer Art Portfolio Intensive Program

Fellowships in South Korea

• International Youth Fellowship, Korea Camp
• Korea Research Fellowship
• International Fellowship Program for Doctors, Seoul National University Hospital
• ROK-ICAO Fellowship Training Program for the aviation personnel
• International Fellowship, Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine
• A Fellowship Program for for Medical Doctors in South Korea
• Koh Chang-Soon International Fellowship for Nuclear Medicine 
• Severance International Fellowship - Physician
• Korea Chair Visiting Fellows

Grants in South Korea

• Freeman Awards to Study in Asia
• International Research Fellowship the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
• Bridging grands, ETH Zurich
• Global Research Laboratory Program in South Korea
• Global Research Development Center Program

South Korea as an academic destination

Your interest in South Korean studies has its back response, as the country also actively develops strategies to attract international students. The South Korean government has a goal to host 200,000 students by 2023 . In 2017, the number was more than 123,000. 

Read below the main activities taken in South Korea to reach the above-mentioned goal.

• Many universities open international campuses or international branch campuses to satisfy the increasing demand of international students. Examples of such universities include Yonsei University and State University of New York (SUNY) .  
• There is no difference in tuition fees for international and domestic students . On average, a public university undergraduate course costs around 4,350 $ per semester . Private university fees are higher and are near 5,800 $ per semester . The fees are significantly higher at the capital Seoul's internationally ranked universities, where you can expect to pay the average annual undergraduate tuition of 6,500 $ .
• There is no mandatory requirement to have a high level of Korean language proficiency for entering a university. Of course, doing so will be advantageous for you. However, to soften language barriers for international students, around 30% of South Korean universities' courses are taught in English . Note that you should provide proof of language proficiency for your chosen course's main language in any case.
• If enrolled in a university for a full semester or more, you are eligible to work part-time during studies and full-time during course breaks . That's a great opportunity to support your expenses in a foreign country. Note that you will need to provide your employer with your student visa and a letter of recommendation from your university. 

The most convenient cities for international students are the capital Seoul, Daejeon, Pohang, and Busan . Seoul has been included in the QS Rankings' list of the best global student cities in 2018. 

The general rule of thumb for international student's admission is that undergraduate students need to pass a unified exam. At the same time, graduate-entry requirements don't require so and have individual conditions per universities. One common thing for the majority of universities in South Korea is that you can directly apply via post or online . 

You might find it useful to note that the South Korean academic year starts in March. In many universities, you will also meet the second starting date in September. For most cases, you will be asked to submit your application between September and November for March admissions and between May to June for September admissions. 

As an international student, your best accommodation option is a university dormitory, where you can spend as low as 280$ per semester if you share living space with other students . Private accommodation prices may reach 700$ per month . You can also benefit from campus catering included in the accommodation price for some universities. 

Universities of South Korea

The oldest university in Korea is believed to be Sungkyunkwan University , a private higher education institution founded in Seoul's urban setting in 1398. Since then, the academic infrastructure of South Korea grew to 370 total universities of the present . 

Out of all South Korean universities, 88 are included in the QS Asia University Rankings, and 29 in the QS World University Rankings . You have the opportunity to gain an education in the most prestigious educational institutions in Korea. 

Before we go on to the best South Korean universities list, three main ones are worth emphasizing separately. They are prestigious "SKY" trio members: Seoul National University , Korea University , and Yonsei University . The above-mentioned Sungkyunkwan university is also ranked among less known, however, the highest-quality institutions. 

Below find some of the other popular and prestigious universities in South Korea.

• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
• Hanyang University 
• Kyung Hee University
• Ewha Womans University

To explore the list further, enter the QS South Korea University Rankings . Here, you will find the 50 of the country's highest-ranked universities and maybe one fitting your academic goals!

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PhD in South Korea

Read about PhD/Doctorate Course in South Korea for Indian Students....

Standyou Team

Dec 18, 2023 05:56:00

PhD in South Korea for Indian Students

Choosing a program and university.

1. Research Fields: South Korea is particularly strong in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), but also offers robust programs in Business, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.

2. Top Universities: Consider institutions like Seoul National University (SNU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Yonsei University, and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).

Admission Requirements

1. Academic Qualifications: A master’s degree in a relevant field, although some programs accept direct applications from bachelor's degree holders.

2. Language Proficiency: For English-taught programs, TOEFL or IELTS scores are required. For Korean-taught programs, a TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) score may be necessary.

3. Research Proposal: A detailed research proposal outlining your intended area of study.

4. Recommendation Letters: Usually from academic advisors or professors.

5. Academic Transcripts and CV: Documenting your academic and professional journey.

1. Research and Contact Potential Supervisors: It’s often beneficial to establish contact with potential supervisors before applying.

2. Prepare Application Materials: Including your research proposal, CV, academic transcripts, language proficiency scores, and recommendation letters.

3. Application Submission: Apply through the universities' official websites or as per their specific application procedures.

4. Deadlines: Be aware of application deadlines, which can vary depending on the university and program.

Scholarships and Funding

1. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Offers scholarships for international students, covering tuition, living expenses, and airfare.

2. University-Specific Scholarships: Many universities provide scholarships and research grants to PhD students.

3. Research Grants and Funding: Often available, particularly in STEM fields, through various research projects.

Visa Process

On receiving an admission offer, you will need to apply for a student visa (D-2) at the South Korean embassy or consulate in India, with the necessary documentation.

Career Opportunities

PhD graduates have opportunities in academia, research institutions, and industries, especially in high-tech and innovation-driven fields.

Advantages for Indian Students

Cutting-Edge Research: South Korea is at the forefront of research in several fields.

Global Exposure: Enhances your academic and professional profile.

Cultural Experience: Offers a blend of traditional and modern lifestyles.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)  in South Korea Public Universities in South Korea

PhD in Korea with a scholarship

Popular scholarships for phd in korea.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Coverage: Airfare, full tuition, living allowance, Korean language training, and research support.

Eligibility: Academic excellence, language proficiency (English or Korean), and a strong research proposal.

Application: Through the Korean embassy in your country or directly to participating universities.

University-Specific Scholarships

Many Korean universities offer scholarships for international PhD students. These may cover tuition fees, provide a monthly stipend, or both.

Examples: Seoul National University (SNU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Yonsei University, and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).

Korean Government IT Scholarship Program

For: Students pursuing technology-related PhDs.

Coverage: Tuition, living expenses, airfare, and language courses.

Research-Based Scholarships

Offered by individual departments or research labs within universities, particularly in STEM fields.

How to Apply

1. Choose Your Program and University: Research universities in Korea that offer PhD programs in your field of interest. Consider the faculty, research facilities, and ongoing projects.

2. Check Scholarship Eligibility and Deadlines: Each scholarship has its criteria and application deadlines. It’s crucial to check these details well in advance.

3. Prepare Your Application: This typically includes your academic transcripts, CV, letters of recommendation, a research proposal, proof of language proficiency, and any other specific requirements stated by the university or scholarship body.

4. Submit Applications: Apply for the PhD program and the scholarship simultaneously. For some scholarships, like the GKS, you might need to apply through the Korean embassy in your country.

5. Language Requirements: Depending on the program, you may need to prove proficiency in either Korean (TOPIK) or English (TOEFL, IELTS).

6. Interviews: Some programs or scholarships may require interviews as part of the selection process.

Scholarship to Study in South Korea Best Courses in South Korea for International Students Benefits of Studying in South Korea

PhD in Seoul

Top universities in seoul for phd programs.

1. Seoul National University (SNU) : Renowned for its comprehensive and diverse range of research areas.

2. Yonsei University : Offers strong programs especially in the humanities, social sciences, and health sciences.

3. Korea University : Known for its excellent programs in law, political science, and engineering.

4. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) : Offers competitive programs in natural sciences and engineering.

5. Hanyang University : Recognized for its engineering, technology, and business programs.

1. Academic Qualifications: A master’s degree in a relevant field. Some programs may accept direct PhD admissions for outstanding candidates with a bachelor's degree.

2. Language Proficiency: Proficiency in either English (TOEFL, IELTS) or Korean (TOPIK), depending on the language of instruction of the program.

3. Research Proposal: A well-formulated research proposal is essential, particularly for research-focused programs.

4. Recommendation Letters: Typically required from academic referees.

5. Additional Requirements: May include a CV, academic transcripts, and publications or professional experience relevant to the field of study.

1. Research and Contact Potential Supervisors: Identifying and communicating with potential supervisors is an important step.

2. Prepare and Submit Application: Includes submitting your research proposal, language proficiency scores, and other required documents.

3. Deadlines: Be aware of application deadlines, which can vary between universities and departments.

Scholarships and Funding Opportunities

1. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Covers tuition, living expenses, and airfare.

2. University Specific Scholarships: Many Seoul-based universities offer their scholarships for PhD students.

3. Research Grants: Available for specific research projects or departments, particularly in science and technology fields.

Living in Seoul

1. Cultural Experience: Seoul offers a rich blend of traditional Korean culture and modern urban living.

2. Networking Opportunities: The city's vibrant academic and professional environment provides numerous networking opportunities.

3. Cost of Living: While Seoul is an exciting city, it’s also one of the more expensive cities in Asia. Budgeting for living expenses is important.

Career Prospects

1. Academia and Research: Opportunities for post-doctoral research or teaching positions.

2. Industry Opportunities: Particularly strong in technology, engineering, and business sectors.

PhD in South Korea Cost of Studying in South Korea for Indian Students Diploma Courses in South Korea

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Program in South Korea

Academic qualifications.

1. Master's Degree: Applicants typically need to have a master's degree in a relevant field. However, some universities offer integrated MS-PhD programs or direct PhD admissions for exceptional candidates with a bachelor's degree.

2. Academic Record: A strong academic record, often demonstrated through transcripts and a high GPA.

Language Proficiency

1. English-Taught Programs: For programs taught in English, proficiency in English is required, usually evidenced by TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent test scores.

2. Korean-Taught Programs: For programs taught in Korean, proficiency in the Korean language is necessary, typically proven by a TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) score. The required level may vary depending on the program.

Research Proposal

A well-prepared research proposal is crucial, outlining your research interests, objectives, methodology, and how it aligns with the expertise available at the university.

Recommendation Letters

Letters of recommendation, usually two or three, from academics who can attest to your research capabilities and academic potential.

Additional Requirements

Some programs may require a curriculum vitae (CV), a statement of purpose, and/or publications or relevant research experience.

Entrance exams or interviews may also be part of the selection process for some programs.

Financial Stability

Proof of financial resources to cover tuition and living expenses, which is also a requirement for obtaining a student visa.

Visa Requirements

Once admitted, international students must obtain a student visa (D-2 visa). This process involves providing proof of admission, financial stability, and a plan for stay.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines vary by university and program. Typically, universities have two main intakes – Spring (starting in March) and Fall (starting in September).

Availability of scholarships or funding opportunities, such as the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), university-specific scholarships, or research grants, which can cover tuition and living expenses.

Life of Indian Students in South Korea Short Courses in South Korea for International Students Marketing Courses in South Korea

Intakes & Application Deadlines for PhD in South Korea

Main intake periods.

Spring Intake

Starts: Usually in March.

Application Period: Often falls between September and November of the preceding year.

Deadlines: Typically around October or November for the following year's spring intake.

Fall Intake

Starts: Generally in September.

Application Period: Usually from March to May of the same year.

Deadlines: Often in May or June for the fall intake of the same year.

Application Process and Deadlines

Early Preparation: Start preparing your application well in advance, especially if you are applying for scholarships or need to contact potential supervisors.

University Websites: Check the specific dates and detailed application procedures on each university's official website.

Research Proposal: A well-prepared research proposal is often a key component of the application, particularly for research-oriented programs.

Documents: Typically include academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, CV, and proof of language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, TOPIK).

Visa Application: After receiving an admission offer, you will need to apply for a student visa (D-2).

Scholarships and Financial Aid Deadlines

Scholarship deadlines, especially for major scholarships like the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), may differ from the general admission deadlines.

University-specific scholarships and research grants also have their deadlines and application processes.

Tips for a Successful Application

Plan Ahead: Keep track of the different deadlines for each university and program you are interested in.

Language Proficiency: Ensure you meet the language requirements for your chosen program, whether it's in English or Korean.

Contact Supervisors: For research-focused programs, reaching out to potential supervisors in advance can be beneficial.

PhD Course Duration in South Korea

Standard duration.

1. Typical Duration: Most PhD programs in South Korea take approximately 3 to 4 years to complete.

2. Extended Duration: It's not uncommon for PhD studies, especially those involving extensive research and experimentation, to extend beyond the typical duration. This can stretch the program to 5 or even 6 years in some cases.

Factors Affecting Duration

1. Field of Study: Some fields, like engineering or natural sciences, may require extensive laboratory work or field studies, potentially lengthening the duration.

2. Research Scope: The complexity and scope of your research can impact how long it takes to complete your dissertation.

3. Coursework Requirements: Some PhD programs require a certain amount of coursework before you can begin your dissertation, which can extend the overall duration.

4. Full-time vs Part-time: While most PhD students in South Korea are full-time, part-time options (if available) can extend the duration of the program.

Integrated MS-PhD Programs

Duration: These programs typically take around 4 to 5 years to complete and are designed for students who wish to pursue a continuous study leading from a master’s degree to a PhD.

Accelerated Programs

In some cases, outstanding students might have options to complete their PhD in a shorter timeframe, particularly if they have already completed significant research or have a master's degree in a closely related field.

Completion Requirements

The PhD usually culminates in the submission and defense of a doctoral dissertation, which is a significant factor in determining the program's duration.

PhD Courses in South Korea along with Universities, Eligibility, Intake and Fees

Universities in South Korea

PhD Courses in korea for Indian and International students

1. engineering and technology.

Courses: Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Information Technology.

Universities: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Seoul National University (SNU), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Hanyang University.

2. Natural Sciences

Courses: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Mathematics.

Universities: Seoul National University (SNU), KAIST, Yonsei University, Korea University.

3. Business and Economics

Courses: Business Administration, Economics, Finance, International Business.

Universities: Seoul National University (SNU), Korea University, Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).

4. Social Sciences and Humanities

Courses: Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Korean Studies.

Universities: Seoul National University (SNU), Korea University, Ewha Womans University, Sogang University.

5. Arts and Design

Courses: Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Film Studies.

Universities: Hongik University, Ewha Womans University, Korea National University of Arts.

6. Medical and Health Sciences

Courses: Public Health, Biomedical Sciences, Nursing.

Universities: Yonsei University, Seoul National University (SNU), Korea University.

Academic Background: A master’s degree in a relevant field. Some programs may accept direct applications from bachelor's degree holders.

Language Proficiency: For English-taught programs, TOEFL or IELTS scores; for Korean-taught programs, TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) scores.

Research Proposal: Essential for most PhD programs, outlining the proposed area of research.

Recommendation Letters: Typically required from academic advisors or professors.

Submission: Through university websites or centralized government platforms for scholarships.

Supporting Documents: Academic transcripts, language proficiency scores, recommendation letters, research proposal, etc.

Deadlines: Vary between universities; there are usually two main intakes – Spring (March) and Fall (September).

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Offers full scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, and airfare.

University Scholarships: Many universities provide scholarships for international PhD students.

Graduates with a PhD from South Korean universities are well-regarded in academia, research, and various industries, especially in high-tech and innovation-driven fields.

Course Duration in South Korea Life of Indian Students in South Korea

PhD Scholarships in South Korea for Indian Students

1. global korea scholarship (gks).

Sponsor: Korean Government.

Coverage: Airfare, full tuition, living allowance, Korean language training, medical insurance.

Application: Through the Korean embassy in India or directly to participating Korean universities.

2. University-Specific Scholarships

Many South Korean universities offer scholarships for international PhD students, which may include tuition waivers and living stipends. Examples include:

Seoul National University (SNU) Global Scholarship

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Scholarships

Yonsei University International Student Scholarships

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Scholarships

3. Korean Government IT Scholarship Program

Sponsor: National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).

Eligibility: For students pursuing IT-related PhDs.

4. POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholarship

Sponsor: POSCO TJ Park Foundation.

Coverage: Tuition fees and living expenses.

Eligibility: Offered to students in Asia, including India, focusing on engineering and other fields.

General Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships

Academic Excellence: Strong academic record, often with a minimum GPA requirement.

Language Proficiency: Depending on the course, proficiency in English or Korean.

Extra-Curricular Activities: Leadership roles, community service, and other relevant experiences can be advantageous.

Application Tips

Start Early: Begin researching and preparing your applications well in advance of the deadlines.

Check University Websites: For the most accurate and current information on scholarships, refer directly to the universities' official websites.

Prepare Strong Applications: Focus on showcasing your academic achievements, personal strengths, and future goals in your application essays and interviews.

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PhD programs in South Korea

Disciplines:.

• Agriculture, Forestry, Animal & Related Sciences
• Social Work
• Environmental Sciences
• Art & Art History
• Econometrics
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Climate Studies & Meteorology
• Ecology, Biodiversity & Conservation
• Environmental Systems Analysis
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Religious Studies and Theology
• Film and Theatre Studies
• Language, Literature and Cultural Studies
• International Law
• Public Health
• Human Medicine
• Management & Organisation
• Mathematics
• Ethnic Studies
• Communications
• Political Science & International Relations
• Development & Social Policy and Planning

Industrial Ecology

University of Science and Technology

Telematics — communication networks and networked services, molecular medicine, natural gas technology, program in crop science and biotechnology.

Seoul National University

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across all of their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Mathematical Sciences

Chinese language and literature, english language and literature, french language and literature, russian language and literature, linguistics, asian history, western history, political science major, international relations, social welfare, biological science, molecular and cellular biology, integrative organismic biology, earth and environmental sciences, architecture.

Yonsei University

Deadline information, best universities in south korea.

Bachelor programs in South Korea

Master programs in South Korea

Most Popular programs in South Korea

PhD programs in South Korea

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There are websites for each country to show open PhD positions... Netherlands has academictransfer, UK has jobs.ac.uk ... Norway has jobbnorge...

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2024 Paris Olympics

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Phryge, the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, cheers at the women's group B match between the U.S. and Zambia on Thursday. Marc Atkins/Getty Images hide caption

The Paris Olympics are finally here. More than 10,000 athletes have descended on the French capital for more than two weeks of competition, patriotism and potential drama. NPR’s own Olympics team will bring you recaps, coverage and color — including on the ground in Paris — online and on air over the next few weeks.

North and South Korean athletes share an Olympic podium — and take a selfie

Bill Chappell

Lim Jong-hoon of South Korea takes a selfie with North Korean silver medalists Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik, center, with Chinese gold medalists Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha flanking South Korean Shin Yu-bin. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images hide caption

Their two nations are famously divided. But ping-pong diplomacy is strong — and so it unfolded that after competing in table tennis at the Paris Olympics, athletes from North Korea and South Korea chatted and smiled as they posed for a selfie together. China’s team joined, rounding out the photo.

In a moment that has gone viral, the players had just received their medals for the mixed doubles competition in the South Paris Arena when one of the South Korean athletes produced a cellphone for a modern Olympic tradition: a group photo at the podium.   The image was posted to the Olympics' official Korean-language account ; a video of the athletes posing and smiling also became a sensation .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 올림픽 (@olympic)

North Korea’s duo of Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik had plenty to celebrate. The No. 16 seed earned silver after dealing upsets to highly ranked teams from Japan and Hong Kong and earning a spot in the final against top-ranked China, which won gold. This is North Korea’s first Olympics since Rio in 2016, having sat out the pandemic-delayed games in Tokyo.

The North Koreans never faced South Korea’s team of Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, who were relegated to the bronze medal match after losing to China’s formidable Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha on the opposite side of the bracket. It’s the first table tennis medal for South Korea since the London Games in 2012.

Then they all came together for a selfie, a document of friendly celebration at the podium.

The scene is being hailed as a very human moment that transcends borders and governments, an example of the Olympics’ power to unite people through sport.

And in the case of these two countries, it’s also a reminder that while the demilitarized zone divides the north and south, it did not sever centuries’ worth of Koreans’ shared family ties and culture.

For Lim, the Olympic medal brings a notable fringe benefit. Under South Korean law, he is granted an exemption from his mandatory 18-month military service — a term that was set to begin weeks after he returned from the Olympics, as The Korea Herald reports.

The athletes’ moment of selfie diplomacy came days after what had been an unfortunate start to the South Korean delegation’s visit to the Paris Olympics. During the opening ceremonies’ parade of athletes, an announcer mistakenly hailed them as representing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — a.k.a., North Korea.

The Olympics issued an apology after that gaffe.

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Olympics Apologize For Colossal Mistake At Opening Ceremony

PARIS — Olympic Games organizers said they “deeply apologize” for introducing South Korea’s athletes as North Korea during the opening ceremony in Paris .

As the South Korean athletes waved their nation’s flag on a boat floating down the Seine River on Friday evening, they were announced in both French and English as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. South Korea is the Republic of Korea.

“We deeply apologize for the mistake that occurred when introducing the Korean team during the opening ceremony broadcast,” the International Olympic Committee said in a post on X in Korean.

Jang Mi Ran, the second vice minister of South Korea’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, requested a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach over the incident, the ministry said in a statement Saturday. It said the ministry also asked South Korea’s Foreign Ministry to file “a strong government-level complaint” with the French government.

The statement said South Korea’s Olympic committee separately asked the organizers of the Paris Games to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

Bach called South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday and apologized over the incident, Yoon’s office said in a statement.

Yoon told Bach that the South Korean people were “very shocked and embarrassed” over the incident and asked him to offer an apology via media and social media and prevent the recurrence of similar mistakes. Bach told Yoon that he would take all available steps not to repeat it, according to Yoon’s office.

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams called the error “clearly deeply regrettable.”

“An operational mistake was made. We can only apologize, in an evening of so many moving parts, that this mistake was made,” Adams said in response to a question from a South Korean journalist during a news conference.

The Korean peninsula has been bitterly divided into South Korea and North Korea since the end of World War II in 1945.

The blue sign on the boat carrying the South Korean athletes did show the correct name.

The mix-up echoed another during the 2012 Olympics in London, where organizers posted the South Korean flag on a jumbo screen as a North Korean player was introduced before a women’s soccer match, leading the North Koreans to refuse to take the field for nearly an hour.

In another opening ceremony glitch Friday, the Olympic flag featuring the five rings was upside down when it was hoisted toward the end of the ceremony.

“It’s regrettable,” Adams said. “In a four-hour show occasionally things happen. We can all move on from that one, it’s not the end (of the world).”

After the flag was raised, the broadcast by the IOC’s own television operations did not show any close-up images of it. Typically, flagpoles at Olympic ceremonies have a mechanism that blows a breeze across the flag to stretch it out. On Friday, the Olympic rings flag hung limply down next to the pole.

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‘pets are not objects’: south korea pet parents ignore burial laws to give their furbabies a proper goodbye.

SEOUL, Aug 4 — When a pet dies, their humans find themselves faced with questions about the remains of their little companion. In most countries, including South Korea, there are strict rules governing the burial of pets. But many South Koreans don’t respect these rules and local authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about that.

At a time when the birth rate is falling in the country, South Koreans are experimenting with another kind of parenthood by taking on pets.

By 2022, 25 per cent of Koreans had one or more pets, according to the Korea Times , citing figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. These dogs, cats and other animals have become so important in the lives of South Koreans that they’re often seen being taken on rides in a stroller or even on trips.

When these four-legged companions die, many pet parents want to give them a funeral. However, this practice is strictly regulated by law. Owners are not allowed to keep their pet’s remains. They must entrust it to a veterinarian for cremation, or use a pet crematorium, according to the Korea Times .

South Korean “pet parents” can also put the body of their dog or cat in a plastic bag and throw it in the garbage, but few choose this option.

But despite what the law says, many South Koreans choose to bury their pets.

The Korea Consumer Agency conducted a survey on the subject in 2023, and found that 40 per cent of owners bury their pet’s body, as they would with a human loved one. However, it is strictly forbidden to do so oneself or to bury the remains of a dog, cat or hamster in a green space. Offenders are liable to a fine of one million won (approx. RM3,300).

South Koreans often go the route of burying their pets themselves for lack of alternatives. There are only 75 pet crematoria in the country and none in Seoul. They are generally located in remote areas, which discourages bereaved pet parents from going there.

“Residents don’t want these facilities in their neighbourhoods, worrying that their property prices may fall,” Lee Jin-hong, a professor at Konkuk University, tells the Korea Times .

There are calls in South Korea for the government to change the legal status of animals, so that they are no longer considered objects. Animal rights activists believe that if animals were considered sentient living beings, the authorities would be more inclined to open more animal crematoria. And thus, help owners cope better with the death of their furry friend. — ETX Studio

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With one of the fastest-growing university systems in the world, India is an exciting destination for PhD research. Our guide covers doctoral programmes, application processes, PhD fees and more.

Interested in studying a PhD degree in a country with the world's second largest economy? Our guide to PhD study in China will help you make your decision, covering essential information on PhD funding and university rankings through to applications and student visas.

A PhD in Japan represents an excellent opportunity to hone your research skills in a safe, stable society that values education very highly. Our guide explains fees, funding, visas and more.

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Japan is a fantastic place for PhD study, offering many financial incentives for international students. This guide will take you through the cost of studying a PhD in Japan and all the key funding opportunities.

Interested in studying your PhD in South Korea? In this guide we've collected some of the global university rankings to help you decide the best university to study at in South Korea.

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August 1, 2024

Purdue researchers adopt interdisciplinary approach to assessing emerging tar spot disease in corn

Mariela Fernández-Campos, a graduate student in Purdue University’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, examines leaves for tar spot in a field at Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center. (Purdue Agricultural Communications photo/Joshua Clark)

Mix of agricultural and engineering methods deployed for monitoring and assessment

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For more than a century, tar spot fungal disease in corn kept its distance from the U.S., biding its time. 

“Tar spot had not been detected in the U.S. prior to 2015, but it has been endemic in several Latin American countries, starting in Mexico in 1904,” said C.D. Cruz , associate professor of botany and plant pathology at Purdue University. 

Tar spot afflicted two of Indiana’s 92 counties in 2015. By 2022, only a few had managed to remain unscathed. At that time, the fungus had extended to 16 states and Ontario, Canada, according to the Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education .

The fungus had also affected crops in 15 other countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Cruz and co-authors reported in an article published in the journal Plant Disease .  

Where did the disease come from, via what pathway, and how different is the pathogen in other countries compared to the U.S.? “Maybe we don’t have those populations here yet, and they could potentially be much more damaging than the ones currently present,” Cruz noted.

Cruz and his associates apply a mix of statistics, data science, epidemiology, microbiology, artificial intelligence, computer vision and continual stakeholder feedback to better understand the dynamics of tar spot in corn. Their work is funded by two grants totaling nearly $1.1 million from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture .

Deploying these methods of high-tech data collection and analysis could make a vital mass of corn pathology information more widely and rapidly available. “There are opportunities in integrating AI-based digital technologies and point-of-care diagnostics that can provide rapid and accurate information for stakeholders,” Cruz said.

Colleagues Joaquín Ramirez in Colombia; Carlos Góngora in Mexico; César Falconí in Ecuador; Da-Young Lee in South Korea; and Paul Esker, Steve Goodwin, and Matt Helm in the U.S. are participating collaborators. The need to address biosecurity challenges with a science-based approach lend urgency to their work.

In previous efforts, Cruz and Lee, who was a postdoctoral researcher in Cruz’s lab, developed a digital method for quantifying tar spot in corn. They tested their stromata contouring detection algorithm (SCDA) under field conditions against human raters. They successfully quantified trends, and their results appeared in a 2021 paper published in Frontiers in Plant Science.

Earlier this year, Cruz’s team conducted a similar experiment with SCDA 2.0, again with promising results, but some inaccuracies persist in fully automated scenarios. “We’re refining our training methods to significantly improve the model’s accuracy and performance,” he said.

Another research effort includes the laboratory of Purdue’s Mohammad Jahanshahi , associate professor in the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering and the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering . Jahanshahi and Cruz, together with Mariela Fernández-Campos, a PhD student in botany and plant pathology, and Yu-Ting Huang, a postdoctoral research associate in civil engineering, published the results of their first collaboration in 2021 , a special blend of agriculture with engineering that focused on another high-profile fungal disease called wheat blast. The developed model detected and classified images of disease symptoms within two seconds.  

Together they are educating the next generation of problem solvers, Jahanshahi said. “Whether you’re working on civil infrastructure health monitoring or agricultural disease epidemiology, you can have a profound impact not only on humans but also on the environment.”

Previously, Jahanshahi had used robotic systems to monitor civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, sewer pipelines and nuclear reactors for damage . But when he began working with Cruz, he realized that structural damage corresponds to disease in wheat and other crops.

Even so, Jahanshahi noted, “You cannot just copy this method and apply it to another domain.” He now has adapted his AI and computer-vision approaches to inspecting and analyzing civil infrastructure damage for agriculture.

Currently, Fernández-Campos and Abhishek Subedi, a PhD student in civil engineering, are finalizing a proof-of-concept data fusion project. They leveraged data collected from previous collaborations with Darcy Telenko , an associate professor of botany and plant pathology.

“In the current digital agricultural revolution, we aim to understand tar spot by using various data types. Unlike traditional models that rely solely on weather information, we are integrating drone imagery and weather data to capture crucial details about the tar spot pathosystem,” Fernández-Campos said.

Jahanshahi and Subedi helped fuse two very different data types: vegetation measures with drone imagery and numerical weather information using AI approaches. Meanwhile, Fernández-Campos used the same data, this time implementing traditional statistical methods for plant pathology.

“We tested our method’s performance against the disease evaluations of human raters,” Subedi said, and they were able to correlate the appearance of the disease and its progress. “We were able to build a strong enough model to detect the tar spot using images taken from a 50-meter height and on-site weather information.”

Another parallel task is to quantify and model tar spot epidemics in production-style fields. Graduate student Brenden Lane from Cruz’s lab and Sungchan Oh, a computational infrastructure specialist in the Institute for Plant Sciences , use disease observations and drone-based imagery to characterize tar spot epidemiological dynamics at various scales. Ultimately, the team aims to quantify and model tar spot severity by referencing and integrating imagery with spatial and temporal data.

The faded disciplinary boundaries of such a project can place greater time demands on the researchers as they learn to understand each other’s specialized languages. “But because each person brings their own expertise to the table, it can lead to better problem solving,” Jahanshahi said.

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Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives . 

Writer: Steve Koppes

Media contact: Devyn Raver, [email protected]

Sources: C.D. Cruz, [email protected] ; Mohammad Jahanshahi, [email protected] ; Mariela Fernández-Campos, [email protected] ; and Abhishek Subedi, [email protected]

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North korea’s former no.2 diplomat in cuba recalls dramatic, swift defection in likely blow to kim.

SEOUL , South Korea — When Ri Il Gyu , North Korea’s No.2 diplomat in Cuba , finally decided to flee to South Korea in frustration over his highly repressive, corrupt homeland last November, he finished all necessary prep work alone. About a week later, he told his family to be ready to leave Cuba together in just six hours.

“My wife first told me not to make such a dreadful joke. So I showed her our plane tickets, and she was speechless,” Ri said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. “I told my kid that there is no future or hope for North Korea .”

His family followed him to a Havana airport at dawn the next day, taking a flight to a third country and then South Korea in one of the most high-profile and dramatic defections by North Koreans in recent years.

The defection by Ri - a former political counselor at the North’s Embassy in Cuba - was only made public last month. It likely has angered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, because it could prompt his other diplomats to follow suit in a blow to his grip on the country’s elites, observers say. Ri said the North Korean Embassy in Cuba has about 20 diplomats, making it the North’s third biggest mission abroad after China and Russia.

Ri, 52, is the highest-ranking North Korean to defect to South Korea since Tae Yongho, a former minister of the North Korean Embassy in London, arrived in South Korea in 2016.

Ri’s defection has come as animosities between the rival Koreas are at one of the highest points in years, with North Korea flying more than 3,000 trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea and continuing its provocative weapons tests in recent months. South Korea has responded by restarting frontline loudspeaker broadcasts of anti-Pyongyang messages and K-pop songs, a challenge to Kim’s efforts to limit access to foreign news for his 26 million people.

“The Kim Jong Un regime will likely be in a very bad mood if they see me speaking publicly in media interviews like this,” Ri said. “They might think it’s in their interest to eliminate a person like me. But I’m not going to worry about that so much, because the South Korean government has made a priority of keeping me safe.”

About nine months after his arrival in South Korea , Ri is under a South Korean government protection program. North Korea allegedly has a long history of assassinating or making attempts to kill high-level defectors, the estranged relatives of the Kim family living abroad and top South Korean officials.

Kim might personally remember Ri , because Ri said he briefly met Kim many times with other officials in 2018 over preparations to receive top Cuban officials on two occasions. Sometimes Kim asked him questions.

In each meeting, Ri recalled that Kim smoked continuously and was short of breath like “an asthmatic patient” so he could hear the rasp of Kim’s breathing. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Monday that North Korean officials are looking for new medicines abroad to treat Kim’s suspected obesity-related health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

“At the first meeting, I clearly shuddered though it wasn’t like I couldn’t answer. But during the second and third meetings, I didn’t shudder.”

Ri said he had long thought about fleeing North Korea , which he called “a world of darkness” and “a republic of corruption.” He said his monthly pay was about $500 so he smuggled Cuban cigars to China via diplomatic pouches to make a living. He said North Korean diplomats in other countries have been involved in the smuggling of liquors, ivories, rhino horns, whiskeys and automobiles.

But he said what decisively triggered his defection was the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s rejection in early November of his hope to visit Mexico to treat a ruptured disc in his neck. He suspected his boss in Pyongyang was behind that decision because Ri earlier had refused his request for bribe.

“That made me so mad,” Ri said. Without that incident, “I probably would have kept thinking about defecting, but without ever leaving.”

Ri’s defection came before Cuba established diplomatic ties with South Korea in February this year. As there was no embassy of South Korea in Cuba at that time, he said he couldn’t get as much support from South Korean diplomats as other North Korean defectors managed to get elsewhere.

South Korean officials were eventually involved in Ri’s defection. But the government in Seoul and Ri declined to provide details about that because that could cause potential diplomatic troubles for countries involved, and could help North Korea thwart future escape attempts by other North Koreans.

At the Havana airport, Ri said he and his family waited for plane for an hour that felt “like hell.” He fretted that fellow North Korean embassy officials might find out he was leaving and chase him. He looked at his wrist-watch about 100 times before he and his family finally boarded the plane safely, he said.

If caught, he said he and his family would have faced a future worse than death in a prison camp where people have to eat insects to survive.

Ri is not sure yet what he will do in South Korea , but is encouraged by other North Koreans who have successfully resettled in the South. Tae, the former North Korean minister, was elected to the South Korean parliament before receiving a vice minister-level job last month. Ri said he read Tae’s memoir about ten times.

About 34,000 North Koreans have resettled in South Korea since the late 1990s to escape poverty and political oppression at home - most of them women from the North’s poorer northern provinces. Last year, about 10 North Koreans considered to be elites arrived in South Korea , the highest such number in recent years, according to South Korea’s government.

“I can’t guarantee that my departure will lead to more defections by North Korean diplomats,” Ri said. “But I think my defection will surely encourage others to defect.”

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